ABC’s breakout hit High Potential may have had a slow start to the season, but as it’s gotten up to speed, the series has become a fast-growing juggernaut that just broke a massive TV record. High Potential season 2, one of ABC’s few fall premieres, has been bringing new viewers into the fold as its second season has rolled out.
Starring Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory, a cleaning woman with a higher-than-usual IQ who becomes a police consultant for the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division, High Potential was adapted from the French series HPI for American audiences. Throughout its first season, High Potential captivated viewers with its creative storytelling and characterization. With a cast including Daniel Sunjata and Judy Reyes, the bar was high.
While High Potential season 1 introduced Morgan’s world and set the stage for her own personal mystery to creep back into the foreground, many felt that High Potential season 2 had a slower start than its predecessor. With some straightforward story choices that left viewers uncertain about the show’s direction, High Potential floundered for its first weeks, but has quickly regained momentum.
High Potential’s Season 2 Premiere Felt Slow After A Hard-Hitting First Season
Some Were Concerned The Series Was Taking The Easy Route
Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory and Daniel Sunjata as Adam Karadec in High Potential©ABC/Disney/ Courtesy MovieStillsDB
Although High Potential season 1’s finale made it clear that the series understood itself and knew where it was going, some were underwhelmed by the beginning of the second season. As High Potential season 2 got underway, Morgan, Karadec, and the rest of the team were tasked with discovering the identity of the Game Maker (David Giuntoli), which should’ve been a multi-faceted arc.
Instead, High Potential used Morgan’s abilities to create shortcuts in the story, resolving the crux of the case too quickly. Though there were twists in the narrative, the resolution felt fast and ultimately gave Morgan too much to work with. For a few episodes, it felt like High Potential was wasting its potential rather than upping the stakes. Thankfully, the show has progressed into to a complicated rhythm.
Despite Its Kick Off, High Potential Broke A Major Viewership Record After 25 Years
The Show Is One Of ABC’s Most Popular In Years
Daniel Sunjata Adam Karadec and Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory in High Potential©ABC/Disney/ Courtesy MovieStillsDB
As High Potential season 2 continues to settle in, the series has something to celebrate. A hit in its own right, the ABC series broke a major viewership record that was set in 1999 by ER, according to Variety. Revealing that High Potential is the number one series in broadcast primetime, it’s the “first time a 10 p.m. drama has topped the entertainment rankings since the 1999-2000 season.”
As a show in its second season, High Potential is performing leaps and bounds ahead of what was likely anticipated for the series. Making a huge jump in the ratings and overtaking a record set 25 years ago by a show in its sixth successful season, High Potential being able to overtake ER’s record proves that the series isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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Source: Variety