Sometimes a show doesn’t just premiere — it erupts. That’s exactly what’s happening with ABC’s High Potential, the network’s hottest new crime thriller that’s sending shockwaves through audiences and critics alike. From its opening moments, the series announces itself as something completely different: bolder, darker, and more daring than any procedural on television right now.
At the center of the storm? Kaitlin Olson — in a performance so magnetic, so unpredictable, that fans and reviewers are calling it the career-defining role she was born to play.
This isn’t just another detective story. High Potential is a razor-edged blend of psychological tension, gallows humor, and raw emotion — a series that refuses to play by the rules. And Olson’s performance? It doesn’t just light up the screen. It detonates it.
The Premise: A Mind Too Brilliant to Be Ignored
High Potential introduces audiences to Morgan, a gifted single mother whose extraordinary intelligence and chaotic energy make her both an asset and a liability to law enforcement. When her knack for solving complex puzzles catches the eye of a world-weary detective, she’s recruited to assist the police — and soon proves herself invaluable.
But this is no quirky sidekick story. From the start, the show makes one thing clear: Morgan isn’t here to follow orders. She’s here to upend the system.
“Morgan doesn’t see the world the way anyone else does,” Olson explained in a recent interview. “She’s brilliant, but she’s messy. She’s unpredictable. And she’s carrying pain that drives her to solve things no one else can — even if it destroys her in the process.”
A New Kind of Heroine
In a genre long dominated by hard-boiled detectives and stoic geniuses, High Potential flips the formula. Olson’s character is intuitive rather than clinical, emotional rather than detached. Her methods are as unorthodox as her mindset — improvising, taking risks, and bending rules that most wouldn’t dare touch.
“She’s not polished,” Olson said. “She’s not perfect. And that’s what makes her dangerous — and human.”
It’s a bold role for the actress best known for her razor-sharp comedic instincts on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. But here, Olson channels that same chaotic energy into something far deeper — a portrait of a woman teetering between brilliance and obsession.
Critics are already raving. One early review hailed Olson’s turn as “career-defining,” while another called the show “the boldest network drama in years — a perfect marriage of intellect and chaos.”
The Tone: Grit Meets Heart
Visually, High Potential crackles with energy. Shot in sleek, cinematic tones that fuse noir atmosphere with modern grit, every frame feels deliberate, sharp, and full of momentum. The show’s direction, led by Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars), walks a fine line between suspense and empathy — creating a world where danger feels intimate and every clue carries an emotional cost.
The writing, too, refuses to settle for formula. Each case reveals as much about Morgan’s psyche as it does about the crime she’s solving. Secrets bleed into every subplot. The tension isn’t just in who did it — it’s in what it costs her to find out.
“You can feel her unraveling as the cases unfold,” says showrunner Drew Goddard. “But at the same time, you see her genius at work. It’s that push and pull that makes her fascinating.”
A Cast That Matches Olson Beat for Beat
Olson may be the gravitational center of High Potential, but she’s surrounded by an equally compelling supporting cast. Daniel Sunjata delivers a powerful performance as Detective Karadec, a pragmatic investigator who becomes both Morgan’s partner and reluctant protector. Their dynamic — half friction, half admiration — fuels much of the series’ emotional charge.
“Morgan and Karadec are two sides of the same coin,” Sunjata said. “He’s order; she’s chaos. He’s reason; she’s instinct. Watching them clash and then connect — that’s the heartbeat of the show.”
Also joining the ensemble are Judy Reyes (Scrubs), Amirah J (Only Murders in the Building), and Matt Passmore (The Glades), each bringing depth and complexity to the ensemble. Together, they form a web of relationships that make the series feel alive — unpredictable, authentic, and full of human messiness.
Why High Potential Feels So Different
At first glance, High Potential looks like a classic procedural — a crime, a case, a resolution. But the show’s genius lies in how it dismantles that expectation. Each episode peels back another layer of Morgan’s psyche, revealing a woman who’s as much detective as she is mystery.
“This isn’t about the killer of the week,” says Goddard. “It’s about the price of being extraordinary. What happens when your gift isolates you from everyone else — including the people you’re trying to help?”
Olson’s portrayal captures that paradox perfectly: the cost of genius, the burden of empathy, and the loneliness of always being the smartest person in the room. She’s not Sherlock Holmes. She’s something more volatile — a storm of intuition, wit, and heart.
Critics Are Losing Their Minds — and So Are Fans
The early response has been explosive. Social media lit up the moment the premiere dropped, with viewers calling the show “a knockout,” “next-level television,” and “the kind of drama network TV has been missing for years.”
“Every twist hits harder, every secret cuts deeper,” one viewer tweeted. “Kaitlin Olson is a revelation.”
Even longtime fans of Olson’s comedic work are stunned by the transformation. “I knew she was funny,” one Reddit commenter wrote, “but I didn’t know she could do this.”
Industry insiders are already whispering about awards potential, calling High Potential “ABC’s next big prestige hit.” Its combination of sharp writing, fearless performances, and emotional complexity could easily propel it into the awards-season conversation.
The Question That Drives It All
Beneath the adrenaline and style, High Potential asks a single haunting question:
How far will one woman go for the truth?
For Morgan, that question isn’t just about justice — it’s about redemption. Every case she solves brings her closer to the darkness she’s been avoiding. Every victory comes at a cost.
“She’s chasing answers,” Olson says. “But she’s also running from something. And sooner or later, the two are going to collide.”
The Verdict: A Procedural Reborn
With High Potential, ABC isn’t just reviving the procedural — it’s reinventing it. The show combines the intellect of Elementary, the emotional stakes of Big Sky, and the energy of Killing Eve, all anchored by Kaitlin Olson’s fearless performance.
It’s thrilling. It’s unpredictable. It’s impossible to look away.
If this is the future of network television, consider the bar officially raised.
Because High Potential doesn’t just solve crimes — it rewires the genre.
And at the center of it all, Kaitlin Olson stands — brilliant, broken, and absolutely unforgettable.
