The consultant procedural drama is often only as good as its main pairing. From Castle and Bones to Wild Cards and Lucifer, as well as all of those in between and beyond, the subgenre and its iconic duos have become television staples. The characters don’t always have a romantic endgame, but they frequently do. Part of the appeal tends to be the time it takes for the pairing to get together.
It’s all about the long game – every big and small moment that makes investing in even the idea of the couple exciting. High Potential’s first season already teases the slow burn, romantic potential between Detective Adam Karadec and his partner and LAPD consultant, Morgan Gillory. Part of what will make the eventual (hopefully, if all goes well in the end) payoff worthwhile is the show’s intentional investment in Karadec and Morgan’s dynamic. High Potential Season 2, Episode 3, “Eleven Minutes,” is an overwhelmingly positive example of why taking time with partnerships like this works wonders.
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Morgan and Karadec’s Professional Influence
There’s a built-in trust in Morgan and Karadec’s professional partnership after Season 1. The Game Maker stretches their working relationship to great lengths as the case goes to extremes. So, “Eleven Minutes” is almost a return to case-of-the-week form for their dynamic and High Potential. This episode showcases how much easier it is for them when they’re working together now. Karadec sits back and watches Morgan lead the questioning. It’s not a begrudging act, but an easy trust exercise. The same is true when Morgan helps Karadec apprehend a suspect when Lieutenant Soto doesn’t answer the call for back-up. Karadec is relieved when Morgan thinks outside the box, as she does, to have his back.
Something as seemingly inconsequential as Karadec knowing that Morgan is at Ava’s school speaks to the more frequent communication between Karadec and Morgan. Understandably, that dialogue is relevant in their working relationship because Karadec then works with Daphne for a bit. When they reunite, High Potential shows how Morgan and Karadec lean on each other during their toughest moments at work. They never miss a beat in their banter. There’s also a silent and unfortunate understanding in the looks they share when they realize that they have to stop Rosemary from receiving the heart transplant.
In Season 1, Soto tells Karadec that Morgan is rubbing off on him; “Eleven Minute” shows that. He knows that he shouldn’t let Christopher see his mother, but he does after one look from Morgan. It’s like Morgan cracks open Karadec’s sentimental side. On the other side of the coin, Karadec knows Morgan needs some hope and tells her that Angela Lee received the heart. Morgan’s “Thank you” is simple but entirely effective given the rest of the episode.
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Morgan and Karadec’s Personal Impact
Everything between Morgan, Ava, and Karadec is so well done. The personal aspect of their consultant procedural dynamic fires on all cylinders there. Firstly, Karadec knows Morgan’s coffee order! The water bit is affectionately silly and in-character for Karadec, and it doesn’t undercut the exchange’s endearing quality. Not to mention, Karadec knows when something is up with Morgan, when she is being “a little quiet.” Karadec notices the little things, and that matters when selling the potential for a romance on the slow-burn track.
Morgan opens up to Karadec about Ava and values his advice enough to implement it, which is a massive sign of trust. The same is reflected in Karadec being around Ava enough to hear her talk about wanting to be treated like an adult. That familiarity also plays out when Ava stands behind Karadec when Morgan confronts the police officer who arrested Ava. It’s also there in Karadec vouching for Ava and asking Morgan how Ava’s doing. High Potential continues to show that Morgan and Karadec care about each other, albeit not romantically…yet. “Eleven Minutes” shows that Karadec cares about Morgan’s family, too, which matters.
There’s a light-hearted undercurrent in Karadec saying, “You’re welcome,” to Morgan when he gets her and Ava out of the holding cell. High Potential’s well-penned script gives that phrase its satisfying counterpart in Morgan’s “Thank you.” Sure, it’s about the case and the optimistic closure Karadec gives her. The interpersonal work in “Eleven Minutes” makes it mean a lot more, and that is significant at the start of what will hopefully be a very long and satisfying story.
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What do you think about Morgan and Karadec’s partnership on High Potential? Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of High Potential air on Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.
