High Potential Season 2 used New Order’s ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ in Episode 2 for a reason; here's all about it

High Potential Season 2 Episode 2, "Checkmate", shocked its viewers with another needle drop. Two episodes in, and the people working in this series have used popular songs to establish a sinister character dynamic between David Giuntoli's character, the Game Maker/Matthew Clark, and Kaitlin Olson's Morgan Gillory.

While the previous episode played The Lion Sleeps Tonight, to set up the Game Maker and Morgan Gillory. The second episode of High Potential Season 2 features 1986's "Bizarre Love Triangle". In fact, an early moment in the episode also sets up the scene when this song will be played in the last act of the episode.

What is the name of the song in High Potential Season 2 Episode 2?

Bizarre Love Triangle is the name of the song that plays in this episode of High Potential Season 2. The iconic new wave number can be heard twice in this 43-minute episode. Matthew uses the song as a clue for Morgan to figure out a missing character's location. The song's Priscilla Ahn cover played again in the third act of the episode as Morgan finally locates Matthew's missing, crucial kidnapped victim and brings him down... for now.

Showrunner Todd Harthan and James Roday Rodriguez, who directed High Potential Season 2 Episode 2, revealed the reason why they chose the beloved song for the second season. Harthan sat down for an interview with TVLine on September 24, 2025. In that interview, the showrunner said this:

“We were ’80s and early ’90s kids, and we always loved anything New Order, The Cure, Depeche Mode — that was our jam. We were those kids, and for some reason that particular song was just one that he and I, when we became friends in 1992, just loved. It seemed to fit into this episode, and we were willing to pay a premium to get it.”

Thus, the song serves as an homage in this episode of High Potential Season 2.

Is this the last of Matthew in this season of High Potential?

This episode reveals Matthew's motivation for the sadistic game he has been playing since the first episode of this season. He is a disgruntled genius on a mission to avenge his mother's death in prison after being accused of a robbery she did not commit. But many fans are unsure if they can trust Matt or not. Todd Harthan addressed this in a September 23, 2025, TVLine interview:

“There’s always more to every story in this show. I don’t like to put periods at the end of sentences. There’s a huge possibility that this story has more life in it. It’s something we talk about a lot, and yes, every word coming out of his mouth should be taken with a grain of salt.”

Thus, it seems that we may see more of Matthew in the upcoming episodes of season 2.

What is High Potential about?

Morgan Gillory is a cleaner in the LAPD. However, she is hired as a consultant when she helps the police solve a difficult case. Thus, the series follows the single mother trying to solve complicated cases while she also attempts to uncover what happened to Roman, her first husband and her daughter's father.

"Created by Drew Goddard (“The Good Place,” “The Martian”) and starring Kaitlin Olson, “High Potential” follows a single mom with an exceptional mind, whose unconventional knack for solving crimes leads to an unusual and unstoppable partnership with a by-the-book seasoned detective (Daniel Sunjata). Based on the popular French series “Haut Potentiel Intellectuel (HPI),” “High Potential” stars Kaitlin Olson as Morgan, Daniel Sunjata as Karadec, Javicia Leslie as Daphne, Deniz Akdeniz as Lev “Oz” Ozdil, Amirah J as Ava, Matthew Lamb as Elliot, Steve Howey as Nick Wagner and Judy Reyes as Selena."

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As we wait for High Potential Season 2 Episode 3, airing next week on September 30, 2025, catch the second episode, which is accessible via streaming on Hulu.

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