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Do we truly tire of the genius detective? Probably not – the thrill of witnessing a remarkably talented person crack incredibly intricate cases is one of fiction’s most reliable draws. As always, our screens teem with such characters: over the last twelve months we’ve met Ludwig, David Mitchell’s riddle-creator turned brilliantly perceptive detective; been reunited with Natasha Lyonne’s human lie-detector Charlie Cale in Poker Face; and crossed paths once again with legal genius Elsbeth.

A Different Kind of Genius Detective

Also back for more mental gymnastics is Morgan Gillory, the protagonist of breezy procedural High Potential, now back for a second season. With an IQ of 160 – giving her “exceptional mental ability” – Morgan’s talent to decode mind-bendingly complicated sequences of events is downright astonishing. Yet there’s something a little different about this particular brilliant crime-solver.

Since an reclusive drug addict by the name of Sherlock Holmes established the genius detective mold, these types have usually had some flaws. Ludwig is withdrawn, his talents tempered by intense awkwardness. Cale is a chaotic, non-committal loner fond of a drink or two, while Elsbeth is a no-filter eccentric who gives people the creeps.

Morgan – played by Kaitlin Olson – has no such weaknesses. Initially, she’s working as a cleaner in the offices of the police department. Upon knocking over a pile of investigation notes and spotting some serious errors, she provides a hint to guide the detectives in the right direction. Soon, she’s brought on to work with the police, where she promptly solves a series of highly complex crimes almost single-handedly.

A Multifaceted Heroine

Morgan is not only inordinately smart, she’s also a bold, charismatic, elegant, stunning go-getter with flawless instincts and off-the-charts emotional intelligence. She may be a little pushy at times, but given her role in the business of saving lives and catching killers, a bit of urgency isn’t exactly inappropriate.

If Morgan is practically perfect in every way, that isn't the case for her life – at first. A solo parent of three, she struggles to make ends meet, and mostly uses her mind palace to get the most out of her coupon-assisted supermarket shop. Motherhood can, of course, stymie women’s professional lives, but Morgan’s willingness to accept the demands and pay of a low-paying job seems unrealistic.

Balancing Realism and Entertainment

Equally difficult to buy is the show’s longest narrative thread: underpinning all her varied cases is Morgan’s resolve to track down the father of her eldest child, who disappeared without a trace a decade and a half back. In spite of her incredible powers of deduction, she hasn’t the foggiest idea where he is.

But High Potential isn’t overly concerned with realism. Made by ABC in the US, this is slick, easy-watching network TV. It’s crowd-pleasing and visually appealing, the sort of thing you’d traditionally associate more with ITV than BBC Two. Morgan’s new colleagues are consistently pleasant, two-dimensional guys: suave detective Karadec, investigators Daphne and Oz, plus Lt Selena Soto, perhaps the most reasonable and least fearsome police chief in detective show history. No antiheroes, no edge: the vibe is cosy and heartwarming and rather basic.

Suspense and Excitement

Naturally, the crimes are far from comforting or sentimental or basic. The season one finale saw Morgan provoked by a kidnapper who compelled her to solve ludicrously difficult puzzles to save the lives. He returns in the premiere episodes here, abducting a young mother on her way home from a night out – but his real target is clearly Morgan, whom he sees as a worthy opponent in his real-life game of chess.

Watching her get agonizingly near to outwitting this man is nerve-wracking and exciting, but something this out-there requires a watertight ending. The question is: is High Potential as clever as its protagonist?

Final Thoughts

In a word, no. The show is very good at keeping the suspense going, but it can’t quite stick the landing, and the storyline wraps up with a preposterous twist. Still, there’s always next time. In fact, Morgan’s following investigation – while equally bizarre – is better thought through, ending with a neat and surprisingly moving finale. The quality of the plotting may be a tad inconsistent, but similar to other predecessors and peers, this virtuoso amateur investigator can always be relied upon to save the day.