Has High Potential suddenly given us a love triangle? It could finally be happening!
Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for High Potential season 2 episode 11
Since the start of the ABC procedural hit, the show has rested on the delightful banter of genius crime consultant Morgan (Kaitlin Olsen) and LAPD detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata). It’s a great partnership as Karadec is a straight-laced guy against Morgan’s wilder gal and Morgan loves to needle Karadec on his ways.
However, High Potential season 2 episode 11, titled “NPC,” opened with Karadec running into his ex-girlfriend Lucia (Susan Kelechi Watson). He was ready to let this be a chance encounter, but both Morgan and Selena pushed him to take another chance.
The episode ended with Lucia showing up, and she and Karadec walking off on a date. Morgan appeared to be all smiles, wishing them luck, but the final shot of the episode showed her face wasn’t so happy. So, is it possible that Lucia’s arrival has finally made Morgan realize she has feelings for her partner? And what does this mean for the show?
What is the Morgan-Karadec-Lucia triangle about on High Potential?
Speaking to TV Insider, Watson discussed the episode and her feelings on Morgan’s expression at the end.
“I feel like [Morgan and Karadec] have a vibe going that feels like, yeah they're friends, but could it be more? So it makes sense to me that she would kind of look like, "Huh, yeah..." and that it would be a little weighted.”
It’s been obvious to fans that there’s a strong chemistry between Morgan and Karadec since their first meeting in the pilot. The detective was quick to recognize Morgan’s skills and how her erratic behavior covers for a hurt woman with an incredible mind that always solves a case. He’s even defended her to higher-ups and the FBI to help her stay on the team.
Morgan has to feel something from respect to friendship, yet it’s unclear if it could be romantic. She’s been burned a few times in the love department and acknowledges her unique mindset makes a regular romance impossible. Yet Morgan is a good mom, and her friendship with ex Ludo shows she can maintain good connections with people.
This will be interesting to play on with Watson promising more interaction between Lucia and Morgan and the pair bonding as “Lucia is the fun one. She's the girl who knows where all the party spots are, and all the best hotels and restaurants in town. She's the leap-before-you-look type, so to juxtapose that with [Karadec] is a really great contrast. And then on the other side of him, you have Morgan. He's sandwiched between two women who are much more walk-on-the-wild-side than he is.”
There’s also a question of whether Karadec has any feelings towards Morgan. He’s pretty much married to the job with little room for anything else. Morgan, by her own admission, is a lot for any would-be suitor and Karadec may not be able to handle it. Then there’s how a romance between them could be too much of a distraction on the job.
Right now, it’s up in the air as Karadec is giving Lucia another try while Morgan is still on the hunt for her long-missing ex, Roman, so any potential romance is off the table. Still, the idea that Morgan could be longing for her partner makes High Potential season 2 more dramatic than before.
High Potential season 2 airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC, and streams the following day on Hulu.