Kaitlin Olson steps out of the shadow of “Always Sunny”

Crime shows are a dime a dozen on television these days. You can't throw a stone without hitting one – whether it's a show where different members of the police force work together to bring criminals to justice or one that's about how first responders arrive at a crime scene to save people in danger. In recent years, however, a new subgenre has emerged within crime shows in which a citizen – usually one with no previous experience in the police force – works as a special advisor to the police to help them solve cases that puzzle most investigators. These citizens also usually have unique skills that allow them to examine crime scenes through a lens that reveals new clues. CBS recently cracked this formula with Elsbethwith Carrie Preston as an atypical, colorfully dressed lawyer who happens to have this unorthodox way of thinking about every case – and now ABC seems to have its own answer in High potential (created by Drew Goddard and is based on the French crime series HPI) with Kaitlin Olson as an atypical, colorfully dressed single mother who is called in to assist the LAPD in their investigation.

What is “High Potential” all about?

Morgan Gillory (Olson), a single mother of three, supports her family by working nights as a cleaner for the LAPD's Major Crimes Division. While dancing around the open-plan office to blaring music from her headphones, she accidentally knocks over a file, spilling its contents everywhere. While trying to rearrange things, Morgan notices something suspicious in one of the crime scene photos, prompting her to go over and rename one of the team's murder suspects a victim. Said change in the homicide unit suits stern Detective Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), who immediately drops everything to find out why Morgan felt the need to manipulate his investigation. At this point, we already know that Morgan is someone who has “high intellectual potential”, This means that she has a much higher than average IQ, allowing her to remember a lot of information, including random trivia that she can use immediately. A pretty handy skill when you have to look out for even the smallest clues!

Although Karadec wants to arrest Morgan for exceeding his authority, his superior, Lieutenant Selena Soto (Judy Reyes), decides to take the opportunity to conduct a little experiment. Morgan into their investigations instead of pushing her outIt's a risky move, especially since Morgan is not officially a police officer, but she also notices things that her existing team – also consisting of the junior detectives Daphne Forrester (Javicia Leslie) and Lev “Oz” Ozdil (Deniz Akdeniz) – inadvertently overlooked. Of course, Soto's suggestion is quickly implemented, much to Karadec's chagrin, and Morgan's unconventional way of thinking sometimes leads her to cross the boundaries of the law. As she takes on her new job with the LAPD, the question also arises of who will look after her children, including the moody older teenager Ava (Amirah J) and the bright middle child Elliot (Matthew Lamb) – a task that eventually falls to Morgan’s ex Ludo (Taran Killam), as the two are still jointly raising their child.

“High Potential” lets Kaitlin Olson’s talent shine

Olson's Morgan may be learning the intricacies of becoming a proper detective, but she'll do it her way, right down to the loud animal prints and high-heeled boots she wears to each new crime scene. It's a distinct aesthetic that's reminiscent of the 2021 French series in which High potential but Olson is the kind of actress who can absolutely pull off her character's fearlessly bold style. Aside from the outerwear, In the ABC series, Olson can show all her talent rather than forcing her to rest on her comedic laurels, as her long-running role in It's always sunny in Philadelphia so often. High potentialMorgan may seem like a more straightforward character next to Sweet Dee, especially when paired with the kind of monologues that must be delivered in every episode, but her quick wit and sharp mind give Olson a chance to show off other acting skills for a change. The scenes where she faces off against Sunjata are among the best of the three episodes submitted for review. Sunjata, for his part, is a long-time veteran of the crime genre (including this critic's personal favorite, Graceland), plays an excellent serious actor and gives Karadec a resigned weariness in contrast to Morgan's sharp energy.

However, the show is not just about light-hearted investigations, and There is drama that arises as Morgan tries to balance her role as a mother with her new job at the LAPD. It's probably no surprise that her increasing absence from home puts her more at odds with her eldest child, Ava, but the tension between them isn't just rooted in typical mother-daughter angst — partly because Ava is biracial and has a different father than her younger half-siblings, and partly because said father has been absent for years. Convinced that Ava's father didn't just abandon her when her daughter was a baby, Morgan begins to consider whether she can use her position at the LAPD to finally get answers to the mystery that still hangs over her to this day. It's a more emotional element in an otherwise comedic series, but it also shows the more vulnerable side of its main character — and makes Morgan feel less like a source of random trivia and a lot more human.

“High Potential” puts its main role in the spotlight at the expense of its other characters

That means, High potential falls into an early trap of the genre by Emphasis on the main character at the expense of the supporting actors. Granted, the premiere is mostly about establishing the premise of the series and officially welcoming Morgan into the team, but after three episodes, you're left with no real sense of who most of the other characters actually are, and there's little to distinguish them from many of their counterparts on other, similarly formatted shows. Slowly but surely, more details about Karadec and Soto are emerging, in part because Sunjata and Reyes have moments where they can show more of their characters' vulnerabilities, but Javicia's Forrester and Akdeniz's Oz only seem to be present in scenes where they rattle off relevant case information, which feels more like a missed opportunity. There's still a chance the series will rectify this in future episodes; it would be great if the writers focused on exploring more characters outside of the work beyond Morgan, now that we already know how messy her what life at home can be like.

Shortcomings aside, High potential definitely boasts a funny episode stylethat gives us a deeper insight into the advanced processes in the main character's mind. As the team throws their various theories back and forth, quick cuts to small asides illustrate Morgan's ability to process certain pieces of evidence and contextualize them with what she has been able to remember over the years. These pauses also bring bold and exciting visuals into an otherwise predictable procedural formula, allowing the series to stand out from its competitors on other networks. After three episodes High potential has plenty of time to fully live up to its title – but with Olson's quirky, standout performance at the helm and an entertaining premise that doesn't drag on for too long, the film is already off to a strong start.

High potential The show premieres on ABC on September 17, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day.

Watch on ABC