Haut potentiel

I'm really a sucker for any series/movie that shows someone who has a unique ability hidden behind a persona that just doesn't match. Kinda like a secret super power. The main character has just that. Seems like her life is a bit in shambles, she's all over the place, but...she's crazy smart and notices details other well experienced people miss. I was already a fan of Kaitlin, so no surprise I love her here as well. She plays frazzled so well! I appreciate that each episode resolves the case. I'm over a series dragging out over an entire season or multiple. Just give me a solid story and conclusion in under an hour! This delivers. Well paced, has some funny lines and overall just enjoyable to watch. Really looking forward to additional episodes. Just hope they don't cancel it after one season like everyone is doing these days. Solid MC you want to root for.

I loved, loved, loved the original. I'm not expecting this to be the same (the original was French for goodness sakes, with an amazing cast, and that certainly added to the flavor and frantic pace of the show). Still, the high potential concept and stories are solid (assuming they tell some of the same stories), so I'm giving the US version a chance, certainly more than one episode, and I'm allowing this cast to make it their own. At the end of the season I hope it turns out to be as good as the original or is close, even if it's slightly different and Kaitlin isn't the incredible Audrey Fleurot (but who is?). This version certainly has high potential of its own.

Why does Hollywood use the same old formula whenever they start a series where a genius has insights with evidence that others miss? They can't be normal with high intelligence. They need to have some odd condition that makes them quirky in some manner. Unless it's an updated Sherlock Holmes then he's just plain a jerk to most people he comes into contact with. The genius here is pretty so naturally she being a genius with three children is going to fashion herself so she looks like a street walker. Her mind is like an encyclopedia, but apparently her real expertise is in all things related to what a domestic cleaning lady knows. None of that is necessary. She has a famil to create enough actual back story without making her an oddball. Start letting her dress nice without looking like a lot lizard down at the truck stop. Watching her solve things is the real attraction after all..

The original French version, Haut Potential Intellectuel, was much smarter. The first episode was virtually the same as this first episode except they left off the first part where it is established that she lacks patience with people she talks to. This was at an employment she had besides working as a cleaning person at the police department. She gets fired from that job for disrespecting the customer. After that missing scene the rest of the first episode was basically the same. The biggest difference is the main character, Morgan, who is far more quirky than the one depicted in the American version. After watching the original version it is extremely difficult not to compare. This could be as entertaining because I do like Kaitlin Olsen. I'm hoping the character she had in The Mick who was irreverent and funny shows up in future episodes.

So far I am liking this show. It has kind of Mrs. Monk feel. My big gripe is I do not know why every teenage female has to be written like this in every movie and TV show nowadays. I am calling it now (after only 2 episodes) that she will storm out and do something she is not to do that will put her or someone else in danger. This is a trope I am sick of at this point. Can nobody just write a teenage girl that isn't a rude selfish stereotype. This is more annoying than the manic pixie girl from the 00's. I have 5 sisters and they all have different attitudes and demeanor. This just feels like cheap drama creation. Sorry rant over. I do recommend checking out the show and hope it stays strong and intriguing.