Warning: this article contains SPOILERS for High Potential season 1, episode 13.’s Kaitlin Olson leads High Potential as Morgan Gillory, a mother of three who s the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division after Lieutenant Selena Soto (Judy Reyes) discovers her genius IQ. Alongside Detective Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), Morgan helps the LAPD close case after case— at least until High Potential episode 13.
High Potential season 1's final case follows an anonymous serial kidnapper (played by David Giuntoli) who leaves riddles, games, and puzzles for the police to solve. Morgan is troubled by his “brilliant” scheming, but tension rises when the kidnapper abducts one of their own: Lev “Oz” Ozdil (Deniz Akdeniz). Though his partner Daphne Forrester (Javicia Leslie) and the rest of Major Crimes find Oz in time, the kidnapper gets away. While the finale sets up High Potential season 2’s first villain, there are a few moments that stood out for all the wrong reasons.
5 Morgan & Daphne Standing Over The Pool While Karadec Frees Oz On His Own
Karadec Is The Only One To Spring To Action
One of the most dramatic moments of High Potential episode 13 came when Oz was incapacitated in his car and kidnapped. It took a moment for the LAPD to crack the clue left behind by the kidnapper, but the Major Crimes team finds Oz chained to the bottom of a residential pool. Based on the hourglass left behind by the culprit, he had been underwater for a dangerous amount of time.
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Yet, despite the trio of Morgan, Karadec, and Daphne all recognizing the potentially fatal trap, Karadec is the only person to spring into action. Karadec dives into the pool and maneuvers heavy chains off of Oz’s unconscious body. Granted, Daphne performs R after Karadec brings Oz to the surface, but it was still odd that Morgan and Daphne watched from the edge of the pool while Karadec struggled underwater.
4 Tom Being Invited To The LAPD Gala
Tom Quit To Pursue A Career In Medicine
JD Pardo revived his role as Tom in High Potential season 1’s finale, but the circumstances surrounding his return were questionable at best. Tom unexpectedly calls Morgan near the beginning of the episode, the first communication seen between the two since Morgan and Tom’s romance ended in High Potential episode 9. After asking whether she’d be attending the police gala, Tom reveals he was invited as well.
Tom worked as a cleaner at the LAPD, but he was only present in a handful of episodes, indicating that his stint at the department was brief. Tom being at the gala could merit suspension of disbelief if something valuable came of his appearance, like a subtle implication that he was involved in Roman’s disappearance, as a popular theory speculates. Unfortunately, Tom’s return offered nothing of substance and felt like an unnecessary addition to the High Potential finale.
3 Morgan Letting Karadec Meet Gio After Agreeing Not To Involve The Police
She Knew That Was Gio's One Condition
The underlying storyline throughout the pilot season was High Potential’s Roman mystery, which quickly developed after the introduction of Gio Conforth (Domenick Lombardozzi), a shady informant. Gio made with Morgan intermittently to drop cryptic clues regarding Roman, revealing small pieces of information as he independently investigated. Since his first appearance, Gio’s one caveat to helping Morgan in High Potential was that he couldn’t be seen helping the LAPD.
Morgan even discusses the no police rule with Selena and Karadec at the start of High Potential episode 13, making Karadec’s insistence on meeting with Gio instead of Morgan all the more confusing. Unsurprisingly, Gio is upset when Karadec bursts into his hotel suite, startling Gio’s son in the process. Thanks to Karadec’s complete disregard for his one condition, Gio vows to remove himself from the investigation.
2 Daphne Leaving Oz Alone After Volunteering To Guard Him
The LAPD Knew Anyone From The Grief Group Could've Been Targeted Next
The talented ensemble cast is a compelling reason to watch High Potential, with Daphne and Oz’s partnership arguably just as interesting as Morgan and Karadec’s. Naturally, when the LAPD realizes the kidnapper is targeting of the grief group Oz attends, Daphne vows to have his back. Daphne then makes the baffling decision to leave Oz alone on the night of the gala.
High Potential episode 13 had already established what the kidnapper was capable of, with Major Crimes previously saving two victims just in time. It makes no sense for the team to explicitly discuss how Oz could be in danger, only for him to be totally unaccompanied mere scenes later. High Potential obviously needed to get Oz alone to kick off his abduction, but they could’ve accomplished that without Daphne seemingly ignoring her duty to protect her partner.
1 Nobody Noticing The Kidnapper At The Crime Scenes
The Flashbacks Show Him In Plain Sight
While High Potential season 1’s ending included a shocking twist, one part of the cliffhanger seemed a little unrealistic. After the kidnapper leaves a chilling message on a pack of cards vowing that he and Morgan will “play again,” the scene is interrupted by flashbacks of the kidnapper watching Morgan solve his riddles. The reveal was disturbing, but it also calls into question how he was in the same room as the LAPD without a single soul noticing him.
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During the scene at the abandoned art gallery, “David” doesn’t even appear to be hiding behind anything. Based on the camera framing, all Morgan would have had to do to see him is turn slightly to her right. Of course, the shot could have been dramatized or shown through the kidnapper’s delusional, egotistical perspective. Although a few moments didn’t perfectly mesh with the plot, no amount of nitpicks could cancel out the triumph that is High Potential episode 13.
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High Potential
- Release Date
- September 17, 2024
- Network
- ABC
Cast
Morgan
Daphne
WHERE TO WATCH
- Creator(s)
- Drew Goddard
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