If you’ve ever thought “Wow, I wish Law and Order was just a little bit more like Scooby Doo” then buddy, do I have the show for you!
Having been in a bit of a TV rut since Christmas, I bit the bullet and resubscribed to Disney+, thinking I could at least throw on The Simpsons or New Girl. Instead, I was delighted to be met with 12 episodes of the second season of High Potential; a comedy crime drama created by Drew Goddard whose first season I thoroughly enjoyed, but completely forgot about once it was over. Unsurprising, given the lack of hype surrounding the show, despite overall positive ratings with an average of 7.6/10 on IMDB and 98% on the Tomatometer.
Based on French series HPI, with the same writers (Stéphane Carrié and Alice Chegaray-Breugnot) attached, High Potential follows Morgan (Kaitlin Olson), a single mother with a unique knack for puzzles and a photographic memory, using her genius to help the LAPD solve the unsolvable. What a tremendously cheesey concept. Absolutely brilliant. A 45 minute whodunnit with an quick-witted eccentrically fashionable female protagonist. This type of mystery drama is by no means original, we have seen this formula play out on screen time and time again. High Potential could very easily have spiralled into a string of sloppy, predictable tropes. Instead, we have a well-written character-driven story full of colour, warmth and heart.
“Whodunnit” series come at a dime a dozen- Only Murders in the Building, CSI, Law and Order, the list goes on. So is there really any need for another? In the case of High Potential, I say absolutely. There’s a reason that these formulaic series keep popping up, lasting season after season- people love a mystery. What sets High Potential apart from the others, is there’s an element of daftness to it. This series is very much a fantasy- a glamourous and sassy genius flouting rules and regulation, making those who doubt her look a fool as she swans around crime scenes in heels and hot pink eyeliner like some sort of Detective Barbie. But this hot nonsense is integral to its charm.
Initially Kaitlin Olson was my attraction to High Potential. As a comedy actress, she’s truly impeccable, and seeing that she was an executive producer affirmed that this would be my type of show. If there’s one thing Olson knows, it’s playing a chaotic mess. After years of playing Dee Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I’d go so far as to say she’s perfected the art. Unlike Olson’s characters in IASIP or Hacks, Morgan is a softer, more multi-faceted mess. Rather than being a completely self-centred nightmare, she’s a deeply empathetic character. While she lacks stability in her own life due to her (implied) neurodivergence, she’s a woman of the people. Her work as a police consultant sees her step into the role of a maverick- playing by her own rules, bureaucracy be damned. It’s also refreshing to see a female portrayal of this type of arrogant genius for once- backing herself all the way, even when it’s not by-the-book. She is likeable yet complex, a strong protagonist to carry the series.
The choice made by the writers, that Morgan shouldn’t be a cop, was also a clever move. Given the current political climate in the U.S. and general public perception of the L.A.P.D., it would immediately be more divisive. As Season 8 of Brooklyn 99 (a painful watch) aired, the attempts to address issues of police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s murder went down like a lead balloon. Yes, High Potential is still a crime drama. Yes, the police are still the “good guys”. However we’re following a character with a strong sense of justice but very little respect for the system. Her intelligence challenges and embarrasses the authority of the brass. This results in less chance that viewers will feel conflicted about liking Morgan.
Morgan is not alone as a dimensional character written with depth. Between her family and colleagues, everyone feels well-rounded and layered- no easy task, given the volume of characters. This main cast of clearly defined characters share a natural chemistry in their interactions. Despite the fantastical tone, characters are written from a place of empathy that grounds everything back in reality. The brief opening scene showing the victims establishes that the soon-to-be “body” was a real person leading a real life. Even the antagonists are written with care, humanising them to create a complex emotional dilemma. High Potential should also be commended for the diversity across its cast, which comes across as intentional and not a shoehorned-in afterthought.
Another trademark of the genre; there’s a delightful slow-burning relationship arc between Morgan and Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), her reluctant partner. At this point in the series, they have not yet made a full transition from enemies to lovers, but the sexual tension is at Mulder and Scully levels- two polar opposites who have grown to respect the other’s methods, a strong bond forming through the darkness of their day-to-day in major crimes. If the writers play their cards right, this will-they-wont-they dynamic could go on for several seasons.
Goddard’s vision is executed flawlessly. This show knows exactly what it wants to be, and consistently delivers it every episode in the tone, visuals and the storylines. It’s whimsical in style, yet seamlessly switches into a serious tone to tackle dark subject matters. It’s loaded with intrigue, without the icky exploitative nature of true crime. As a comedy, there aren’t necessarily a lot of laugh-out-loud outrageous moments, but there’s a dry tongue-in-cheek humour with some great quippy one-liners keeping things light. It feels modern and current, without trying too hard. Even though it tackles some very hot-button 2026 topics, humanity is always at the core of the plotline and because of this I could see High Potential standing the test of time. Overall, the perfect cocktail for some cozy escapist watching.
With episodes being released weekly, I’m delighted to have something to regularly look forward to watching again. That said, it’s also a gripping binge-watch. Season 2 is set to have 18 episodes with the finale released on March 18th. Best believe, I will be SAT. While I don’t feel I can accurately rate it until the finale comes out, so far I would give Season 2 4.5 stars.
High Potential is streaming on Disney+, new episodes released on Wednesdays at 10 am.
