Network television felt a little bit stale until a single mother of three with a 160 IQ started rearranging evidence boards while holding a mop. It sounds like the setup for a cheesy procedural we've seen a thousand times before. You know the drill: quirky outsider helps the stiff-shirted detectives solve the "impossible" case. But High Potential isn't actually doing that—at least not in the way you’d expect from the trailers.
Honestly, it’s refreshing.
Kaitlin Olson, who most of us recognize as the bird-like, chaotic Dee Reynolds from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, brings a very specific kind of frenetic energy to Morgan Gillory. Morgan isn't a Sherlock Holmes clone who stares into space until letters float around her head. She’s a woman who sees the world in high-definition patterns because her brain literally won't let her do anything else. It's a gift, sure. But as the show makes clear from the jump, it’s also a massive pain in the neck for her bank account and her social life.
The French Connection and the High Potential Formula
The show is actually an American adaptation of a massive French hit called HPI: Haut Potentiel Intellectuel. If you haven't seen the original, don't worry—ABC didn't just do a carbon copy. They localized the struggle. The core premise remains: a cleaning lady at a police station "corrects" a mistake on a high-profile case during her shift. Instead of getting arrested for tampering with evidence, she gets a job offer.
What makes High Potential work where other procedurals fail is the stakes. Morgan isn't doing this for the thrill of the chase or a sense of justice. She’s doing it because she’s broke. She has three kids, two different baby daddies (one of whom is missing), and a car that’s basically held together by spite. This isn't "consultant porn" where the lead lives in a glass loft. It’s gritty. It’s loud. It’s messy.
The "high potential" label itself refers to a specific psychological profile. In the show, Morgan has "advanced cognitive abilities," but the writers are careful to show the downside. It’s called asynchronous development. Her brain moves at 100 mph, but her emotional regulation and life management skills are sometimes stuck in the slow lane. This creates a fascinating friction with Detective Karadec (played by Daniel Sunjata), who is the personification of "by the book."
Why Kaitlin Olson Was the Only Choice
Most actors play "genius" by being cold, distant, or robotic. Olson does the opposite. She plays Morgan as someone who is constantly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data she’s absorbing.
Think about it.
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Imagine being able to spot the exact thread count of a rug, the chemical composition of a cleaning solvent, and the slight twitch in a suspect's eyelid all at once. It would be exhausting. Olson uses her physical comedy background to make Morgan’s genius feel like a physical burden. She’s twitchy. She’s talkative. She’s "too much" for almost everyone in the room.
Sunjata’s Karadec provides the necessary ballast. If Morgan is the kite, he’s the string. Their chemistry isn't built on "will-they-won't-they" romantic tension—at least not yet—but on a fundamental disagreement about how the world should work. Karadec believes in the system. Morgan believes in what she sees. Often, those two things are at war.
Breaking Down the "High Potential" Science
While the show is fiction, the concept of a "High Intellectual Potential" (HIP) individual is a real thing in psychology, particularly in Europe. It’s often characterized by:
- Hypersensitivity: An increased reaction to sensory stimuli like lights, sounds, or textures.
- Arborescent Thinking: Instead of thinking in a straight line (A to B), the brain branches out in multiple directions simultaneously (A to B, C, D, and Q).
- Hyper-Empathy: An intense, almost painful ability to feel what others are feeling.
The show uses these traits to drive the mystery-solving. When Morgan looks at a crime scene, she isn't just looking for clues; she's looking for the one thing that doesn't fit the pattern. It’s less about being a detective and more about being a master of inconsistencies.
For instance, in the pilot, she realizes a victim wasn't a "bad guy" simply because of the way his books were organized. It wasn't a magic trick. It was a logical deduction based on an obsessive attention to detail that most people—even trained detectives—overlook because their brains filter out "useless" information. Morgan’s brain has no filter.
