NOW ENTERTAINMENT Sept. 14 Month 00 --20, 00,2025 2023
Your Weekly TV Entertainment Brought To You By Olean Times Herald & The Bradford Era
“High Potential” premieres its second season Tuesday, Sept. 16, on ABC, with new episodes arriving the next day on Hulu. Kaitlin Olson in “High Potential”
Cover Story Back at the board: Olson, cast return for second season of ‘High Potential’ By Dana Simpson Growing up, many of us heard about our potential. Whether from parents, teachers, siblings, friends or employers, the concept that one’s potential was something to be lived up to was — and continues to be — culturally pervasive despite the problematic ideals and near-impossible standards it so often sets. That said, there is very little in this world more frustrating than seeing one’s potential go unfulfilled. This cultural expectation is the foundation for the ABC series “High Potential,” which premieres its second season Tuesday, Sept. 16, on the cable network. Landing on Hulu the following day, the series stars Kaitlin Olson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) as Morgan Gillory, a single mom and diagnosed “high-potential intellectual” who lands a promotion from nighttime cleaning lady to LAPD consultant after providing a string of insights that helped the Major Crimes Unit solve a particularly complex case. Following the two-part Season 1 finale in which Morgan and the team used their knowledge
of puzzles, games and codes to track down a serial kidnapper known only as the Game Master (David Giuntoli, “A Million Little Things”), fans have been looking forward to a second season of the hour-long procedural comedy (45-minute episodes if streaming) since this past February. And while, in a world where it could be years between streaming seasons, the fact that “High Potential” has such a dedicated following is a testament to its writing, acting and direction. Ranked ABC’s “highest-rated new show among adults in seven years,” as stated by the network, “High Potential” edged out both “American Idol” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” shows that had previously garnered the most network attention. So, needless to say, fans of the series have high expectations for the long-awaited second season. (And for those who are not yet caught up, beware of minor Season 1 spoilers ahead.) “Season 1 had a fun two-part ending surprise and everything gets addressed in the new season,” Olson told the press, as reported by USA Today. “That
parking lot meeting turned out to be so creepy, and he got so close to Morgan’s kids. It’s every mother’s nightmare.” Both Amirah J (“Shameless”) and Matthew Lamb (“Smile,” 2022) return for Season 2 as Morgan’s children, Ava and Elliot, with each of them rumored to take on a larger role as they settle into their characters and develop more intricate storylines. Ava, for example, takes on a more active role in the search for her father, missing person Roman Sinquerra (casting has yet to be announced), who, as the story goes, disappeared one day while out picking up diapers and milk for his then-infant daughter. After learning that Roman was living a double life as an FBI informant prior to his disappearance, Morgan — and now Ava — have become determined to find the long-gone man of mystery in the series’ second season. “Roman is a really important and amazing piece of casting. I fantasize about who it could be, but I haven’t zeroed in on a person yet,” showrunner and executive producer Todd Harthan (“The
Resident”) told Us Weekly during the hiatus between seasons, adding, “We’ve never met Morgan’s mother and father, either. We haven’t met anybody.” While this may be an indication of things to come in Season 2, the plot appears to hinge on two ongoing searches: the first for Roman and the second for the ever-elusive Puzzle Master, who continues to escalate his tactics and gets personal following Season 1’s harrowing trip to the grocery store. And although many of the series’ more sentimental viewers have been wondering whether Karadec (Daniel Sunjata, “The Devil Wears Prada,” 2006) and Morgan’s chemistry will take flight this season, Sunjata told Us Weekly that “there’s definitely some electricity between the two of them. “There’s a reluctant mutual attraction that’s happening,” the actor noted to the online magazine, “but I don’t think we should expect to see anything crazy about that happening anytime soon.” Morgan is a very busy woman, after all.