High Potential

Just watched the first episode of High Potential (2024), and while my review is based on just one episode, I really hope this show goes the distance. Kaitlin Olson plays a fantastic role. It’s early, but I can definitely see a Mentalist/The Closer-style crime drama unfolding from this.

This is definitely one of my favourite shows at the moment. Not the average cop drama... It's absolutely genius!

High Potential (2024) Review: A Fresh, Character-Driven Twist on the Procedural

High Potential arrives in a television landscape saturated with police procedurals, yet it manages to feel instantly fresh and compelling. By putting a unique and brilliantly portrayed character at its centre, the show injects new life into a familiar format, earning a solid 8/10 for its clever premise, stellar lead performance, and sharp writing.

The Hook: An Unconventional Mind

The series follows Morgan, played with captivating authenticity by Kaitlin Olson, a single mother with a razor-sharp intellect and an eidetic memory who works as a house cleaner for the wealthy elite. The twist? She's also an undiscovered genius with an uncanny, almost obsessive ability to solve puzzles and see patterns that everyone else misses. When she inserts herself into a high-profile murder investigation, she forms an unlikely and begrudging partnership with a by-the-book detective.

This is not Monk or Psych; Morgan isn't quirky for the sake of it. Her brilliance is intertwined with her struggles—financial instability, the pressures of single motherhood, and a sense of being an outsider in her own life. This grounding in real-world stakes makes her genius feel earned and her character deeply relatable.

Strengths That Soar

• Kaitlin Olson's Revelatory Performance: Known primarily for her comedic work, Olson is a revelation here. She seamlessly blends Morgan's quick-witted, sometimes abrasive, confidence with moments of profound vulnerability. She makes you believe in both her intellectual superiority and her very human fragility. It's a career-best performance that anchors the entire show.
• A Compelling "Odd Couple" Dynamic: The chemistry between Olson's Morgan and the detective she partners with is the engine of the show. Their friction—born of class differences, methodology, and institutional skepticism—is electric and provides a steady source of both drama and humour.
• Smart, Self-Contained Mysteries: The cases-of-the-week are genuinely engaging, cleverly constructed to play directly to Morgan's unique skill set. Watching her deconstruct a crime scene from a completely different angle than the trained professionals is consistently satisfying.

Why Not a Higher Score?

No show is perfect, and High Potential has room to grow. The initial skepticism from the police force can feel a bit repetitive in the early episodes, following a predictable "outsider proves them wrong" arc. The personal lives of the supporting detectives are, so far, fairly standard procedural fare, lacking the depth given to Morgan.

The Verdict

8/10 - A Promising and Addictive Debut

High Potential is a standout new entry in the crime drama genre. It succeeds not by reinventing the wheel, but by putting a fantastically well-written and performed character in the driver's seat. Kaitlin Olson’s Morgan is a protagonist you'll instantly root for, and her journey is as much about solving crimes as it is about finding her own place in the world.

Watch it if: You love character-driven procedurals, strong female leads, and stories about underdogs proving their worth. Skip it if: You prefer gritty, forensics-heavy police shows and have little patience for a central "genius" trope.

High Potential lives up to its name, delivering a first season that is smart, heartfelt, and highly bingeable. Here's hoping it gets the runway it deserves to fully explore its compelling central character.