[Trending News] 10 Best Shows To Watch While Waiting For High Potential Season 2

Warning: SPOILERS for the High Potential season 1 finale.High Potential season 1 ending means the show is on hiatus, but there are familiar and underrated shows alike to occupy viewers during the break. Kaitlin Olson leads High Potential as Morgan Gillory, a genius but eccentric mother who joins the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division alongside Detective Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), Lieutenant Selena Soto (Judy Reyes), Daphne Forrester (Javicia Leslie), and Lev “Oz” Ozdil (Deniz Akdeniz). Morgan and Karadec may be partners in crime, but they also have a slow-burn romance foundation that will surely carry over to High Potential season 2.

The ending of High Potential season 1 left many storylines open to further development, like finding out the truth about what happened to Morgan’s first husband, Roman, who vanished 15 years prior to the series. High Potential episode 13 additionally introduced “David” (David Giuntoli), a twisted criminal who abducts people and leaves riddles and puzzles for the police to solve. While High Potential is off-air, many procedurals and crime dramas can fill the void, with quirky sleuth protagonists and similar character dynamics.

10

Suits

2011-2019

One of the most iconic legal dramas of all time, Suits followed Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) as he cons his way into a New York law firm under Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht). Over 9 seasons of Suits, the dynamic duo solved countless cases as they tried to maintain their lies. Naturally, there are romances and tense conflicts, but Suits, at heart, is about finding the truth (even if the main character is living a lie).

Mike bears many similarities to Morgan, especially in the early seasons as he struggles to deal with the titular “Suits” that suddenly have authority over him. Both characters are unassuming geniuses who feel a little too deeply for the people they work to help, with Mike often becoming overly invested in clients and Morgan obsessing over the victim or, in some cases, the culprit. Now would be the perfect time to tune in, since the spinoff Suits: LA is beginning its pilot season. Suits is streaming on Netflix.

9

White Collar

2009-2014

White Collar might have one of the most unique detective protagonists of the 21st century: a convicted felon joining forces with the same agent who investigated him. Matt Bomer plays Neal Caffrey, a renowned forger and con artist who strikes a deal with Special Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay).

Neal and Morgan’s storylines have obvious parallels, with both of them becoming standout consultants at law enforcement agencies for the express purpose of finding their loved ones.

In exchange for early release from prison to search for his missing girlfriend, Neal agrees to be a special consultant for the FBI. Neal and Morgan’s storylines have obvious parallels, with both of them becoming standout consultants at law enforcement agencies for the express purpose of finding their loved ones.

Still, White Collar is original in that it offers relationship growth and character development that makes the audience root for a character who would be the villain in any other series. With a looming White Collar reboot in the works, now would be prime time to watch the original run. White Collar is streaming on Netflix.

8

Poker Face

2023-Present

One of the most recent projects in Natasha Lyonne’s illustrious career is Poker Face, a quirky and stylish crime procedural following Charlie Cale. Lyonne’s Charlie is a human lie detector trying to outrun troubles from her previous job, who travels the country and solves murder cases in her path.

Aside from her ability to tell when someone is lying, Charlie has an unmatched attention to detail that cracks cases wide open. Poker Face season 2 has been confirmed, though the release date is unclear. Charlie and Morgan seem kindred in a sense, two characters who start at jobs where their unique skills aren’t utilized (Charlie as a casino waitress, Morgan as a night-shift cleaner) before realizing their affinity for crime-solving.

Poker Face even has a similar structure to High Potential, with each episode centering on a different case. From the aesthetic to the concept, the originality of Poker Face makes it a great contender for High Potential’s replacement during the hiatus. Poker Face is streaming on Peacock.

7

Murder, She Wrote

1984-1996

While Murder, She Wrote is an instantly recognizable title, far too many people have never actually seen the seminal mystery series. All 12 seasons of Murder. She Wrote follows Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), an author of mystery books who inserts herself in frequent murder investigations. From the quaint coastal setting to the episodic mysteries, each episode feels like a modern Agatha Christie novel (no coincidence, as the show’s title is a play on 1961’s Murder, She Said, an adaptation of a Miss Marple story).

Though at first glance Murder, She Wrote may not seem relevant, Jessica and Morgan are both skilled detectives in their own right who have to fight law enforcement’s skewed perception of them. Just like Morgan, Jessica often finds the missing puzzle piece that reveals the true culprit. Murder, She Wrote even had iconic episodes that help to preserve this classic’s legacy. Murder, She Wrote is streaming on Peacock.

6

The Mentalist

2008-2015

The Mentalist is a more dramatic procedural, but Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) is an incredibly memorable character for better or worse. Prior to the series, Jane used his powers of perception to con hordes of people into believing he was a psychic medium. By the start of The Mentalist, Jane has abandoned his life as a con artist and shifted gears to help solve crimes as a special consultant.

Using analysis techniques associated with titular “mentalists,” Jane reads suspects, victims, and crime scenes in general to find key details that can break a case. Admittedly, Morgan would probably hate Patrick Jane. His attitude can be off-putting, but The Mentalist doesn’t try to convince the audience that he’s a hero.

The long-term villain of the series, a serial killer known as “Red John,” adds some intrigue to the first few seasons before becoming The Mentalist’s main focus. Though Jane isn’t anywhere near as stylish as Morgan, his impressive deductive skills are still entertaining. The Mentalist is streaming on Hulu.

5

Numb3rs

2005-2010

Numb3rs follows the brothers of Don (Rob Morrow) and Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz) after Don recruits Charlie to join him at the FBI. Charlie is a mathematical genius who brings his niche knowledge of a wide array of topics to each investigation, often teaching his high-profile coworkers something new in the process.

Aside from being an underrated show in general, Numb3rs includes one of David Krumholtz’s best roles and deserves further consideration. While Charlie and Morgan may seem more different than alike, Charlie deals with the same skepticism within the FBI that Morgan does at the LAPD.

Charlie might not have the exact experience of being ostracized that Morgan has, but his arrival as a special consultant isn’t without its own challenges. Aside from the main character, Numb3rs follows increasingly eccentric cases that make for a great viewing experience. Numb3rs is streaming on Pluto TV.

4

Monk

2002-2009

One of the earliest proponents of the eccentric police drama genre, Monk follows the titular consultant Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a former homicide detective characterized by his intense phobias and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Though his symptoms are exacerbated after his wife is murdered, Monk remains a key member of the San Francisco Police Department. Despite the constant judgment and derision he faces, Monk is the most skilled detective in the series.

Morgan’s HPI often presents with symptoms similar to OCD, with her admitting her obsessive need to seek answers prevents her from sleeping at times. Morgan and Monk are both overlooked by many until they display their unmatched detective work, not to mention that both are based in California. The cast of Monk has branched out to other shows in recent decades, but the crime procedural is still regarded as a founding title in the genre. Monk is streaming on Peacock.

3

Veronica Mars

2004-2019

Part-time high school student, part-time private investigator, Kristen Bell’s title character in Veronica Mars has regained a cult following in the years following the surprise 4th season. Veronica Mars originally aired a three-season run that concluded in 2007, but Hulu released the final chapter in 2019.

Though the quirky and borderline bizarre tone of Veronica Mars is singular, watching Veronica almost feels like an alternate reality where Morgan’s father wasn’t so dismissive of her peers.

The neo-noir story follows Veronica, daughter of former Sheriff Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni) who opens a private investigation firm. Veronica helps solve criminal cases as well as the more soapy conflicts between her high school classmates. The teen mystery/dramedy is the only show of its kind, and Kristen Bell even staged a Veronica Mars reunion in her latest Netflix project, Nobody Wants This.

Though the quirky and borderline bizarre tone of Veronica Mars is singular, watching Veronica almost feels like an alternate reality where Morgan’s father wasn’t so dismissive of her peers. Veronica may not have the HPI, but she certainly has the unique fashion sense to stand in for Morgan. Veronica Mars is streaming on Hulu.

2

Psych

2006-2014

The similarities between Psych’s Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) and High Potential’s Morgan have been pointed out time and time again, but both quirky detectives deserve their time in the sun. Psych follows Shawn and best friend Burton “Gus” Guster (Dule Hill) as they join the Santa Barbara Police Department after Shawn convinces the Chief that he’s a psychic.

Shawn and Gus help solve case after case, always maintaining levity in the face of murder, kidnapping, and other high-stakes crimes. High Potential was originally regarded as a modern Psych replacement due to Morgan and Shawn’s similarly unique deductive skills and witty personalities.

Shawn and Detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) have a love-hate working relationship, while Shawn and Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson) have a slow-burn, will they/won’t they romance. Morgan and Karadec’s dynamic lands somewhere in between, but the shows are undeniably comparable. James Roday Roriguez even directed the High Potential season 1 finale, embracing how High Potential has become Psych’s spiritual successor. Psych is streaming on Peacock.

1

HPI

2021-Present

Of course, there’s no better place to turn to during High Potential’s hiatus than the show it was adapted from: HPI (Haut Potentiel Intellectuel). The French-Belgium procedural originated characters like Morgane (Audrey Fleurot) and Karadec (Mehdi Nebbou). Major plot points in HPI are the same as High Potential season 1, like the disappearance of Morgane’s first husband, her hectic family dynamics, and her tense relationship with authority figures. High Potential’s first episode was even a scene-by-scene recreation of HPI’s pilot.

That’s not to say High Potential is a carbon copy of HPI. In fact, though some worried watching HPI could spoil High Potential’s end-game romance, the ABC procedural hasn’t shied away from taking creative liberties. There are distinct differences between the two procedurals that ensure they maintain their unique identities, even though they will inevitably be compared. HPI is a wonderful crime drama, but watching it during the High Potential hiatus won’t necessarily ruin the return of Kaitlin Olson’s procedural.

It’s also worth noting that with such high viewership, ABC may have no choice but to deviate from HPI’s established storylines for High Potential. Assuming that the new series will be able to maintain its success in the next several years, it could surpass its predecessor’s run on the air. This means that eventually, it will have to craft its own future. For now, fans can check out Morgane’s story while waiting for what’s next for Morgan.

Enjoy ScreenRant’s primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check “Network TV” in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.

SIGN UP NOW!