ABC’s “High Potential,” a show I initially dismissed as another network procedural, has surprised me. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s efficiently made, anchored by a decent performance from Kaitlin Olson as Morgan, the single mom with an uncanny knack for solving crimes. In Tuesday’s episode, “Chutes and Murders,” Morgan and her by-the-book detective partner (a thankless role for Daniel Sunjata) investigate the death of a nanny found in a local park.
As if a murder investigation weren’t enough, Morgan also has a personal crisis to handle. The details, as usual, are vague, but it’s safe to assume it involves her precocious kids or her perpetually exasperated mother. The writers also throw in a subplot about Elliot, the tech guy, being excluded from a classmate’s party. Because every cop show needs a dose of awkward social interactions, right?
The show isn’t afraid to lean into the familiar tropes of the genre, but it manages to do so without becoming completely predictable. Olson and Sunjata have a comfortable, if slightly underutilized, chemistry, and the cases, while not exactly innovative, are at least engaging enough to keep you watching. This isn’t “Hill Street Blues,” but it’s perfectly adequate Tuesday night viewing. “Chutes and Murders” airs Tuesday at 9:00 PM on ABC.
“High Potential” airs Tuesdays at 9:00 PM on ABC.