As a seasoned gamer of crime procedurals who’s seen more episodes than I care to count, I was ready to roll my eyes at yet another consultant-led series. But then came High Potential, and it’s safe to say that this one caught me off guard, in the best way possible.
It’s clear that when it comes to crime procedurals on TV, you might think “Here we go again.” They seem repetitive, following the same patterns. Typically, the consultant character outsmarts their police counterparts or makes them appear incompetent. I understand your perspective. However, these conventions are just part of the script for this genre. The true value lies in how skillfully they can transform these predictable elements into something unique, compelling viewers not only to tune in but also to keep watching. And that’s exactly what High Potential achieves with its pilot episode.
Meet Morgan Guillory, skillfully portrayed by Kaitlin Olson, a comedic actress renowned for her work. Her character gives an immediate impression of being eccentric. What follows is a captivating performance by an outrageous female lead whose intelligence is served with a dash of wit. However, beware not to judge by her flamboyant style. Morgan tends to be dry, straightforward, abrupt, and occasionally frustrated due to the detectives’ inability to match her analytical prowess.
Morgan’s involvement in the initial case for the show isn’t solely about proving Lynette Acosta (Kate Craven) as a victim rather than a suspect. Instead, it’s an innate drive within her to rectify wrongs that she encounters. This compulsion is so strong that if left unaddressed, it would cause her sleepless nights. As she confides in Lt. Selena Soto (Judy Reyes), her exceptional cognitive abilities, including her IQ of 160 and eidetic memory, are not something she views as a blessing. Rather, they pose challenges in her daily life, making it difficult for her to maintain relationships, keep a job, and engage in casual conversations.
It turns out that Morgan lends a hand due to Letty (Maia Jae Bastidas), Lynette’s daughter. Despite her dislike for authority and her readiness to retaliate against a cop who insults and then arrests her, Morgan has a tender side. This becomes evident with her children–Ava, Eliot, and Chloe. While Morgan isn’t one to mince words or hold back her brashness, she takes the time for heartfelt, truthful, and sincere discussions with them.
In this rephrased version, Olson skillfully navigates the delicate line between Morgan’s portrayal of attitude and genius, avoiding slipping too much into cynicism or a feeling of being world-weary. In harmony with her character, Daniel Sunjata effectively establishes a rhythm with Det. Adam Karadec that resonates well.
In the first episode, the two characters initially clash sharply without any hidden romantic signals. Instead, there’s genuine animosity and irritation between them. There’s no hint of an underlying affection or secret admiration. To put it plainly, they don’t exactly get along, and Karadec isn’t pleased about working with Morgan on this case. He expresses his displeasure openly. If you’re hoping for a developing camaraderie or mutual fondness, think again. However, as the story unfolds, Karadec begins to soften, offering us a peek at what their professional relationship could look like when they’re both focused and in agreement.
Karadec and Morgan play off each other effectively, allowing the detective to arrive at her findings about the Acostas’ house incident. It’s advantageous that although Karadec can be brusque and organized to a fault, with a compulsive cleanliness habit, he humorously tolerates Morgan’s quirks during their investigations. At one instance, he ends up caring for her baby Chloe and installing the car seat in his police vehicle.
The area where High Potential should focus on improving and grow in the coming weeks is developing its secondary characters. Lt. Soto prioritizes work above all, and while she encourages Morgan’s assistance, she hasn’t left a lasting impression yet. With an actress like Judy Reyes on board, it will be exciting to see her character fully come to life as the series progresses.
In the pilot episode, Javicia Leslie and Deniz Akdeniz portray Daphne and Oz, respectively, yet their characters seem underdeveloped. Daphne, with her upbeat and sweet demeanor and fondness for lollipops, has a foundation to build upon, but Oz lacks distinct features that define him. Here’s hoping the writers flesh out his character soon.
In the opening episode of Hight Potential, Morgan ultimately accepts the lieutenant’s offer to become a consultant, not driven by altruism, but for reasons that are yet to be revealed. This decision sets the stage for an intriguing season-long mystery as Morgan links up with the LAPD, making it worth staying tuned to uncover the truth.
My verdict? Tune into this procedural. It just may become your new favorite.
High Potential airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. Next day streaming is available on Hulu.
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2024-09-18 19:53