The Missing Piece: The Roman Mystery
Underneath the "case of the week" structure lies the real hook: the disappearance of Roman, Morgan’s first love and the father of her eldest daughter, Ava. This is where High Potential gains its emotional weight.
Morgan’s obsession with solving crimes is fueled by the one mystery she couldn't solve: why the man she loved vanished fifteen years ago. The police at the time dismissed him as a "deadbeat" who just walked out. Morgan knows better. Her brain tells her the math doesn't add up. This overarching plot prevents the show from becoming just another disposable procedural. It gives Morgan a reason to stay at the LAPD beyond just a paycheck. She’s using their resources to find her own truth.
The relationship between Morgan and her daughter Ava (played by Amirah J) is the show's secret weapon. Ava is a teenager who is embarrassed by her mom’s eccentricity but also fiercely protective of her. Their dynamic feels real. It’s not a TV-perfect mother-daughter bond; it’s strained, loving, and complicated by the ghost of a father who isn't there.
Why This Ranks Above Your Average Cop Show
Look, we have enough shows about cops. We really do. But High Potential feels different because it’s actually a show about class.
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Morgan is a working-class woman who has been dismissed her entire life. People see the loud clothes, the messy hair, and the "janitor" job, and they assume she’s not intelligent. The show is a constant middle finger to that kind of elitism. Every time Morgan out-thinks a lawyer or a lead investigator, it’s a win for everyone who’s ever been underestimated because they didn't have a degree or the "right" pedigree.
The production design also deserves a shoutout. The LAPD headquarters isn't a sleek, futuristic hub. It’s a drab, beige office. Morgan’s house is cluttered. The lighting is often harsh. This visual groundedness makes Morgan’s "flashes" of insight feel more earned.
What to Watch For in Upcoming Episodes
If you're jumping into the series now, pay attention to the small stuff. The writers love planting seeds that don't sprout until three episodes later.
- The Evidence Room: Watch how Morgan interacts with the physical objects. She treats them like pieces of a puzzle she’s already solved in her head.
- Karadec’s Evolution: He starts as a skeptic, but his slow-burn realization that Morgan is indispensable is one of the better character arcs on TV right now.
- The Missing Persons Files: The Roman subplot isn't just background noise. There are hints dropped in the dialogue—specifically regarding the detective who handled the original case—that suggest a much larger conspiracy.
It’s also worth noting that Drew Goddard is the executive producer. This is the guy behind The Martian and Cloverfield. He knows how to balance high-concept ideas with human emotion. You can feel his fingerprints on the pacing; the show moves fast, but it knows when to slow down for a quiet moment between Morgan and her kids.
Making the Most of High Potential
To really get the most out of High Potential, you should stop trying to beat the show to the answer. It’s not a "fair play" mystery where all the clues are laid out for the viewer to solve at home. It’s an immersive experience. You’re meant to ride shotgun with Morgan and see the world through her chaotic, brilliant lens.
If you’re a fan of Monk, Psych, or The Mentalist, this is 100% in your wheelhouse. But it has an edge those shows lacked. It’s less about the "quirk" and more about the "cost."
Actionable Insights for Viewers:
- Check the French Original: If you can't wait for weekly episodes, find HPI (the original French version). It’s fascinating to see how they adapted certain plot points for an American audience.
- Watch the Background: Morgan often solves parts of the mystery in the background of scenes before she ever says a word.
- Follow the Money: The show is very specific about Morgan’s financial struggles. It’s a key part of her motivation and explains why she takes risks that a normal consultant wouldn't.
- Don't Ignore the Kids: The subplots with Ava and the younger kids often mirror the themes of the main mystery. The writers are very intentional about thematic symmetry.
The show is a reminder that "potential" isn't something you either have or you don't. It’s something that can be suppressed by circumstances, poverty, and bad luck—and sometimes, it just takes the right (very loud) person to kick the door down and let it out. Keep an eye on the Tuesday night slot on ABC; this show is likely going to be the network's biggest hit in years.