Created by Drew Goddard.
High Potential premiered on September 17, 2024 in the United States.
Distributed by ABC.
Series Review
High Potential is a fun and clever crime drama about Morgan Gillory, a single mom who works as a cleaner but has an amazing talent for solving tough cases.
In Season 1, we see how Morgan’s life changes when her skills are discovered by the police.
She joins their team, bringing fresh ideas and humor while balancing her family life.
The cases are smart but easy to follow, and the show mixes mystery with heartwarming family moments.
In Season 2, the mysteries get bigger and more challenging.
We also learn more about Morgan’s past, her relationships, and the struggles she faces while working with the police.
The season adds more drama and emotional twists, making it even more exciting.
Kaitlin Olson shines as Morgan, and the cast around her adds warmth and fun.
If you like shows that are smart, funny, and full of heart, High Potential is worth watching.
Ratings
• IMDb: 7.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
• Google Audience Score: 86% liked this TV show.
High Potential Actors
Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory
DOB: August 18, 1975.
Bio: American actress, comedian, and producer with a career that spans comedy, drama, and television production.
She became a household name as Deandra “Sweet Dee” Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, one of the longest-running sitcoms in TV history.
Olson also led the comedy The Mick and has made acclaimed guest appearances on shows like Hacks.
Role: Morgan Gillory is a single mother and overnight cleaner at the LAPD with an extraordinary intellect (often described as an HPI, “high potential” IQ).
After she inadvertently solves a difficult case, she is recruited as a civilian consultant to Major Crimes.
Morgan is funny, blunt, brilliant and fiercely protective of her family while navigating police politics.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (19 eps).
What to Expect: Olson plays Morgan as equal parts whip-smart detective and messy, lovable parent.
Interesting facts: Olson also serves as a producer on the series, shaping its blend of procedural drama and humor.
She has spoken in interviews about how rewarding it has been to stretch into a role that mixes comedy with emotional depth.
Notable Works: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Mick, Hacks (guest), Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Daniel Sunjata as Detective Adam Karadec
DOB: December 30, 1971.
Bio: American actor with an extensive career in television, film, and theater.
He is best known for his role as Franco Rivera on the acclaimed drama Rescue Me and for his lead turn in Graceland.
Sunjata is trained in theater and has appeared in Broadway productions as well as high-profile screen projects.
Role: Detective Adam Karadec is the disciplined, by-the-book lead detective in the LAPD’s Major Crimes unit.
Paired with Morgan Gillory, he initially struggles with her unorthodox methods and unpredictable personality.
Over time, Karadec comes to appreciate Morgan’s brilliance and develops a working partnership defined by skepticism, reluctant trust, and growing respect.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (19 eps).
What to Expect: A grounded, procedural counterbalance to Morgan’s unpredictability, steady scene work and lots of partner interplay.
Interesting facts: Sunjata has spoken in interviews about enjoying roles that balance emotional depth with procedural precision.
His theater background informs his ability to bring layered realism to police dramas.
Notable Works: Rescue Me, Graceland, The Dark Knight Rises, Manifest.
Javicia Leslie as Daphne Forrester
DOB: May 30, 1987.
Bio: American actress who has made her mark across drama, action, and genre television.
She rose to international attention as the first Black woman to play Batwoman in the CW superhero series, following acclaimed work in God Friended Me and The Family Business.
Role: Daphne Forrester is an ambitious junior detective in LAPD Major Crimes who quickly becomes both a colleague and ally to Morgan Gillory.
Intelligent, empathetic, and grounded, Daphne often acts as a bridge between Morgan’s outsider brilliance and the structured world of law enforcement.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (19 eps).
What to Expect: A strong supporting lead who can handle action, emotional scenes and witty banter; expect loyalty and a clear moral center.
Interesting facts: Leslie is trained in multiple physical disciplines, including martial arts and stage combat, which allows her to perform much of her own stunt and movement work on screen.
Notable Works: Batwoman, God Friended Me, The Family Business, Always a Bridesmaid.
Deniz Akdeniz as Lev “Oz” Özdil / Osman
DOB: May 16, 1990.
Bio: Australian actor of Turkish heritage who has built an international career across film and television.
Starting out in Australia with breakout work in Tomorrow, When the War Began, he later moved into U.S. television where his blend of warmth, humor, and charm made him a fan favorite.
