High Potential Season 2 Episode 3 recap: A heartbreaking twist of fate

High Potential Season 2 returned with a thought-provoking case that leaves the LAPD scrabbling for answers. The hit ABC series revolves around Morgan Gillory (played by Kaitlin Olson), who with her extraordinary skills helps the Los Angeles Police Department solve complex crime cases. The episode 3 titled ‘Eleven Minutes’ finds Morgan and the Major Crimes department looking into a mysterious murder case. Meanwhile, Morgan finds herself at crossroads as her daughter, Ava (played by Amirah J), gets increasingly curious about her father’s whereabouts.

In High Potential Season 2 episode titled ‘Checkmate’, Morgan finally confronts Game Maker (played by David Giuntoli) aka Matthew Clark. Despite his threats and manipulating games, Morgan was able to find clues that tied him to his crimes. On the other hand, the search for Roman Sinquerra takes a new turn when a man called Arthur (played by Mekhi Phifer) meets Morgan unexpectedly and informs her that her ex-husband is hiding from the authorities as his life is in danger.

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High Potential Season 2 Episode 3 dives into a heartbreaking case

High Potential Season 2 Episode 3 opens with a man arriving at a restaurant and asking for a table for two. After the waitress leaves, a mysterious person comes from behind and suffocates the man with a plastic bag. Enter Morgan and Detective Adam Karadec (played by Daniel Sunjata). They learn that the paramedics knew the victim, Nathan. He use to often reach out to him with inexplainable injuries.

The waitress will reveal that she had heard ducks, which made her curious. When she went to inspect, she found Nathan. Ironically, there were no ducks in sight. Nathan was then taken to the hospital.

At Nathan’s house, Morgan and Karadec find several unpaid bills and sports books. Morgan points out that he could have had a gambling debt. She also finds a paper with some numbers written on them. Their attention is however sidetracked when a man tries to break in. Morgan and Karadec go after him and learn that he was sent to kill Nathan. The two decide to go see the man’s boss, Ray, a loan shark.

As we would come to learn from High Potential Season 2 Episode 3, the numbers on the paper were Ray’s Social Security number. It is possible that that he was working with Nathan to make the whole incident appear as an accident, with Ray eventually getting Nathan’s life insurance amount. They also discover that Nathan’s daughter, Jessia’s, name was taken out of the insurance as beneficiary.

On questioning, Jessica discloses that she knew nothing about the life insurance as her parents were separated for a long time ago and her father had reached out to her a few months ago. They realize that Nathan and Jessica were meant to meet that day but someone messaged Nathan with different location and he ended up getting attacked at the café. Jessica also revealed that despite being in good health, he was seeing a cardiologist.

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Nathan’s heart holds the key in High Potential Season 2 Episode 3

With all the information in hand, Morgan starts to put pieces together. As they wonder if Nathan had purposely tried to kill himself to settle his debt, they learn that Nathan is brain-dead.

Later, Morgan shares that it is possible that the culprit wanted Nathan dead for his heart. And the last minute change of location could have been a setup. Nathan’s phone had a duck alarm, which the waitress had heard when she discovered him. Lieutenant Selena Soto (played by Judy Reyes) and Karadec question the paramedics who reveal that it takes eleven minutes of immobility to be announced brain dead. The whole incident appeared to be staged.

High Potential Season 2 Episode 3 takes a turn when Morgan’s assumption about the culprit looking into organ donation appears to be correct. The team try to learn where Nathan’s heart will be going. They learn that a famous movie producer was in a hospital for heart transplant. But he did not know about Nathan. They learn that Nathan’s heart had been stolen, and the hospital staff were clueless about who the recipient of the heart is.

Morgan is aware that the heart transplant must be done in a few hours and she immediately goes through the list of beneficiaries. She comes upon the name Rosemary, who coincidentally happens to be the mother of Christopher Bishop, one of the paramedics. Morgan determines that Christopher attacked Nathan, timing it perfectly, to ensure his organ can be donated to his mother.

Nathan has initially planned to end his life and donate his heart to Christopher’s mother. But after he learnt that Jessica is pregnant, he did not want to go through it. Instead, Christopher took the matters into his own hands.

When Rosemary is informed about her son’s crime in order to let his mother have the heart, she breaks down. Christopher will share a heart-warming moment with his mother after he is arrested and apologizes to her for his actions. At the end, Karadec will reveal to Morgan that a patient got Nathan’s heart.

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High Potential Season 2 Episode 3 – Ava is inquisitive about her father’s whereabouts

Now that Game Maker is behind the bars, Morgan is getting on with her regular life. But there are several questions looming over her head. Namely, Roman’s whereabouts. Ava will ask Morgan information about her father but the later decides to stay tight lipped, leaving her eldest frustrated.

Morgan will even inform Karadec about Ava getting increasingly curious about her father. On her colleague’s advice, she would reveal all she learnt about Roman.

Later, Morgan comes to know that Ava had been arrested for vandalizing a painting by Roman. Morgan tries to prevent her from getting arrested, but instead both of them find themselves behind the bars. Thanks to Karadec’s help, they get out. Ava would later share that she is unable to come to terms with the idea that her father abandoned her and she expresses regret for her reckless act. Morgan comforts her by saying that she hopes that Roman is doing this for the right reasons.

At the end of High Potential Season 2 Episode 3, Morgan will meet Jessica. Jessica will share that her father became a part of her life again because of her mother’s supportive stance. The moment is self-reflective for Morgan, who had been wondering on how to help Ava make peace with her father’s disappearance.

Watch High Potential Season 2 on ABC.

ALSO READ: High Potential Season 2 Episode 2 recap: The Game Maker's clever moves fall short

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