High Potential

Examining her TV resume away from Always Sunny, and topping her role on The Mick, Olson glides onto screen in a not-so shot-for-shot remake of this French procedural, but she's definitely on vibes with it.

Throughout the episode you can tell Olson was attracted to this project by the way it portrays a struggling, body-empowered, capable woman. Comedy is stitched in through her delivery, much the same as the tongue in cheek of its French take.

What this series does better though is keep you captivated by a seasoned cast led by Judy Reyes, whose stern eyes and soft voice invite the audience to develop a sense of empathy towards the players her character cares to collect around her to seek justice.

The first episode was well done, though editing could use some work. The series would be lifted by more scenes between Reyes and Olson.

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..

And I'd have gotten away with it if it wasn't for that pesky cleaning lady !! Nothing we haven't saw before , gifted amateur advising police using her special powers of deduction !! Complete hokum -but Kaitlin Olson is utterly charming as Morgan, police cleaning lady when we 1st meet her but soon invaluable crime solver for the LAPD. Throw in a cute family and lovable ex partner plus a back story of her daughter's missing father which adds a slightly harder tone and a storyline which hopefully builds week by week !! Morgan's hooker dress sense and rebellious streak pits her against a hard working police team headed by Judy Reyes of Scrubs fame who soon succumb to her genius ..... Scooby Doo meets Sherlock Holmes in fun quirky viewing !!

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.

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.