Role: Lev “Oz” Özdil (also sometimes credited as “Oz” Osman) is a curious and good-natured investigator in LAPD Major Crimes.
Often paired with Daphne Forrester, Oz serves as the team’s optimist, bringing levity and heart into the show’s darker cases.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (19 eps).
What to Expect: A likable, scene-stealing performance with good comedic timing and emotional earnestness.
Interesting facts: Akdeniz won wide recognition for his role as Aladdin in Once Upon a Time, where he showed both action-ready physicality and natural charm.
Notable Works: Once Upon a Time, Tomorrow, When the War Began, Graceland.
Amirah J as Ava Gillory / Ava Sinquerra
DOB: June 18, 2007.
Bio: Amirah J is a rising young actor whose breakout role comes in High Potential.
Though early in her career, she has been praised for her naturalism and ability to hold her own alongside veteran performers.
Role: Ava Gillory, sometimes credited as Ava Sinquerra, is Morgan Gillory’s eldest child.
As a teenager, Ava balances ordinary coming-of-age challenges with the complicated emotional fallout of her father Roman’s long absence.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (19 eps).
What to Expect: Honest teen beats, important emotional scenes that reveal family history, and a perspective that often grounds Morgan’s choices.
Interesting facts: Ava’s connection to her missing father Roman is one of the show’s deeper mysteries, giving her arc ongoing importance beyond family drama.
Notable Works: High Potential (breakout role).
Matthew Lamb as Elliot Radovic
DOB: N/A
Bio: Matthew Lamb is a child actor who plays Morgan’s son.
He brings intelligence and charm to the family role and provides both comic and heartfelt moments. Public biographical details are limited.
Role: Elliot Radovic is Morgan Gillory’s younger son.
Bright, curious, and occasionally mischievous, Elliot often mirrors Morgan’s own sharp intellect in youthful ways.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (19 eps).
What to Expect: Natural, family-first moments and glimpses of the family’s gifted dynamic.
Interesting facts: Child performers like Matthew often stay out of the spotlight; production notes list him as a key part of Morgan’s home life.
Notable Works: High Potential (breakout role).
Judy Reyes as Lieutenant Selena Soto
DOB: November 5, 1967.
Bio: American actress with a career spanning over three decades in television, film, and stage.
She first rose to fame as Carla Espinosa on Scrubs and has since built a reputation for seamlessly shifting between comedy and hard-hitting drama.
Role: Lieutenant Selena Soto is the head of Major Crimes and the one who takes a gamble on Morgan Gillory by recruiting her as a civilian consultant.
Soto is pragmatic and politically savvy, juggling departmental pressures, public accountability, and her own belief in Morgan’s potential.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (19 eps).
What to Expect: A strong scene-partner who can be warm, exasperated and steely; Reyes adds emotional nuance to the department’s higher stakes.
Interesting facts: Reyes has spoken in interviews about relishing the chance to move from comedic roles into grounded dramatic authority figures, a transition that has added new range to her career.
Notable Works: Scrubs, Claws, Devious Maids, Birth/Rebirth, Smile.
Taran Killam as Ludo Radovic
DOB: April 1, 1982.
Bio: American actor, comedian, and writer best known for his six-year run on Saturday Night Live, as well as earlier work on The Amanda Show and MADtv.
He has since built a career that spans television comedy, film, and Broadway, where he showcased his versatility in productions such as Hamilton.
Role: Ludo Radovic is tied to the Radovic family arc, which intersects with cases Morgan investigates.
Though initially presented with a comic, offbeat energy, Ludo’s storyline deepens to reveal more complex and emotional layers, showing Killam’s ability to balance humor with sincerity.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (10 eps).
What to Expect: Comic relief that can also turn wrenchingly real when family secrets emerge.
Interesting facts: Killam’s varied CV includes Broadway and sketch, and he has been used by the show to add levity in tense investigative scenes.
Notable Works: Saturday Night Live, The Amanda Show, MADtv, Single Parents.
J. D. Pardo as Tom
DOB: September 7, 1980.
Bio: American actor of Argentine and Salvadoran heritage who has built a strong television career.
He is best known for his leading role as Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes in Mayans M.C., as well as for prominent turns in Revolution, East Los High, and feature films including F9.
Role: Tom is a recurring supporting character who intersects with Morgan’s personal life and several investigations; his role varies across episodes as ally, date, or informant depending on the season’s arc.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (5 eps).
