‘Hightown’ Recap: ‘I Said, No, No, No’

2/3/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Monica Raymund as Jackie Quiñones in Episode 302 of ‘Hightown’ – ‘I Said No, No, No’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 302 of ‘Hightown’. To revisit the Season Three Premiere, click here.

There are a great many reasons that people have tuned into the hit STARZ series, Hightown, over the past three years. For some, it’s about the diversity and the representation present here. Because this show excels at that and offers a cast that reflects what America looks like today, and it is wonderful to see ourselves on the small screen. For others, it is all about the characters themselves. Because everyone present in this series feels real and resembles people we know through and through, and we find bits of ourselves in these characters as well, and that too is important to really enjoy a series. But of the many reasons we all tune into this brilliant show, there is one we all share in. Specifically, the fact that this is at its core, an amazing crime drama.

Because over the course of the past three years, we’ve been treated to some tense moments and grand investigations that draw us in and compel us to continue the journey, to see if justice will be served. Only for the story to take us on twists and turns that keeps the cases alive and keeps justice barely out of reach. Something that could be a parallel to our world and our own justice system. But that’s an analysis for another time. Simply because the overall structure of the show is top of mind today, because the next episode in this storied fight to keep the cape free form evil… once again plunged us into the heart of a crime drama… with some powerful character moments peppered in.

Which are feats that ‘I Said No, No, No’ accomplished by offering up a couple of big surprises for a couple of key characters. Such as the fact that Jackie’s pee supplier, accidentally consumed some weed gummies and that flagged Jackie as a user and put her job in jeopardy. Bringing about some consequences at last for her drug use and struggles to stay clean. While she reeled from that, the audience was able to learn that Renee had put herself in greave trouble, through her decision to lower her guard. For she truly thought she was free from trouble and able to forge her own path, and no longer worried. But Frankie made sure to get his new little lady close to Renee, giving rise to real trouble and a chance that perhaps… that bag of goodies might go missing.

Dohn Norwood as Alan Saintille in Episode 302 of ‘Hightown’ – ‘I Said No, No, No’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

But in between those delightful moments of causality and accountability, there were indeed some heavy crime drama moments to be found. Such as what Alan uncovered in his case. Since he came to learn that he and his team were looking for the wrong woman, for false identities were a thing in this town and those names were all fake, but he eventually found the right ones because he’s a great cop. Not to mention, Ray made some headway with his new rookie. Because her overzealous nature, one that matched Ray’s to a tee, got her in front of the new dealers in town. The very ones that were making Osito nervous and eager to find Charmaine so he could once again rule the town in his own way.

But of course, the centerpiece case in this tale, involved Jackie. Because now that she was in essence, free from her regular duties, she was able to dig in and investigate what happened to the woman she was with, whose name was Veronica we’ve learned, and well… this quickly plunged her into a scary world. The world of the sex trade to be specific. Because Veronica was a call girl, and she worked with one scuzzy pimp that scared the hell out of Jackie so badly… that she began to wonder if something horrible happened to Veronica, and well… her hunch might be right. For her unorthodox approach to fact finding revealed some ugly words about Veronica, from a fellow associate no less, leaving her to wonder… what she has stumbled upon, and if she’ll be able to work on it.

Mainly because, Ray did pull some strings and got her into a state mandated rehab program. One that would take her away from the work and the Cape. Which puts her at quite the crossroads, one that she will make a decision on soon, no less. But while we wait to see what comes next, we can once again celebrate an engaging episode through and through. Because this really was a greatest hits story, one complete with cause and effect, and character moments and juicy cases that have us eager to see if justice will be served when we reach the finish line, or if this series will close out as imperfectly as life does. And of course, the only way to know is to continue the journey and see what lies ahead as we inch toward the end of this amazing saga. Until next time.

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