[Editor’s note: The following contains some spoilers for Season 2 of High Potential.]
Key Insights
- Season 2 of ‘High Potential’ features an intensified threat from the Game Maker, putting Morgan’s family at risk.
- The season expands to 18 episodes, allowing for deeper character development and story arcs.
- Captain Wagner introduces new dynamics, while Morgan and Karadec’s relationship evolves significantly.
The ABC series High Potential returns for Season 2 with the spotlight turned on the Game Maker’s (David Giuntoli) threats directed at Morgan (Kaitlin Olson). Putting her family directly in the line of fire knocks the LAPD consultant off-kilter, leaving the team of detectives to question whether she’s seeing connections that aren’t really there. As the calculated killer taunts Morgan and Selena (Judy Reyes), who oversees Major Crimes, wonders if she’s pushing herself too hard, the initially wary Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) is now fully on board with his partner.
During this one-on-one interview with Collider, showrunner Todd Harthan discussed what he learned from the first season that they were able to build on with Season 2, being able to tell more story with 18 episodes instead of 13, the dedication Olson brings to the show and character, why James Roday Rodriguez was the perfect director to kick off the season, kicking off the episode with a Lady Gaga song, what a true adversary for Morgan needs to embody, whether there’s any romance to come for Morgan and Karadec, how Roman will play into things in Season 2, and what viewers can expect from the new boss, Captain Wagner (Steve Howey).
‘High Potential’ Season 2 Is Leaning Into the Chemistry of the Cast
“They’re always rooting for each other.”
Collider: After a very successful first season, what do you think the show did best that you wanted to build on with Season 2? What did you learn about the show once you had the characters and the relationships up and running? What did you want to do in Season 2 that you couldn’t have done with the first season?
TODD HARTHAN: Good question. With first seasons, you learn so many lessons, good, bad and ugly. You go, “Why did I do that? Why didn’t we do more of this and that?” There’s always that postmortem digestion period. We got lucky that the chemistry with the cast was already really syncing up and healthy. That was working from the jump. So then, it became about what kind of cases do we want to tell and what kind of layers do we want to peel back for the various characters? The thing that worked that we continue to lean into is that these people, and not just Morgan with her kids because she loves them unconditionally, but this found family, and the loyalty and trust that continues to bloom between them is something that is real and infectious. It never gets catty and there’s no backstabbing. They’re all each other’s receptors and there’s a charm to that. We’re leaning into that even more this season. Not that there isn’t conflict and obstacles and adversity, but they’re stronger for it and get each other through. They’re always rooting for each other and that is something that we are continuing to strengthen and build around in Season 2 because it felt like the audience really appreciated that aspect of the show.
Did the extra episodes change how you wanted to approach anything this season, with the pacing of it or with things that you wanted to do because you knew you’d have extra time?
HARTHAN: The thing that it gives us is more real estate to spread the wealth to other characters, which is something that we’re trying to be much better about. Last year was a little bit fast and furious; we didn’t really know what we had yet, and we didn’t have as many episodes. That’s probably the biggest gift of more episodes. We’re able to let the serialized interpersonal storylines breathe. They don’t feel rushed. I don’t love too slow of a burn, but I also don’t like to cram things down the audience’s throat either. I think we’re able to move at a healthy pace this season, which has been nice.
What have you most enjoyed about collaborating with Kaitlin Olson? What is she like to work with as the lead and number one who’s also a producer? What does she bring to this character and this world?
HARTHAN: She brings dedication and specificity. Those are the two that come to mind right away. She’s so zeroed in on every aspect of the character in the best of ways, and she has really good instincts. My job oftentimes when I put something in front of her like a new script or pitch or something is to listen. She can hear the sour note in any scene. She just has really good instincts as it relates to taking what we’ve given her and helps us shape storylines, scenes, and everything. It’s lots and lots of communication and collaboration with her because she’s very hands-on and helps us build every one of these episodes.
James Roday, who I adore from Psych, directs your first episode this season and he directed the finale last season. Was he always going to do the first episode back after doing the finale with the cliffhanger?
HARTHAN: James and I have known each other for 30 years and have been collaborating for 20 or 25. Unquestionably, he was the guy that was going to kick us off this season. I adore him. He’s ridiculously talented. Kaitlin also just had an immediate creative click with him. He was the guy. We knew we wanted to do something big and ambitious; to me there’s just nobody better. He’s just incredible. Anytime he’s around, we’re happy to have him. I check his availability every week.
It was fun to see David Giuntoli on the show because they did A Million Little Things together.
HARTHAN: Yeah, that was James’ idea. We were talking about that character and James was like, “I’ve got the perfect guy.” That’s how that happened.
