‘Hightown’ Recap: ‘The Best You’ll Feel All Day’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One particular phrase that is used often in regard to the road to recovery for addiction, is ‘rock bottom’. Which is the particular point in an addict’s life, when they come to realize that their substance abuse is hurting themselves and others and if they don’t change course, bad things will happen and normally, it is a very bad moment that allows for an addict to achieve rock bottom. Because sometimes in life, it takes something awful to really wake us up and that’s why in stories revolving around addiction, the protagonist goes through quite the terrible experience when they’ve reached that point. To hammer home the dangers of drugs and unchecked addiction. 
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But not every rock bottom moment for addicts has to revolve around the destruction of their lives or painful experiences that see them lose so much. Sometimes just understanding how their actions have harmed others is enough, and sometimes the inaction and selfishness that addiction brings forth works as well, and what’s amazing is that rock bottom extends beyond the world of addiction as well. Because sometimes the poor choices we make put us at our lowest and this more dynamic side to this age-old phrase is of note today, because it served as the focus of the next episode of Hightown. For when we catch up with Jackie and Junior in ‘The Best You’ll Feel All Day’, they’re barreling toward a pair of different rock bottom experiences, and for Junior, that involved experiencing some supremely dark and difficult moments.

For Frankie got wind of the fact that Krista was talking to Scotty and knew about Sherry’s death and that meant that Junior had to accompany Osito on an assassination run to put her down before she could talk to the cops. Which Junior saw as no big deal, but when Osito demanded that Junior deliver the hot dose that was going to take her down, Junior started his downward slide toward the bottom. One that was completed when he came face to face with Krista and failed in his instructions. Which led to Osito’s arrival in Krista’s hotel room, wherein he brutally beat her to death while Junior watched and well, that was his rock bottom moment. For this man that once lived between worlds and thought he was making a difference in his baby’s life, came to realize… that he was involved in some genuinely dark acts from which there may be no escape.  

As for Jackie, well… her journey toward the bottom was a bit more traditional in nature. Because she found herself quickly slipping back into old habits in this tale. Because that one night of fun turned into an outright bender, one that cost her a second chance with Devonne and that in turn, plunged her deeper into her need to heal through substances. To the point where she might have missed being open and honest with herself about the root causes of her addiction. To complicate matters further, she got higher and higher as the night went on, to the point where she finally felt bold and brave enough to swing by Krista’s hotel room to save her. But her friends and the allure of another beer and another bump was too hard to pass up and well, sticking to that, led to her rock bottom moment. For when she emerged from her inebriated cocoon, she came to learn that Krista called her and when she dialed Krista back, Ray picked up and informed her… that Krista died in the middle of the night.

A revelation that broke Jackie when she realized that had she been sober, or at least clear enough to stay on her mission, she might have saved Krista and been a hero and found a sliver of the peace she’s craving. But alas, her addiction cost her and Krista so much and well, that’s a powerful way to end this tale and hopefully now… Jackie can emerge from the darkness and heal at last. But what’s wild, is that this episode had more rock bottom explorations to offer, since clearly… Ray is barreling toward his own. Because he cannot quit Renee and that will undoubtedly drag him down because he’s so close to a critical case. But all of that aside, this really was a brilliant tale, one that truly put the downward spiral on display in a palatable and intelligent manner, one that didn’t feel fictional in the slightest and well, now that this powerful exploration has come to a close, the time has come to turn our attention to the next chapter in this story… so we can see which characters will escape the darkness surrounding them and step into the light at last. Until next time.

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