We’re back! High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree’ is the best season finale we’ve watch in a long time. The episode surprises us at every turn as it confronts Morgan and Nick with part of the truth about Roman and the consequences of discovering it. And, at the same time, Lucia and Karadec face a secret that neither of them is prepared to see come to light. Ready?
Here we go!
Impossible Decisions in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree’
We knew we didn’t like Lucia for a good reason! We mean, besides being with Karadec (wink, wink). But, beyond that, she gave us a bad feeling. That said, High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree’ surprised us quite a bit and we love it! Of all the things we imagined about Lucia, we never thought she was a hustler.
The point is, part of us understands why she wasn’t honest with Karadec. She came to Los Angeles fleeing a life and a man she had no interest in getting involved with anymore. She hadn’t planned on running into Karadec. And certainly not this Karadec. Nor had she planned on anything serious with him. When Lucía reunited with Adam, she hadn’t expected him to have changed so much. She expected everything to fall apart quickly, just like the first time. Because for Karadec, work always came first.
But Karadec showed her that this time it was different. She was his priority. So Lucía let herself go. And the more she let herself go, the harder it was to be honest with him about who he had become. Lucía knew that, although Karadec had changed, he hadn’t changed that much. He was still following the rules, still being a good cop. Her confessing the truth would surely mean losing him…and putting Karadec in an impossible dilemma. Ultimately, it would mean hurting him. And Lucía didn’t want that.
So we understand the fear that led Lucía to remain silent until everything was revealed in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree.’ The fear of losing someone she loves, seeing the distrust and disappointment in his eyes. And how the more you lie, the harder it becomes to tell the truth, even when you have no other option. Therefore, we also understand why she told herself that not telling Karadec wasn’t such a big deal and that she was saving him from suffering. Why she tried to convince herself that not telling him was okay.
Even though it wasn’t.
Because it’s clear in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree’ that Lucía truly feels something genuine for Karadec. She loves him… just not enough. She doesn’t love him enough to trust him, to tell him the truth because he deserves to know it, even if it means losing him, and she doesn’t love him enough to leave her past behind. And she doesn’t even love him enough to tell him the truth when Karadec asked her to her face.
And then there’s our problem with Lucía. When Karadec had her cornered, Lucía could have told him the whole truth. But she chose not to. She chose to manipulate him, to play with him, with his confusion, with their shared past, and with his feelings for her, playing the victim and lying to him once again. And that’s what hit Karadec the hardest in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree.’ The disappointment of seeing that Lucía was capable of manipulating him like that and using his feelings for her against him.
That’s something we’ll never forgive her for.
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Disappointments…
Karadec could have understood everything. Or perhaps not understood it, but accepted it. Accepted that Lucía made bad decisions and got herself into trouble, and then didn’t know how to stop it or how to tell him the truth. But the feeling of knowing that one of the most important people to you, the one you trust the most, the person with whom you were planning a future has lied to you like that? That betrayal, that disappointment, is a bitter pill to swallow.
That’s why Karadec resisted believing it—we all would have, honestly. That’s why he had to stay on the case and find the answers himself. And that’s why he lashed out at Morgan in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree,’ like never before. Because it was too hard. And Morgan understood that, so she didn’t pressure him or blame him for anything. She didn’t want to say anything when she started suspecting Lucia because she, too, resisted believing it. Morgan resisted believing that Lucia would be capable of doing that to Karadec.
So she kept thinking of a logical explanation, one that didn’t involve Lucía in the case. But when things got worse, Morgan had to voice her suspicions…and stoically endured Karadec’s shouting and accusations. In fact, we never saw her allow anyone to speak to her like that—she only reacted when Karadec implied she was jealous. But it’s Karadec, and Morgan can understand why he can’t believe what’s right in front of him. And she hates having to hurt him, having to be the one to open his eyes about Lucía.
So every time a new development in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree,’ leads them to Lucía, Morgan approaches Karadec gently, firmly but without pressuring him. Letting Karadec accept the truth at his own pace and making it clear that she was there for him, by his side, even if he didn’t want her there. Even if he stubbornly refused to acknowledge the obvious. And showing him how sorry she is. Because she truly is. She couldn’t stand seeing Karadec and Lucía together, but she hates seeing him suffer like this. She hates that Lucía hurt him.
Ultimately, Morgan let Karadec see the truth for himself. And when he did, there was no going back. And among all the things he feels—all the pain, the anger, the confusion, the disillusionment, the disappointment, and the betrayal—there is shame. Morgan is his partner and someone essential to him. He feels ashamed of having treated her this way, of not believing her, of not trusting her. And he doesn’t hesitate to tell her.
