ABC Series High Potential: Kaitlin Olson’s Genius Detective Show is Surprisingly Addictive

Who knew a cleaning lady could become the LAPD’s secret weapon? ABC Series High Potential takes the tired “genius consultant helps clueless cops” formula and makes it feel fresh again, mostly thanks to Kaitlin Olson’s absolutely electric performance as Morgan, a single mom with an IQ of 160 and zero filter.

TMJ Rating: 🍿🍿🍿🍿/5

What You Need to Know

Morgan Gillory works as a cleaning lady for the LAPD, but get this: she has an incredibly high IQ that lets her see patterns everyone else misses. When she can’t help herself from rearranging evidence on a murder board during her night shift, she accidentally solves a case that had detectives stumped.

Instead of getting fired (or arrested), she gets offered a consulting gig working with Detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), who’s about as thrilled with this arrangement as you’d expect. Morgan’s got three kids to support and bills to pay, so she takes the job, much to everyone’s surprise—including her own.

Each episode follows Morgan as she uses her unique perspective to crack cases, all while juggling single motherhood and trying to figure out what happened to her oldest daughter’s missing father.

Acting and Cast Performance

I love Morgan’s character. She’s so eccentric and lively, bringing this infectious energy to every scene. Olson perfectly balances Morgan’s genius-level intellect with her scattered single-mom chaos, making her feel like a real person rather than a walking superpower.

Daniel Sunjata brings the perfect amount of skepticism and gradual respect as Karadec. Their partnership evolves naturally from mutual annoyance to genuine teamwork, and their chemistry carries the show.

Lieutenant Selena (Judy Reyes) brings warmth and authority as Morgan’s biggest supporter on the force. Detective Forrester (Javicia Leslie) and her partner Oz have great chemistry and provide some of the show’s funniest moments.

The ensemble really clicks together, creating a workplace that feels lived-in and believable. Everyone gets their moments to shine without overcrowding the main storylines.

The Detective Stuff

The cases are engaging without being overly complicated, and Morgan’s unique approach to solving them keeps things interesting. She notices details that seem obvious once she points them out, but you never would have caught them yourself.

The show smartly doesn’t make Morgan right about everything all the time.

She’s brilliant, but she’s also impulsive and sometimes gets tunnel vision when she’s focused on a case. This makes her feel human rather than like some infallible crime-solving robot. I found this to be unlike some other “genius” shows I’ve watched, like Scorpion.

Of Course There’s Family Drama

The family storylines add real emotional weight without slowing down the procedural elements.

Morgan’s three kids each have distinct personalities, and the ongoing mystery of her oldest daughter Ava’s missing father, Roman, gives the season a compelling throughline.

Watching Morgan try to balance her new career with single motherhood creates genuine tension. Her ex, Ludo, steps up as a father figure to all three kids, which creates an interesting family dynamic.

What Makes It Different

High Potential fits nicely into the recent wave of lighter detective shows like Elsbeth. It’s got that same blend of comedy and crime-solving, but Olson’s performance gives it its own distinct flavor.

Unlike some procedurals that can feel repetitive, this one stays fresh by focusing on Morgan’s unique perspective and her relationships with her family and colleagues.

My Personal Problem with the ABC Series High Potential

The only real complaint I have is that they ended the season with such a brutal cliffhanger involving a serial kidnapper played by David Giuntoli (great casting, by the way). There’s still some time before the next season comes out, and I’m extremely impatient to see what happens next.

Some of the cases follow predictable patterns, but the execution is strong enough that it doesn’t matter much.

My Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?

High Potential is comfort food television at its finest—smart, funny, and genuinely heartwarming without being saccharine. Olson’s performance alone makes it worth watching, but the strong supporting cast and engaging cases seal the deal.

If you’re missing shows like Monk or Psych, this will scratch that same itch while bringing something new to the table. The show proves that sometimes the best way to handle a familiar formula is to find the right person to make it feel fresh again.

Can’t wait for the next season to see where they take Morgan’s story and hopefully get some answers about that cliffhanger!

Have you watched High Potential, and what do you think of Morgan’s detective methods? Are you team Karadec/Morgan romance, or do you want them to stay partners? Let me know in the comments!