What to Expect: Dependable, low-key drama work that supports Morgan’s emotional beats.
Interesting facts: Pardo’s casting gave High Potential a performer already well-known for anchoring ensemble dramas.
His work as EZ Reyes on Mayans M.C. earned him critical and fan recognition as a charismatic leading man.
Notable Works: Mayans M.C., Revolution, East Los High, F9.
Garret Dillahunt as Lieutenant Melon
DOB: November 24, 1964.
Bio: American actor known for his extraordinary versatility, seamlessly moving between comedy, drama, and genre work.
With acclaimed performances in Deadwood, Raising Hope, Justified, and Fear the Walking Dead.
Role: Lieutenant Melon is a recurring law-enforcement presence who represents the procedural backbone of the justice system outside of Major Crimes.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (4 eps).
What to Expect: Strong, authoritative scene work that ups the tension in department politics.
Interesting facts: Dillahunt is known for being equally comfortable in comedic (Raising Hope) and dramatic (Deadwood, The Road) roles, making him a go-to for series that need grounded yet unpredictable supporting characters.
Notable Works: Deadwood, Raising Hope, Fear the Walking Dead, No Country for Old Men, Justified.
TJ Lee as Officer Lin
DOB: August 29, 1992.
Bio: TJ Lee is a bilingual actor and content creator with a growing career in television, film, and digital media.
Trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and other respected programs in New York and Los Angeles.
Role: Officer Lin is one of the patrol/detective staffers who helps the Major Crimes team on scene.
She provides procedural support and occasionally small arcs tied to cases.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (4 eps).
What to Expect: Competent, professional supporting beats that help the department feel lived in and diverse.
Interesting facts: TJ has training from Stella Adler and other notable NYC/LA programs and balances screen work with content creation.
Notable Works: Zero Day (2025), Law & Order: SVU (guest).
Hudson Macready as Ryder
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Hudson Macready is a rising performer balancing careers in both music and acting.
He has released original songs as a singer-songwriter and has recently branched into screen acting, with High Potential marking his most notable television role to date.
Role: Ryder is Ava Gillory’s boyfriend and teenage love interest.
His storyline highlights Ava’s social and emotional life outside of Morgan’s intense professional world, grounding the series with moments of youthful romance and conflict.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1–2 (3 eps).
What to Expect: Youthful, music-tinged presence that adds normal-life stakes to Morgan’s high-pressure job world.
Interesting facts: Macready markets himself as a dual musician/actor and has an official music site listing his TV credits.
Notable Works: Music releases and High Potential (recurring acting credit).
More Actors
Season 1 (2024)
• Anthony Darrell as Major crime detective.
• Ariella Amar as CSI Tech.
• Derek Richardson as Eric Barton.
Season 2 (2025)
• Steve Howey as Nick Wagnerz.
• Nick Weather as Jason Howard.
• Domenick Lombardozzi as Gio Conforth.
• Jocko Sims as Ronnie Oliver.
• Kate Miner as Maya Price.
• David Giuntoli as David Peck/Matthew Clarke.
FAQ – High Potential TV Series
What is High Potential about?
A single mom and overnight LAPD janitor with a very high IQ is recruited as a civilian consultant to help solve tough cases while balancing family life.
Is High Potential based on another show?
Yes, it is adapted from the French/Belgian series HPI.
How many seasons and episodes are there?
As of now the series has 2 seasons and a total of 18 episodes
Where was High Potential filmed?
High Potential was filmed first in Vancouver, Canada for its pilot, then moved to Los Angeles, California for the rest of the series.
Key filming spots in L.A. include the Fox Studio Lot, Downtown Los Angeles, San Pedro, and parts of Malibu.
Where can I watch High Potential?
The series airs on ABC and episodes are available to stream on Hulu (next-day streaming).
Conclusion
High Potential is more than just another crime drama, it’s a fresh and heartfelt story about a woman who uses her unique talents to change her life and help others.
With a perfect mix of clever cases, humor, and emotional depth, the series keeps viewers entertained while also giving them characters to truly care about.
Kaitlin Olson leads the way with charm and wit, making Morgan Gillory both relatable and inspiring.
Whether you enjoy detective shows, family drama, or uplifting stories about unlikely heroes, High Potential delivers something for everyone.
It’s smart, funny, and full of heart, a must-watch series that proves brilliance can come from the most unexpected places.