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Do we ever tire of the savant sleuth? I suspect not – the thrill of seeing a fantastically gifted person solve absurdly complex cases remains among fiction’s surest appeals. As always, our screens teem with them: in the past year alone we’ve been introduced to Ludwig, David Mitchell’s puzzle-setter turned brilliantly perceptive investigator; seen the return of Natasha Lyonne’s human lie-detector Charlie Cale in Poker Face; and crossed paths again with brainiac attorney Elsbeth.

A Different Kind of Brilliant Investigator

Returning for more mental gymnastics is Morgan Gillory, the lead character of lighthearted crime series High Potential, now back for a second season. With an IQ of 160 – giving her “exceptional mental ability” – Morgan’s ability to unravel exceptionally convoluted sequences of events is truly remarkable. But there’s something distinctive about this particular clever-clogs crime-solver.

Ever since an reclusive drug addict by the name of Sherlock Holmes set the genius detective mold, such characters have usually had a few issues. Ludwig is withdrawn, his talents paired with intense social anxiety. Cale is a unpredictable, commitment-phobic outsider fond of a drink or two, while Elsbeth is a no-filter eccentric who unnerves others.

Morgan – portrayed by Kaitlin Olson – has no comparable weaknesses. Initially, she’s working as a janitor in the offices of the LAPD. Upon knocking over a pile of investigation notes and spotting some serious errors, she leaves a clue to guide the detectives in the right direction. Before long, she’s recruited to work alongside the police, where she duly solves a series of extraordinarily labyrinthine crimes almost single-handedly.

A Multifaceted Heroine

Morgan is not just exceptionally intelligent, she’s also a bold, charming, glamorous, stunning achiever with flawless instincts and exceptional emotional intelligence. She may be somewhat assertive at times, but given her role in the business of saving lives and apprehending criminals, a bit of urgency isn’t entirely inappropriate.

If Morgan is almost ideal in every way, that isn't the case for her life – initially. A solo parent of three, she finds it hard to make ends meet, and mostly uses her mind palace to get the most out of her discount-driven supermarket shop. Motherhood can, naturally, stymie women’s professional lives, but Morgan’s readiness to put up with the demands and pay of a minimum-wage job seems unrealistic.

Balancing Realism and Entertainment

Similarly hard to buy is the show’s primary subplot: underpinning 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 incredible powers 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 slick, easy-watching network TV. It’s popular and visually appealing, the sort of thing you’d traditionally associate 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 fair and most approachable police chief in cop drama history. No antiheroes, no edge: the atmosphere is comfortable and touching and rather basic.

Tension and Excitement

Obviously, the crimes are far from cosy or heartwarming or basic. The first season's conclusion saw Morgan provoked by a kidnapper who forced her to solve extremely challenging puzzles to save the lives. He returns in the opening double bill here, abducting a young mother on her way home from a night out – but his real target is clearly Morgan, whom he sees as a worthy opponent in his real-life game of chess.

Watching her get agonizingly near to outwitting this man is nerve-wracking and exciting, but something this out-there requires a flawless ending. The question is: does the show prove as clever as its protagonist?

Conclusion

In a word, no. The show is very good at keeping the tension going, but it can’t quite stick the landing, and the storyline concludes with a far-fetched gotcha. Nevertheless, there’s always next time. Actually, Morgan’s subsequent case – although equally bananas – is better thought through, ending with a satisfying and unexpectedly moving finale. The consistency of the plotting may be a tad inconsistent, but similar to other predecessors and peers, this virtuoso citizen detective can always be relied upon to save the day.