High Potential’s quirky protagonist helped make the crime procedural an instant hit, but Morgan Gillory isn’t without her blindspots. Kaitlin Olson’s work as the titularHigh PotentialIntellectual has undeniably redefined her image, but other members of the fictional LAPD pulled their weight throughout the pilot season.High Potentialseason 2will undoubtedly offer more moments of Morgan’s genius, but the talented ensemble cast will hopefully get their time to shine as well.
Morgan was pivotal during the13 investigations inHigh Potentialseason 1, but she doesn’t do it alone. Lieutenant Selena Soto (Judy Reyes) initially recruits her to catch minute details that other detectives— like Daniel Sunjata’s Adam Karadec— may miss.Morgan quickly becomes more than a consultant, however, and she is only one member of the LAPD’s Major Crimes Unit, alongside characters like Daphne Forrester (Javicia Leslie) and Lev “Oz” Ozdil (Deniz Akdeniz).
5Karadec Figures Out The Murder Was A Two-Person Job
Season 1, Episode 3
Although Morgan’s natural affinity for crime-solving is a compellingreason to watchHigh Potential, her greenness catches up with her at times. After a murder unfurls a convoluted web of con men and cash grabs, Morgan deduces the murderer based on the unusual entry point: a high window’s ledge. Of course,High Potentialrarely lets a story resolve without some sort of twist.
Just as Morgan prepares to celebrate another case closed,Karadec has an epiphany: the murderer had an accomplice— a scorned mistress who nearly got away scot-free. At the last moment, Karadec finds the final piece of the narrative puzzle that ensures everyone involved faces proper consequences. If it weren’t for Karadec, Morgan would have inadvertently let one criminal walk inHigh Potentialepisode 3.
4Oz & Daphne Discover The Vet’s Hidden Apartment
Season 1, Episode 5
DespiteMorgan and Karadec’s chemistry inHigh Potentialbeing a major selling point,the partnership between Oz and Daphne is just as entertaining. The two investigators offer a more traditional dynamic as police partners, but their HPI-less sleuthing is just as imperative to the LAPD’s success. DuringHigh Potentialseason 1, episode 5, Daphne and Oz even make a major case in the breakthrough without Morgan or Karadec.
Morgan isn’t infallible inHigh Potentialand, more importantly, the LAPD isn’t helpless.
Granted, the main pair independently discover the same apartment that the victim was secretly renting. However, the fact thatDaphne and Oz quickly came to such an important conclusion without Morgan’s super-human attention to detailis still incredibly impressive. Daphne and Oz serve as the perfect reminder that Morgan isn’t infallible inHigh Potentialand, more importantly, the LAPD isn’t helpless.
3Karadec Exposes The Grieving Husband’s Secret Affair
Season 1, Episode 6
As Morgan’s partner and narrative foil, it’s easy for Karadec’s skills to be overlooked inHigh Potential. With a genius protagonist at his side, Karadec still manages to do more than hold his own during investigations. While conducting an interrogation for the confoundingcase inHigh Potentialseason 1, episode 6, Karadec demonstrates the awe-inspiring extent of his good old-fashioned detective work.
Within seconds, Karadec recognizes a minor slip-up in the woman’s responseand concludes she was having an affair with the victim’s husband. Everyone— including Selena and Morgan, watching from the other side of the two-way mirror— is stunned by not only the discovery but the speed with which Karadec realized the significance of her testimony.High Potentialpositioned Karadec as a successful detective immediately, but seeing him in action is much more convincing.
2Selena Makes Progress On Roman’s Cold Case
Season 1, Episode 8
The inciting event of the entire series— Morgan agreeing to consult the LAPD— came with a built-in caveat: investigating the disappearance of Roman Sinquerra.Roman was Morgan’s ex-husbandand the father to her eldest child, Ava (Amirah J). AsHigh Potentialepisode 1 revealed, Roman vanished 15 years prior to the series without a trace and, despite Morgan’s best efforts, has been unaccounted for by local law enforcement.
High Potentialseason 1 is streaming on Hulu.
While what happened toRoman is stillHigh Potential’s greatest mystery,Selena has made a staggering amount of progress on an unsolved case that’s over a decade old. Selena worked tirelessly and covertly to find answers for Morgan, producing the first lead that began to unravel the entire conspiracy: Roman’s old contact, Gio Conforth (Domenick Lombardozzi). It’s rare to see Selena’s skills inHigh Potential, but her work on Roman’s case proves how she earned her rank.
1Daphne Solves David’s Final Clue
Season 1, Episode 13
High Potential’s season 1 finaleupped the ante in every possible way— there were multiple victims, a near-death experience for one of LAPD’s own, and the first recurring antagonist in the form of“David”(David Giuntoli). The aliased kidnapper toyed with the Major Crimes Unit throughoutHigh Potentialepisode 13, but his twisted game even proved too difficult for Morgan in the end. After Oz is left in his death-trap with a ticking clock, Daphne steps up.
Morgan and the rest of the LAPD are at a loss, but Daphne realizes the answer has been in front of them the whole time: the fonts of each riddle form an acrostic that acts as the final clue. The team rescues Oz without a second to spare, meaningDaphne’s stroke of genius was irrefutably a life-or-death moment. AlthoughDavid’s plan inHigh Potentialseason 2is still looming, the combined efforts of the ensemble will surely thwart him. After all, Morgan’sHigh Potentialskills are nothing without her team behind her.
