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High Potential Season 1 Episode 4, Survival Mode, hit ABC on October 15, 2024, and popped up on Hulu the next day.
Fast forward to November 2025, and High Potential is still doing well in the primetime slot at ABC. The series entered its second season in September 2025, following widespread critical acclaim and viewership in the first season. Although it is currently on a midseason break, it will come back with new episodes in January 2026.
High Potential itself feels like a breath of fresh air, a crime procedural that actually manages to be funny and heartfelt at the same time. At the center is Morgan Gillory, played by Kaitlin Olson. She is a sharp, quick-thinking single mom who works as a cleaning woman for the LAPD until her knack for solving tough cases lands her an unexpected gig as a civilian consultant.
In High Potential Episode 4, Survival Mode, Morgan takes on a tough missing persons case, all while getting used to her brand-new consultant badge. The episode throws her into the deep end as she teams up with Detective Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata). Their partnership gets put to the test as they dive into a kidnapping and murder case that is as emotional as it is complicated.
High Potential Season 1 Episode 4 cast and characters
High Potential Season 1 Episode 4 throws you right into a busy cast of regulars and guests, all tangled up in this week’s case and their own personal stories.
Kaitlin Olson plays Morgan Gillory, the heart of the show. She is a cleaner with an IQ of 160 and somehow winds up as an unofficial police consultant. Morgan sees things differently, which is what makes her so good at cracking tough LAPD cases. She brings heart, empathy, and just enough chaos to keep everyone guessing.
Daniel Sunjata is Adam Karadec, Morgan’s partner in Major Crimes. At first, Karadec is all about the rules, but by High Potential Episode 4, you can see him start to let go. He is warming up to Morgan, and you can tell he is learning to trust her offbeat methods.
Javicia Leslie steps in as Daphne Forrester, another investigator who works closely with Lev “Oz” Osman. Daphne is sharp, steady, and always ready with a quick joke. She is the glue that holds the team together when things get tense.
Deniz Akdeniz is Lev 'Oz' Osman, Daphne’s partner. He is quick on his feet and pretty clever, helping balance old-school police work with Morgan’s outside-the-box ideas.
Amirah J plays Ava Gillory, Morgan’s teenage daughter. Their relationship isn’t easy, especially with Morgan’s new gig and the ongoing search for Ava’s dad hanging over them.
Matthew Lamb is Elliot Radovic, Morgan’s son. He is whip-smart in his own right, and you can see flashes of Morgan’s intuition in him. He is almost like her mirror at home.
Judy Reyes is Selena Soto, the lieutenant in charge of Major Crimes. Selena has got Morgan’s back, even when the rest of the squad isn’t sure what to make of her.
Now for the guests in High Potential Episode 4
Madeline Zima shows up as Mia Ashford, a wealthy hotel owner who is frantic after her daughters go missing. Mia’s panic and determination elevate the stakes for everyone.
Christopher Cousins plays John Ashford, Mia’s powerful father. He has got secrets and a knack for making a messy situation even messier.
Scott Kuza appears as Wendell Dunn, Mia’s estranged husband. He is found murdered, and his survivalist background turns out to be a huge clue.
Pippa Blaylock and Charlotte Ann Tucker play Paige and Ellie Ashford, the kidnapped daughters. Their disappearance is what kicks the whole case into gear and brings out the best (and sometimes worst) in everyone.
Mark Dancewicz is Curtis, the family driver. Turns out, he is the kidnapper, and his motives shake up everything you thought you knew about the case.
Taran Killam pops in as Ludo Radovic, Morgan’s ex. He helps Morgan juggle her kids and the chaos at home.
There is also a social worker, an antiques dealer, and a handful of LAPD officers, all of whom get their moments to shine and stir up trouble. Every actor brings something real, whether it is solving the week’s mystery or deepening the season’s storylines. These performances keep you hooked, episode after episode.
About High Potential
High Potential mixes sharp smarts and real heart, all wrapped up in a crime procedural that doesn’t always play by the rules. At the center is Morgan Gillory. She begins by cleaning floors; however, her skill at breaking cases puts her squarely in the midst of the LAPD's Major Crimes Division.
She is assigned to work with Detective Adam Karadec, and the duo works together solving murder cases in a manner that no one anticipates. Morgan has a lot on her plate, continuing to raise her child alone and still tormented by the loss of her ex-boyfriend, Roman.
High Potential Episode 4, Survival Mode, turns up the tension. It kicks off with two kids locked in a trunk, way darker than the show’s usual snappy vibe. Suddenly, it is all hands on deck, racing the clock. Morgan has a gut feeling that pushes against Karadec and Lieutenant Soto, who both zero in on the kids’ mom, Mia. But Morgan trusts her instincts, and it pays off.
Turns out Mia isn’t the villain. The real threat is Curtis, the family’s driver, who is so desperate to be the hero that he becomes the monster. Morgan pulls the pieces together to track down the girls. The rescue scene leaves everyone, both on screen and off, breathing a little easier.
The second season of High Potential premiered in the middle of September 2025, releasing the first seven episodes within a month or so. The show retained its trademark formula, with each episode bringing about a new case, yet the larger mysteries of Morgan Gillory’s life continued to simmer to the surface.
This time, Morgan found herself knee-deep in a serial kidnapping investigation and once again face-to-face with the “Game Maker,” the old nemesis who seems obsessed with her. And then there is Roman, her ex and the father of her daughter, who everyone thought was dead. Suddenly, a man shows up using Roman’s name, and the LAPD gets pulled in all over again.
The midseason finale, High Potential Episode 7, was all about an art heist, but the real shocker was that Morgan realized her new romantic interest, Rhys Eastman, had a scar suspiciously similar to one tied to the crimes. The episode ended with Morgan and Rhys literally stuck together, leaving everyone wondering who Rhys is and what secrets he is hiding. The drama was off the scale, and the viewers have not yet ceased discussing it. The emotional scale has soared, and the mystery surrounding Roman is more entangled than ever.
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Now, looking ahead, the second half of High Potential Season 2 comes back January 6, 2026, on ABC. The showrunners promise the Roman storyline is only going to get bigger, and there are plenty of new cases on the way, too. Plus, Steve Howey joins the cast as Nick Wagner, the precinct’s new captain. He has political savvy, a bit of swagger, and maybe even some family connections helping him out.
His arrival definitely shakes up the team dynamic, especially for Lieutenant Selena Soto. Nick brings a new energy and a few complications to the squad, keeping things unpredictable as the season rolls on.
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