Her [Morgan's (Kaitlin Olson)] hyper-brained abilities are plausibly used in the field, and even though the series does lean on her a little too much as the exposition dumper and smartest person in the room for those first two episodes, there is a concerted effort to temper that by the third.

You watch for Olson and to see what heights of absurdity the writers can reach each episode, how much esoteric knowledge they can cram into the plot and still make it work, like jazz musicians riffing to the point of chaos then bringing it safely back home. High potential for joy and delight.

The show is legitimately funny and quite delightful, not the least because both Olson and Morgan seem to be having a good time. “Castle” fans should feel at home here.

Sometimes all it takes is the right casting to make a show that on paper sounds “meh” turn out so much better. That’s the case here thanks to the likeable lead performance by Kaitlin Olson.

Olson, who's honed her comic chops for years, brings winning flippancy and an undercurrent of warmth to Morgan. [7 - 27 Oct 2024, p.6]

High Potential does fall into an early trap of the genre by spotlighting its lead character at the expense of the supporting ensemble. .... But with Olson's quirky, standout performance leading the way and an entertaining premise that doesn't overstay its welcome, it's already off to a strong start.

“High Potential” struggles to ground itself in solid storytelling and create fully realized characters, even when they are one-offs. A case-of-the-week structure requires a specific skill and I worry writers are out of practice.