Sometimes you don’t want gritty realism or prestige TV sometimes you just want something smart, silly, and ridiculously entertaining.
It’s pretty impossible to create anything truly original in the packed murder/police crime drama genre, and High Potential doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it relies on strong performances, a tight script, and a genuine sense of fun that lifts the series above the average fare available.
Kaitlin Olson is just fantastic as Morgan, a punchy mother of three who, while working as a cleaner in a police department, accidentally knocks over a file and, while picking it up, solves the crime.
It turns out that with an IQ of 160 Morgan is a “high potential intellect,” which means that this single mum suddenly becomes the perfect candidate to consult for the Homicide department.
I know this sounds ridiculous and it is but somehow it all works perfectly!
This is mainly down to Olson, who is so charming that the unlikelihood of her character feels completely normal. She’s ably assisted by the supporting cast, especially Daniel Sunjata as her grumpy partner Adam. They have great chemistry and provide plenty of laughs alongside the murders.
Each week the team has a case to solve, but there’s more to the series than just one-off crimes. Running through the season is the “Game Maker,” a kidnapper who enjoys playing cat and mouse with the police especially Morgan and even starts circling her family.
There’s also the ongoing story of Morgan’s great love and the father of her first child. Roman went out for nappies 15 years ago and basically fell off the planet. He never came back. Morgan agrees to work with the department as long as they help investigate his disappearance, adding a surprisingly emotional thread to all the weekly crime solving.
The show is both funny and touching, with plenty of action and murder mystery to keep you entertained. The production values are high, and Morgan’s gloriously trashy outfits are a perfect counterpoint to her colleagues’ dour suits, helping define her quirky, chaotic character.
Each episode zips along at a great pace and doesn’t suffer from heavy exposition or relentlessly dark subject matter.
So, like Morgan’s colourful wardrobe, High Potential is a sunny and uplifting addition to the police procedural genre. It knows exactly what it is and never pretends to be anything deeper and that’s part of its charm. It’s comfort TV with a clever twist, powered by a genuinely great lead performance and just enough emotional weight to keep you invested.
Give it a go you probably won’t be disappointed, and you might even find yourself counting down to the next episode.