How cool was it to snag a Lady Gaga song (“Abracadabra”) to kick off the season?
HARTHAN: That was James’ idea. When we were figuring out that teaser and he was coming up with the opening shot and was figuring out how we were going to open the season and the vibe that we wanted, he was like, “I think I’ve got the perfect song.” And then you brace yourself and go, “How much is that going to cost?” But in the end it wasn’t that bad.
‘High Potential’s Game Maker Crossed a Line by Threatening Morgan When She Was With Her Family
“She’s going to pull out all the stops.”
I always find it especially interesting when you use a case to target the cast directly in a show like this because it always throws them off a little bit, and the Game Maker definitely throws Morgan off. She’s finding her footing again; she’s questioning herself, and the team is questioning her a bit more than usual. Is it just harder for Morgan to keep her cool when she feels like her family is threatened?
HARTHAN: Especially this guy who bumped into her at the grocery store with her kids. That’s crossing a line. That’s hitting a nerve. She’s going to pull out all the stops. It may throw her off kilter a little bit but then when she refocuses and zeroes in on you—good luck winning that one. We’re always looking for ways to challenge the character. It’s fun to write those scenes that are a little bit more emotionally charged and erratic—and all those wonderful things. Kaitlin Olson can do anything, so we’re always looking for ways to find those different colors.
There’s something very Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty about Morgan and the Game Maker. How hard is it to figure out what a true adversary for Morgan can be?
HARTHAN: They better be pretty darn smart. How do you challenge somebody like Morgan who’s so brilliant in an almost otherworldly superhero kind of way? Well, they better be pretty inventive and detail-oriented because any tiny little mistake she’ll catch. The other thing was that I also didn’t have a huge appetite for doing a traditional sadistic serial killer. We needed someone smart and sadistic without being too over-the-top or too dark. It was tricky for us. We wanted our own identity. It’s not like we’re reinventing wheel here—when creating one of those big villains you have to decide how you’re going give them their own identity—it was challenging cracking code on that one.
Without spoilers for how storyline wraps up—did you always know what you wanted ultimate outcome for Game Maker would be or did it keep evolving as you figured out exactly what you wanted do with character?
HARTHAN: I had pretty good idea what I wanted at first blush but then you bring it writing staff starts evolve get richer better more interesting—and then add layers complexities—even on day still going “What if we do this?” To me wonderful thing about series television is unlike movie where you’ve got wrap up couple hours—it’s like “What if we do this? What if this twist or if that’s turn? What if gives us more interesting story? Let’s not leave great episodes table by wrapping it up.” It’s ongoing conversation.You go into these seasons think you’ve got all plotted planned—but then goes out window when dig in other people throw ideas mix.
If actors have great chemistry obviously viewers want see more characters together get invested possible romance between them—what can say about what we’ll see between Morgan Karadec this season? Is there possibility romance between them?
TODD HARTHAN: I never say never—we’re early our run show—I hope—I still love bond friendship partnership continues bloom—of course, we’re going feed those wonderful soapy moments.
This feels like she needs solve own past little bit before figure out next thing could be.
TODD HARTHAN: Agreed—Morgan has got lot her plate—but we’ve got some surprises season—there are some things coming some unexpected flares if will.
The start this season we’re learning little bit about Roman—but we’re doing so through Mekhi Phifer’s character—what can say about all of that? When you’re dealing character like Roman who’s been MIA while but we’ve heard about him all time—did want layers upon layers everyone would have keep working peel back?
TODD HARTHAN: Yeah—he’s been gone years so want keep alive keep filling blanks who he was through different characters while he’s not our orbit—that part plan so you’re not always reading about him file or hearing about him second third hand—that’s been our approach—the Roman story big part Season there are some big things coming Mekhi has been amazing lovely work doesn’t take lot real estate these episodes but when he’s episode can’t take eyes off him because he’s got such gravitas presence—he’s been wonderful addition.
‘High Potential’ Season 2 Is Introducing a New Police Captain to Shake Things Up
“It’s very hard to put your finger on what makes him tick.”
What can you say about new boss this season? Who is new captain—and what made Steve Howey right actor bring him life?
TODD HARTHAN: He’s hopefully not your down-the-middle traditional expected new captain—he’s little bit mystery—it’s very hard put your finger on what makes him tick—his past little bit gray—his relationship Morgan quite different than you’d expect—he doesn’t come in point view she outsider doesn’t deserve be there—he has fixation “What is unicorn is secret weapon?” However his relationship rest detectives little bit adversarial intense—it just been fun write because really an enigma—and Steve wonderful—he’s very versatile—he can play comedy drama—he jumped right immediately started click rest cast—it’s been really fun write.
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‘High Potential’ airs on ABC available stream Hulu Check out Season trailer:
