You've probably seen Kaitlin Olson screaming at a bird or falling through a floor in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. But honestly, seeing her as a genius janitor in High Potential is a different kind of wild. It’s the kind of show that shouldn't work on paper—a procedural about a cleaning lady with a 160 IQ—yet the high potential television show cast turns it into something you actually want to sit through on a Tuesday night.
The show, which just kicked off the second half of its second season in January 2026, lives and dies by its ensemble. It isn't just about the puzzles. It's about the people.
The Powerhouse Duo: Olson and Sunjata
Kaitlin Olson plays Morgan Gillory. She’s a single mom of three who accidentally solves a murder while dusting a precinct. Olson is known for being a "degenerate" (her words) in her past roles, but here she’s a "High Potential Intellectual" (HPI). Basically, her brain moves too fast for her own good. She’s messy, she’s loud, and she wears clothes that look like a neon sign exploded in a thrift store.
Then you have Daniel Sunjata as Detective Adam Karadec.
Sunjata is the literal opposite of Olson’s chaos. He’s the "by-the-book" guy. You might recognize him from Rescue Me or Graceland, where he usually plays someone who actually knows where their car keys are. In High Potential, he’s the straight man to Morgan’s whirlwind. Their chemistry isn't that typical "will-they-won-they" fluff—at least not yet. It’s more of a "please stop touching evidence" vs. "I already solved it" vibe.
Breaking Down the Major Crimes Team
The precinct isn't just these two. The supporting cast fills the gaps that the leads leave open.
- Judy Reyes (Selena Soto): Reyes is a legend from Scrubs, and here she’s the Lieutenant. She’s the one who took the gamble on Morgan. Honestly, her character is the glue. Without Selena, Karadec would have probably arrested Morgan by episode two just for being annoying.
- Javicia Leslie (Daphne Forrester): Coming off Batwoman, Leslie brings a different energy. She’s a junior detective who actually respects Karadec’s methods but is slowly being won over by Morgan’s "I see patterns in the carpet" logic.
- Deniz Akdeniz (Lev "Oz" Ozdil): He’s the optimist. Every precinct needs one. Oz is the guy who thinks things will turn out fine while everyone else is staring at a corpse.
The Family Dynamic That Actually Matters
Most procedurals treat the main character's family like an afterthought. They appear for thirty seconds at the start of the episode to say "Don't work too late, Mom!" and then vanish. High Potential doesn't do that.
Morgan’s kids are a huge part of why the show feels human. Amirah J plays Ava, the rebellious teenage daughter. Her father, Roman, disappeared fifteen years ago, and that mystery is the underlying thread of the whole series. Then there's Matthew Lamb as Elliot. He’s the middle child and, unfortunately for him, he inherited his mom’s hyper-brain. Watching a kid navigate life when he’s literally too smart for his own good is sort of heartbreaking and funny at the same time.
Taran Killam (the SNL alum) shows up as Ludo Radovic, Morgan’s ex. He’s basically the "manny" for all three kids. It’s refreshing to see an ex-husband character who isn't a total jerk. He’s just a guy trying to help his brilliant, chaotic ex-wife keep their lives from falling apart.
New Faces and Season 2 Shifts
Since we're now deep into 2026, the cast has evolved. Season 2 brought in Steve Howey (yes, Kevin from Shameless) as the new Captain, Jesse Wagner. He’s "precinct savvy," which is code for "he knows how to play the politics that Morgan constantly ignores."
And if you’re keeping up with the latest episodes, Susan Kelechi Watson (from This Is Us) just joined the fray. She’s playing someone from Karadec’s past. Her character is described as "wry and independent," which is exactly what Karadec needs to shake him out of his rigid routine. Her arrival in the January 27, 2026, episode—which involves an esports champion's murder—is already trending because fans want to see if Karadec finally gets a life outside of files and coffee.
Why This Cast Clicks
It’s easy to write a show about a smart person. It’s hard to make that person likable.
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The high potential television show cast works because they play the nuance. Morgan isn't just a "genius"; she's a woman who struggled to hold down a job as a cleaner because her brain wouldn't shut up. The actors don't play the tropes; they play the frustration.
When you watch Daniel Sunjata's face when Morgan solves a case using a piece of chewing gum and a 1980s pop lyric, you see real annoyance mixed with a tiny bit of respect. That’s the magic.
What to Watch for Next
If you're looking to dive deeper into the show or just started Season 2, keep an eye on these developments:
- The Roman Mystery: Check the older episodes in Season 1 for clues about Ava’s father. The show is finally paying this off in 2026.
- The Steve Howey Factor: His Captain Wagner is a bit of a wild card. Is he an ally or just a bureaucrat?
- Kaitlin Olson's Range: Pay attention to the scenes with Elliot (Matthew Lamb). The "genius mom to genius son" moments are the show's secret weapon.
Go back and re-watch the Season 2 mid-season finale before the new episodes drop. It sets up the Susan Kelechi Watson arc perfectly. The way this cast balances the "case of the week" with their own messy lives is why the show is currently outperforming most other network procedurals.