Starz pulled the brakes on its crime drama series Hightown a little too suddenly after the release of Season 3 in early 2024. The cliffhanger Season 3 left off felt more like a pause than a conclusion, which made its surprising cancellation even more brutal for fans eagerly looking forward to another season. What could have ended in a satisfying finale is now just a matter of speculation.
Season 4 could have been the perfect farewell to the gritty and intense story focused on the crime-addled world of Cape Cod. Yet, Starz pulled the plug on it and left fans wondering why. Season 4 had a lot of potential, as it could have explored whether or not Jackie Quiñones managed to recover from her addiction and the fate of Renee and Ray’s complex relationship.
Instead, everything was left in limbo, including Jackie’s relationship with Leslie. Let’s find out what fans could have seen in Hightown Season 4 if it had not been for its sudden cancellation.
Hightown Season 4 Could Do Justice to Jackie’s Journey
Monica Raymund delivered a mind-blowing performance as the heart of Hightown, Jackie Quiñones, the National Marine Fisheries Service agent turned rookie police officer in the Massachusetts State Police. Beyond the conflict in her professional life, Jackie had been personally fighting a decade-long battle with alcohol addiction.
At the end of Season 3, Jackie relapsed once again and strained her relationship with Leslie. With another mission falling apart, she was not doing too well professionally either. Season 4 could have explored what true recovery takes and whether Jackie could have broken out of this perpetual cycle of self-sabotage.
Jackie’s intense personal and professional relationship with Leslie had turned sour after the events of Season 3. Could their trust in each other be restored, or was it permanently ruined by their shared betrayal and trauma? Either way, that relationship had a lot of potential for development.
The show’s exploration of queer identity within a high-stakes crime drama was paving the way for more bold, nuanced representation on TV, and leaving it unresolved feels like a missed opportunity. In an interview with Glaad, Raymund had reflected on what it was like to explore her queer identity through this show. It was all the more reason for the network to continue the show.
Lastly, it would have been interesting to see if Jackie could have found her purpose outside of law enforcement. She always found a way to claw back professionally, but was it really worth it? Or would she be better off doing something else in a place where she was not so close to the drugs?
Renee and Ray’s Relationship Would be a Compelling Storyline in Hightown Season 4
Ray Abruzzo’s (James Badge Dale) complicated relationship with Renee Segna (Riley Voelkel) was another major thread that was left hanging at the end of Season 3. Renee was a former exotic dancer and girlfriend of drug kingpin Frankie Cuevas Sr. After Frankie’s arrest, she moved on with Ray.
Renee tried to leave behind the dark world, but could she escape the darkness within her? Escaping the world of the drug trade was easier said than done. Season 4 could have explored whether the transformation Renee was poised for would be in the right direction.
Dohn Norwood’s state trooper, Saintille Alan, had found out that Renee had Jorge’s blood on her hands, even though she killed him in self-defense. This would have certainly impacted her life and relationship with Ray. Her stepping into the role of the queenpin to escape the law, instead of choosing a new path, would have been a game-changer.
Ray was ready to start a new phase of his life with Renee and their daughter, but he was no longer a man on the right side of the law. He killed Frankie, and Osito was aware of this. Ray was now indebted to Osito and would have to help him unless he wanted Jackie and Alan to find out the truth.
Season 4 could have seen Ray grapple with the consequences of his actions, both physically and mentally. Ray killed Frankie to protect his family, but it was bound to weigh on his conscience. His new ties with Osito would have only made things worse.
What storyline were you hoping to see in Hightown Season 4? Let us know in the comments!
Hightown is available to stream on Netflix.
