Inspired by a captivating French crime series, <em>High Potential</em> achieved remarkable success upon its premiere on ABC in 2025. This compelling series revolves around a remarkable woman named Morgan (Kaitlin Olson), who works as part of the janitorial staff at a police station. Morgan leverages her exceptional observational skills and keen intelligence to provide crucial insights that lead to breakthroughs in various criminal cases.

Her unique ability to connect intricate details that often elude seasoned detectives earns her a consulting role with the police force. This opportunity arises not only from her innate high IQ but also from a set of distinctive skills that Morgan possesses. The concept of Morgan’s High Potential is rooted in reality, and it’s a theme that has been explored in various similar shows before.

Understanding Morgan’s High Potential Intelligence in High Potential

Morgan Identifies as a High Potential Intellectual

During the pilot episode of High Potential, Morgan articulates her reasoning behind believing that one of the suspects in a case is actually a victim, which impresses Selena Soto (Judy Reyes) due to her remarkable ability to retain intricate knowledge. Selena even refers to Morgan’s abilities as a “gift.”

Nonetheless, Morgan clarifies that she possesses a genius-level IQ and identifies herself as a High Potential Intellectual, someone who has the capacity to absorb and retain significantly more information and observe more deeply than the average individual. Her extraordinary hyper-observational abilities serve as a crucial asset throughout the first season of the show. Interestingly, Morgan does not perceive these abilities as mere gifts.

In fact, Morgan explicitly corrects Soto, emphasizing that her talent is not a gift, stating:

No, not a gift. I obsess over every little problem I see. My mind is constantly spinning out of control, which makes it impossible to hold a job, relationship, or even a conversation. Not a gift.

Throughout the first season, Morgan’s self-assessment of her abilities is not entirely inaccurate. She frequently misses important dates because she becomes overly consumed by the cases she is working on, often staying awake all night piecing together information. Furthermore, she has a tendency to correct those around her, much to their annoyance.

While these challenges appear to paint a negative picture, they are counterbalanced by the positive impact Morgan has on solving crimes. She possesses a unique ability to identify missing pieces and intricate details, and she “has a compulsion to set things right,” enabling her to untangle the complex threads of murder mysteries.

Each of the cases presented in High Potential’s inaugural season showcases a diverse range of challenges, requiring a wide spectrum of knowledge. From rare frog species to the architectural orientation of churches, altered video evidence, and more, Morgan exhibits an unrivaled capacity to retain the knowledge necessary to grasp every aspect.

Is High Potential Intelligence a Real Concept? Examining the Accuracy of High Potential’s Representation

High Intellectual Potential Is a Real Phenomenon

While some viewers might perceive Morgan’s High Potential as a fictional exaggeration, it is actually grounded in reality. This condition is known as High Intellectual Potential in real life, with a counterpart referred to as High Emotional Potential, which emphasizes emotional intelligence.

High Intellectual Potential, often abbreviated as “HIP” among scholars, is a term that is frequently used synonymously with “gifted.” To qualify as HIP, an individual must achieve a tested IQ score exceeding 130. Although IQ tests have faced criticism for potential biases historically, they remain the most reliable method for assessing cognitive intelligence.

Individuals classified as HIP do not simply possess a high IQ; they are also recognized for their unique ability to make unconventional connections among various elements in their environment. As Morgan articulates in the series, many HIP individuals possess photographic memories.

Many individuals classified as HIP also face challenges in maintaining focus while processing an overwhelming amount of information. They can experience boredom when they already grasp the knowledge being presented to them. Consequently, this can lead to many HIP individuals being diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, as noted by C2Care, not all individuals with HIP are diagnosed with ADHD.

The characteristics commonly associated with HIP include:

• Boredom in educational settings
• IQ scores above 130
• Perfectionistic tendencies
• Exceptional memorization abilities
• Challenges in maintaining social relationships

The traits associated with individuals recognized as having High Intellectual Potential align perfectly with the characteristics exhibited by Morgan in the series. The show has successfully portrayed a remarkably accurate representation of these traits, even if some audience members may perceive the narrative as far-fetched.

Exploring Other Television Shows Featuring HPI Characters

HPI Characters Are Common in Crime Series

High Potential is notably the only series explicitly confirming a character with HIP. Nevertheless, drawing comparisons between Morgan’s traits and those of characters in other crime series who likely share similar attributes is quite simple.

One series that has been frequently compared to High Potential since its pilot aired is Psych. Both Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) and Morgan share numerous similarities. From their remarkable memorization skills to feelings of boredom during lectures and near-photographic memories, they utilize these capabilities to solve crimes in comparable ways.

Interestingly, the distinction between these characters is that Morgan is transparent about her cognitive abilities, whereas Shawn pretends to be a psychic to rationalize his skills. Notably, Rodriguez has directed episodes of High Potential himself, which allows an actor with a similar background to assist Olson in portraying HIP effectively.

Psych is not the exclusive series featuring such a protagonist. Other notable shows include The Mentalist with Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), Criminal Minds showcasing Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), and more recently, Found featuring Margaret Reed (Kelli Williams). Each character possesses their own unique skill sets, yet they all utilize their abilities in distinctive manners to solve crimes: Jane is known for his human lie detection, Reid excels in pattern recognition, and Margaret is adept at reading emotions.

Morgan stands out as the latest addition to a long list of likely HIP characters, enhancing the intrigue of crime dramas. However, Morgan may represent one of the most authentic portrayals of an HIP on contemporary television, contributing to High Potential’s distinctive appeal.

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