High Potential is a new ABC (and Hulu) series about an extremely intelligent woman who becomes a consultant for the police. It’s on Tuesdays on ABC. As of now, I’ve seen six of the 11 episodes in the season.
High Potential is typical series TV. It’s a crime of the week police procedural. The twist is that Morgan Gillory (Kaitlin Olson), a single mom of three, is smarter than just about everyone on the planet. When she solves a crime while performing her janitorial job in a police station and leaves a note on the murder board, she comes to the cops’ attention.
Selena Soto (Judy Reyes) is the head of homicide. She watches the CCTV recording of Morgan cleaning and calls her in to talk about the defaced murder board. The two main detectives working with Soto are Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) and Daphne Forrester (Javicia Leslie). They chew Morgan out while she explains how she figured out what they missed. They send her home.
But, of course, Selena Soto shows up soon after with a job offer. Will Morgan consult for the police? The pay is good and the police will cover the cost of her ex, Ludo (Taran Killam), working as a manny for her three kids. An offer too good to refuse.
They’ve given Morgan Gillory lots of personality. She’s great (and funny) with her kids. There’s 15 year old Ava (Amirah J) and younger brother Elliot (Matthew Lamb). The youngest is still a babe in arms. Morgan dresses like a go go dancer, calculates her grocery bills (including tax) in her head, and needs a new carburetor for the car. When she notices an anomaly in the data, evidence, or situation her brain won’t let go until she figures it out. She’s perfect for the police.
Her oldest, Ava, has a different father than Ludo. Her father disappeared when Ava was a baby. Part of Morgan’s deal with the police is that they will try to find out what happened to Ava’s dad.
That much is revealed in the pilot episode. Then the case of the week crime solving starts in earnest. She’s teamed up with Karadec most of the time, and he doesn’t trust her. She knows nothing about procedures like how to preserve evidence or act at a crime scene, so he’s constantly yelling at her.
As weekly network television shows go, this one is pretty good. It has a strong woman in the lead. Good supporting characters surround her. The characters have little side plots and quirks to keep things interesting. I watch so few shows on Network TV these days, it’s nice to find a new one I enjoy.
Let me know what you think of it if you’re watching High Potential. The comments are open.
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I have only watched one episode so far but I put it in the DVR queue because I was so happy to see Judy Reyes back in a recurring role. I just loved her Quiet Ann in Claws.
I also am happy to see Batwoman (Javica Leslie) in this one.
Ah, this sounds like an English language remake of a French series I enjoyed on Acorn. That was called HIP: High Intellectual Potential. That one was fun. I’ll look out for this one when it comes to a service I use.
Yes. It is taken from a French series.
I have a problem with the initial premise, if she’s so smart it’s preposterous for her to have had to be a janitor. I know that I’m just nitpicking.
They did try to explain that away by saying she was always getting fired for insubordination.
We’ve been watching since it launched. Reminds us of “Wild Cards” show on CBC. Agee with you, love seeing a strong woman lead in the show, highlighting her relationships with her family, and her new promising career. Added bonus: Judy Reyes, who we’ve watched for years on various shows.
Judy Reyes is a favorite of mine too.
I’ve been watching it as well, and although the lead character is a bit over -the-top, the supporting cast is so good.
Indeed!
You should see the french TV version which this show is based on, called HIP (or HPI in French), also on hulu – it’s very good!
Thanks for the tip.
I watched ep 1 and liked it, but really wish they didn’t make part of her character dressing in a revealing way. It’s kind of like this whole persona of, “Oh she dresses so trampy, isn’t it wild she’s also smart?” Why was that part of her character? It’s predictable but irritating.
In the French version this is taken from, she also dressed like that. They copied everything closely in the American version.