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Do we truly grow bored of the genius detective? I suspect not – the thrill of seeing a remarkably talented person crack incredibly intricate cases is one of fiction’s surest appeals. As always, our screens teem with such characters: in the past year alone we’ve met Ludwig, David Mitchell’s puzzle-setter turned incredibly astute investigator; been reunited with Natasha Lyonne’s truth-divining Charlie Cale in Poker Face; and crossed paths again with brainiac attorney Elsbeth.

A Unique Breed of Genius Detective

Returning for further intellectual feats is Morgan Gillory, the protagonist of lighthearted crime series High Potential, which returns for a new season. With an IQ of 160 – earning her “high intellectual potential” – Morgan’s ability to decode exceptionally convoluted sequences of events is truly remarkable. Yet there’s something distinctive about this brilliant crime-solver.

Ever since an antisocial drug addict named Sherlock Holmes established the genius detective mold, such characters have usually had some flaws. Ludwig is reclusive, his talents tempered by intense awkwardness. Cale is a unpredictable, non-committal loner fond of a drink or two, while Elsbeth is a no-filter weirdo who unnerves others.

Morgan – portrayed by Kaitlin Olson – has no comparable weaknesses. Initially, she’s working as a cleaner in the offices of the LAPD. After accidentally knocking over a pile of investigation notes and noticing some critical mistakes, she leaves a clue to guide the detectives in the right direction. Before long, she’s recruited to work with the police, where she duly solves a series of extraordinarily labyrinthine crimes with practically no assistance.

A Well-Rounded Heroine

Morgan is not only inordinately smart, she’s also a bold, charming, elegant, stunning achiever with flawless instincts and exceptional 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 almost ideal in every way, the same can’t be said for her life – initially. A solo parent of three, she finds it hard to cover expenses, and mostly uses her mind palace to get the most out of her coupon-assisted supermarket shop. Motherhood can, of course, hinder women’s professional lives, but Morgan’s readiness to put up with the demands and pay of a minimum-wage job doesn’t quite ring true.

Juggling Realism and Drama

Equally difficult to buy is the show’s primary subplot: running through all her disparate cases is Morgan’s determination to track down the father of her eldest child, who vanished without a trace a decade and a half back. Despite her remarkable skills 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 polished, easy-watching network TV. It’s popular and visually appealing, the sort of thing typically found 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, possibly the most reasonable and most approachable police chief in cop drama history. No antiheroes, little grit: the vibe is comfortable and heartwarming and rather basic.

Suspense and Excitement

Obviously, the crimes are far from comforting or sentimental or basic. The season one finale saw Morgan taunted by a kidnapper who forced her to solve extremely challenging puzzles to save the lives. He returns in the premiere episodes here, kidnapping a young mother on her way home from a night out – but his true objective is clearly Morgan, whom he sees as a worthy opponent in his real-life game of chess.

Seeing her get tantalisingly close to outsmarting this man is tense and exciting, but something this out-there requires a watertight ending. The question is: does the show prove as clever as its protagonist?

Final Thoughts

In a word, no. The show is quite effective at keeping the suspense going, but it fails to deliver the landing, and the storyline wraps up with a preposterous twist. Still, there’s always next time. Actually, Morgan’s subsequent case – while equally bananas – is more coherently plotted, ending with a satisfying and unexpectedly moving climax. The consistency of the plotting may be a tad inconsistent, but similar to other predecessors and peers, this masterful citizen detective can always be counted on to save the day.