Based on 3 seasons, 25 episodes · through March 8, 2024
Hightown is a crime drama about a fish cop named Jackie Quiñones who finds a dead body on the beach in Cape Cod. She tries to solve the murder while struggling with a severe drug and alcohol addiction. The show features a lesbian Latina lead and focuses heavily on queer lifestyles, Cape Cod's gay culture, and non-traditional relationships. These elements are very clear and visible to viewers across all three seasons.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Hightown.
Woke representation / casting
The main protagonist is a Latina lesbian, and the show features prominent LGBTQ+ themes and a highly diverse cast, including Black and Latino actors in major roles. Under our rules, any confirmed queer representation adds major weight, elevating this score. The casting shows a clear priority on identity and diversity in the lead roles.
78%
Woke political dialogue
The characters do not engage in heavy preachy lectures, activist political jargon, or left-wing monologues. The dialogue is mostly focused on the crime plot, addiction, and street-level drug dealings. However, the frequent discussions surrounding sexual relationships, hookups, and queer identity in Provincetown bring a minor modern lifestyle-dialogue element that some conservative viewers may notice.
15%
Production
Identity-driven story themes
The story heavily focuses on the lead character's lesbian lifestyle, her struggle with addiction, and her romantic and sexual encounters with women. Because queer identity and the LGBTQ+ culture of Provincetown serve as major backdrop elements, the narrative regularly centers on these themes. Under the rules, the inclusion of a central queer protagonist adds a significant boost to this score.
65%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The series portrays traditional institutions, particularly law enforcement and traditional relationships, in a highly cynical and negative light. It highlights toxic behavior in its male characters, particularly corrupt male cops and abusive criminals, while presenting alternative, non-traditional lifestyles as the norm. It avoids typical conservative family structures, focusing instead on a highly chaotic and dysfunctional setting.
58%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There has been almost no widespread anti-woke backlash or major organized boycotts against the show. While a few online users complained about the lesbian protagonist and called the casting "woke," most viewers, including those who identify as anti-woke, viewed the series as a gritty, pulpy noir with authentic, highly flawed characters. It was generally not perceived as an activist-driven propaganda project.
15%
Creator track record context
The show has a mixed creative team. Creator Rebecca Perry Cutter has a strong history of centering queer stories and feminist themes. High-profile writers and directors like Mae Smith and Radium Cheung also have strong progressive and queer-inclusive track records. However, this is balanced by traditional, mainstream producers like Jerry Bruckheimer, who typically focus on purely commercial, non-political projects.
46%
