ABC’s latest triumph, High Potential, is finally returning for the second half of its pilot season. The police procedural has been on break since November, but High Potential episode 8 is nearly here. Though the drama immediately garnered a sizable following, High Potential’s impressive midseason ratings may attract a new crowd. In the time it’s been gone, however, details may have gone fuzzy or been forgotten entirely.
Whether a devout fan or just tuning in, a refresher might be necessary to get caught up before the next episode. There are plenty of reasons to watch High Potential, but being up-to-date on the first seven episodes may feel daunting. The last episode aired November 12, 2024, leaving nearly two months to rewatch what was available or turn to French predecessor HPI as a replacement show for High Potential. In any case, there are a few key storylines to highlight ahead of High Potential’s return.
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Morgan Is An HPI Who Functions As An LAPD Consultant
Her 160 IQ And Eye For Detail Are Vital To Solving Cases
The core of High Potential is the titular High Potential Intellectual, Morgan Gillory (Kaitlin Olson). Formerly a cleaner that inadvertently interfered in a police investigation, Morgan was quickly brought on as a special consultant after showing her brilliant reasoning skills. She balances out partner Detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) and always brings a pop of color to a crime scene.
Playing the lead in High Potential has reframed Kaitlin Olson’s image and shown her dynamic acting prowess. Morgan is the perfect quirky protagonist that fills the void left by Psych’s Shawn Spencer or Suits’s Mike Ross. Not only is she good at what she does, she makes it entertaining.
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Morgan's Ex-Husband, Roman Is Missing (& LAPD Is Helping Her Find Him)
Answers May Be Coming 15 Years After He Supposedly Vanished
While every episode of High Potential follows a different criminal case to solve, there is one underlying mystery in the pilot season: Roman. Morgan’s first husband and father of Ava (Amirah J), Roman left to buy diapers and never returned home. When Morgan joined the LAPD, she had one stipulation: she wanted the truth.
Although little is known about what happened to Roman in High Potential, Selena (Judy Reyes) has slowly been investigating on her own. In the second batch of episodes, High Potential will certainly explore the unresolved ghost from Morgan’s past in more detail. Regardless of what truly happened 15 years ago, the answer is sure to shock Morgan and her daughter.
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Tom Asked Morgan Out Before The High Potential Mid-Season Finale Hostage Situation
Now That He's Healed, Their Relationship Can Start
One of the last additions to High Potential was Tom (JD Pardo), the new cleaner at the LAPD who instantly connected with Morgan. The two shared multiple flirty interactions, culminating in Tom asking her out at the start of High Potential episode 7 (“One of Us”). Before they could follow through on it, a hostage situation broke out and Tom ended up with a gunshot wound.
Despite ending up in a hospital bed, Tom’s interest never waned. Whether High Potential has a slight timeskip or picks up right where they left off, Tom will be healed and free to pursue Morgan seriously. There are multiple characters and plots that might complicate things in the future, but Morgan’s relationship with Tom in High Potential will take off soon. It’s not a matter of if they’ll date, it's how long they'll last.
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High Potential Sets Up A Slow-Burn Romance For Morgan & Karadec
The Partnership Started Off Rocky, But They've Got Chemistry
Although Morgan is a genius, she wouldn’t be as successful as she is without the help of Detective Karadec. The two are very different people, but that’s precisely what makes their dynamic so interesting in High Potential. Karadec’s serious approach to police work is lost on Morgan, and Morgan’s lackadaisical treatment of police procedure is a constant source of frustration for Karadec.
Yet, they still work together well and have undeniable chemistry. Even with Karadec initially disliking Morgan, dating other women, and never expressly implying he’s attracted to her, there is still a budding sense of tension that isn’t purely professional. An ongoing debate exists surrounding whether Tom or Karadec is better for Morgan in High Potential, despite only one of them actively pursuing her. That's a testament to Morgan and Karadec’s rapport in and of itself.
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High Potential Is ABC's Most-Watched Drama
The Pilot Season Has Found Critical Success And A Devoted Following
Though less than a full season in, High Potential is already a massive success for ABC. Across its first seven episodes, High Potential broke viewership records and earned a Fresh 94% Rotten Tomatoes score. Aside from the millions of live viewers each episode had, High Potential was also a highly-streamed title on Hulu. All things considered, High Potential has been a breakout hit.
With such a strong freshman showing, it looks like High Potential will have a bright future at ABC. High Potential season 2 is miraculously still unconfirmed, but a renewal feels like the logical next step to build on the procedural’s momentum. HPI had a 5-season run, so it would reasonably follow that its American counterpart should earn another episode order soon. With its first season returning, High Potential’s popularity is back on the rise and will likely continue to impress with episode 8.
Morgan, a single mother of three with a brilliant but unconventional mind, partners with a methodical detective after solving a crime during her job as a cleaner. Together, they form an unlikely but effective duo, blending her unique problem-solving skills with his by-the-book approach to tackle challenging cases.
Release Date
September 17, 2024
CastJavicia Leslie
, Kaitlin Olson
, Deniz Akdeniz
, Amirah J
, Matthew Lamb
, Judy Reyes
, Daniel Sunjata
, Garret Dillahunt
, TJ Lee
, Kayvon Esmaili
, Ariella Amar
, Michelle C. Bonilla
, Kerry O'Malley
, Graham Rogers
, Maia Jae Bastidas
, Pamela Roylance
, Rosslyn Luke
, Sebastien Roberts
Custom image by Ana Nieves
English (US) ·