In ABC's new dramedy "High Potential", the main character, Morgan, swiftly sets out her IQ, a staggering 160, to a high-ranking LAPD officer. She unlocks her world of photographic memory, advanced cognitive abilities and intellectual creativity. However, viewers find this moment not as an announcement of genius but more of an impassive context setting. Following this critiqued revelation, the premise of the show has been criticized as confusing.
The storyline is structured around Morgan, played by Kaitlin Olson, a single mother who is simultaneously extremely smart and part of a custodial crew. This concept is reminiscent of popular films such as "Good Will Hunting". Employed as an LAPD civilian consultant, Morgan is brought in to boost the department’s low success rate.
Despite the involvement of talented creatives such as Drew Goddard and Rob Thomas, the show's narrative struggles to provide clear direction. Morgan's 'high potential' character knows about everything, making other characters seem superfluous. Her know-it-all personality outshines other detectives, limiting the narrative contributions from other characters. While Oscar and Daphne, played by Deniz Akdeniz and Javicia Leslie respectively, are there to smile approvingly, Morgan's boss, Selena, is the understanding superior.
Plot structure aside, "High Potential" creatively brings to life Morgan’s flashes of inspiration with humorous cutaways. Even in times when the story appears chaotic, Olson's strong performance brings depth to the show, convincingly grounding the eccentric plot elements and underlining the show’s humorous absurdity. She also provides heartfelt moments with her on-screen children. Despite early critiques, the potential for "High Potential" seems high due to Olson's dynamic range. Yet, the narrative and the other characters need to develop further to meet her performance level.
