Warning: this article contains SPOILERS for High Potential season 1, episode 12 (“Partners”).Morgan’s intellect and deductive reasoning often saves the day onHigh Potential, but her real talent has flown under the radar. Described as an HPI (High Potential Intellectual) in the series, Kaitlin Olson’s Morgan Gillory regularly relies on her unusually impressive intellect to get to the bottom of all sorts of mysteries. After accidentally knocking over a box of evidence inHigh Potentialseason 1, episode 1," Pilot," she used her IQ of 160 to catch what the detectives missed and ultimately solved the case. As a result, Morgan was quickly recruited by the LAPD.
Serving as a consultant,High Potentialpartnered Morgan with Detective Adam Karadec. Together they’ve solved an array of outlandish cases.That included the murder of a tech giant via his doginHigh Potentialseason 1, episode 12, “Partners.” Even as Morgan consistently has to manage her three kids, and puzzle overwhat happened to her missing ex-husband Roman, she hasn’t let her brilliant mind go to waste or get distracted from helping people. It’s that dedication and commitment that is secretly Morgan’s greatest strength.
The Ability To Empathize With People Is Morgan’s True Superpower In High Potential
Morgan Provides An Ear And A Shoulder For People At Their Lowest Points
Morgan’s empathy was visible from the outset and will likely continue into the now-confirmedHigh Potentialseason 2. InHigh Potentialseason 1, episode 1, “Pilot,” she sat and consoled the daughter of a missing woman. She also warmly positioned herself as a confidante to the mother of two missing girls inHigh Potential season 1, episode 4, “Survival Mode.” She invested herself even deeper in finding the children and proving the mother was innocent of murder. It shows she uses her vast intelligence and imagination to connect emotionally with cases and put herself in the subject’s shoes, not just for finding clues.
High Potential New Villain Addresses Its Recurring Storytelling Issue Before It’s Too Late
High Potential episode 11 finally put a face to Chief Pacheko’s name, but his presence could bring some exciting opposition to Morgan’s wild ways.
Morgan’s intuitive compassion was also on display inHigh Potentialseason 1, episode 12, “Partners,” in relation tothe chemistry Morgan shares with Karadec. She could tell when the usually-stoic detective needed to vent and unburden himself, gently coaxing him to express his buried feelings. Morgan also did similar when she returned home and comforted her son, Elliot, about his fears regarding his dad’s health scare. She knew exactly the right things to say and steered his mind towards better things, ultimately cheering him up. It was a beautiful moment and a testament to the unbridled humanity that’s entwined with Morgan’s intellect.
Morgan’s People Skills Are More Important In High Potential Than Her Intelligence
High Potential Gives The Rest Of Morgan’s Team Their Own Chances To Shine
From the outset,High Potentialhas differentiated Morgan from other super-smart procedural detectives, such as Sherlock Holmes. She’s flamboyant, she’s a loving mother of three, and she’s a people person. As a result, Morgan quickly endeared herself to her LAPD colleagues and created a wealth ofstory possibilities forHigh Potentialseason 2. She’s never been afraid to take a backseat and let others take the spotlight. Such was true when Karadec, not Morgan, found the missing piece inHigh Potentialseason 1, episode 12, “Partners.” Equally, it was Oz and Daphne that stood up to Karadec’s briefly belligerent ex-partner.
Matthew Lamb
Elliot
Though she still found several clues, it was Morgan’s heart (not a need to solve the puzzle) that kept her invested in the case. And it’s her heart that keeps audiences invested in her. Morgan may help them solve crimes faster, but they now have the skills to get there. She’s not there to run rings around her friends but because of a genuine desire to help people in their darkest times. Of course, that’s a double-edged sword, as she runs the risk of getting too emotionally invested in a person’s situation, leading to further insomnia and burn out. Equally, it could possibly be used against her, shouldHigh Potentialever give Morgan her own Moriarty.