But Morgan has nothing to forgive him for in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree.’ She understands. And she’s there for him for whatever he needs. And Karadec knows it. That’s why he clings to her in that tight hug. Morgan is his anchor. He’s not yet ready to accept everything he feels for her and what that means, but he is ready to accept that she’s a pillar in his life and not just a partner. He is ready to accept that he’s not alone anymore.
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Facing the Past in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree’
We knew that what started in the previous episode between Nick and Morgan didn’t have much of a future, but we didn’t expect what happened in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree.’ We liked that Morgan trusted Nick when he told her he had nothing to do with his father and Willa. It’s understandable that she asked him. Too many secrets and lies between them in the past. But she didn’t doubt him. And we loved that we was right about this: Nick had nothing to do with it.
On the contrary. He never knew how his father got where he is. He only knew that he didn’t play fair to get there. But when Morgan told him what was happening, Nick went after his father with everything he had. For Morgan. And it says volumes about how he feels about her. And Morgan and Nick working together? They make a great team! Neither of them was going to stop until they found the truth…and what they find isn’t very good.
But the important thing here is that in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree’ there are no more secrets between them. Nick tells her everything he finds out…including his latest lead. And there comes a point when it all becomes too much for Morgan. Roman a murder suspect? That’s…too much. That’s not the Roman she knew, but then again, she’s starting to think she never really knew him at all. Not really. And all the people she loves are risking their lives to find out the truth. If something happens to them…she couldn’t bear it, she would never forgive herself.
MORE: High Potential Season 2, Episode 16 Review: ‘Turn, Up the Heat’
The Price of Truth
However, Nick knows that, despite everything, Morgan wants to get to the bottom of it. He knows she needs answers and to heal that wound with the truth. He understands that better than anyone. So he keeps digging, for her sake. Neither he nor Selena cares about the consequences. But someone is making sure he can’t get to the bottom.
And seeing Morgan’s anguish when she finds him there, bleeding profusely, pleading for help as best she can and trying to give Nick hope was…too much for us. And yes, we ended up crying. Nick is a good person; he doesn’t deserve this. And we can only hope that, somehow, he’s okay. We have our fingers crossed, but honestly? Nick lost too much blood, and we don’t think he’ll survive.
And after what happens in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree,’ come the questions. Is Roman really a murder suspect? Who helped him hide, and how was he at Ava’s exhibit? Was Willa really just trying to help? Did Nick’s father knowingly lead him to his death? Questions are piling up in our minds. And we have a few things clear.
Yes, we think Roman is a murder suspect. However, we don’t think he killed anyone. Maybe he went into hiding because someone powerful is behind the murder. Perhaps Willa isn’t as sinister as we thought…but we still think she’s not telling us everything she knows.
And, as hateful as Nick’s father is, we don’t think he knowingly led his son to his death. Nick stood up to him and threatened him. It’s clear Nick despises him. But he’s still his son. We don’t think he would have sent him there if he had known what was going to happen. Anyway, he has a lot of explaining to do…and Morgan will make sure he does.
All we can say is, we need Season 3!
MORE: High Potential Season 2, Episode 15 Review: ‘Pie In the Sky’
Other Stuff in High Potential Season 2 Episode 18 ‘Family Tree’
- We would have liked Morgan and Nick to talk about what happened between them and not just focus on Roman.
- We hope they get the chance…
- We hope Nick is okay. Seeing him fall apart like that, dying in Morgan’s arms, her crying…it really affected us.
- Who ordered the attack on Nick? Who carried out that order? And what does that man Nick was going to meet know that someone is so keen to keep it a secret?
- We love that Morgan has no limits when it comes to defending her children. As soon as Willa threatened them, she was ready to do anything.
- Selena is the best! She helps Morgan calm down and think things through more clearly. And she’s always there to support her.
- Nick was clearly on Morgan’s side, even though it meant confronting and threatening his father. We love it!
- Ava is a true artist. What she did was beautiful!
- Roman was there, and Ava sensed it…that means he was keeping a close eye on his family. How? Why didn’t he ever approach them? Why didn’t he ever say anything to Morgan?
- We love Elliot. LOL.
- Morgadec hug…
- We noticed the parallel with episode 11, when Karadec was the one who gave her the hug.
- Did Karadec accuse Morgan of not liking Lucia because of jealousy? Interesting…
- They really hurt us in this episode. But we also love them even more.
- The show made it clear that they belong together.
- When are the new episodes coming out?
- Seriously, we need season 3 RIGHT NOW!
High Potential Season 2 aired Tuesdays at 9 pm on ABC.
