‘High Potential’ season 2 episode 7 review: “The One That Got Away”

An art heist feels like very appropriate timing and High Potential delivers a fun one. High Potential Season 2 Episode 7, titled “The One That Got Away,” acts as the midseason finale, throwing us into a classic trope for procedurals.

The art of the heist.

Someone steals a Rembrandt from a local gallery. Even though she finds art heists boring, Morgan (Kaitlin Olsen) agrees to check out the crime scene with Keredec (Daniel Sunjata). Morgan’s attitude basically boils down to there’s no justice to be found in recovering lost art just so insurance companies don’t have to cut a large check. She’s not exactly wrong, but as they investigate, she finds people she wants to help.

The Rembrandt was the only painting stolen from the gallery. Which is odd because it’s the cheapest thing in there. Morgan points out that in order to grab the Rembrandt, the thief would have walked by paintings marked at much higher prices. This means there’s something more to this case beyond money, which gives the case that flare of justice Morgan was looking for.

Consultant interference.

In walks Rhys Eastman (Aiden Turner), an art recovery specialist, who claims to have been sent by the insurance company to recover the painting. His presence complicates matters, but he does provide an interesting dynamic to the team, especially with Morgan.

The two have instant chemistry, even if they’re constantly arguing about what the painting means and the motive of the thief. Morgan discovers that the previous owners of the painting were a Polish family, whom the painting really belongs to and who want it back. Morgan immediately advocates for them, instead of the rich couple who technically owns right now.

The first suspect they come across is a mysterious well-known art thief called Jean-Baptiste, though rumors of his existence seem faulty, at least according to Rhys. Jean-Bapiste has only been caught on camera once when he was shot in the shoulder by a security guard but still was able to flee the scene of a different heist.

Backpack revelations.

Meanwhile on the Roman front, Morgan’s handed over the backpack to the LAPD. Selena (Judy Reyes), Daphne (Javicia Leslie), and Oz take on photographing, tagging, and documenting everything inside the backpack. Some of the evidence brings up a photograph of a man that makes Selena pause. Probably some criminal from some cold case. The man shows up by episode’s end in the back of Arthur’s car.

Whoever this man is, he must be the one that Roman is running from. He asks Arthur for the backpack, or specifically, something that’s in the backpack. The fact that this man is making an appearance can only mean bad things, but perhaps Roman will soon follow.

We see right through you (or not).

Captain Nick Wagner (Steve Howey) continues to intrigue. Selena keeps him out of the loop on the Roman case, but he’s still able to suss out the secret investigation. When him and Keredec conduct a stakeout together, Wagner confronts Keredec about the search for Roman. But before he’s read in, the guy they’re waiting for makes an appearance, and then a very fun car chase ensues. This entire sequence works really well, especially with Wagner and Keredec’s semi-hostile dynamic toward to each other.

What makes Wagner so interesting is how much he seems like a bad guy but underneath the surface he seems to care about the people working under him. After he berates Morgan in the precinct, he tells Keredec that his anger comes from a place of wanting to protect his workers. He trusts everyone, but he also needs everyone to follow the rules so that he can protect them if something were to happen. Can he be believed is the question, but so far, he’s pretty convincing.

Overall.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger. Morgan and Rhys, after being taken on the case, head to a bar to get drunk. They go back to Rhys’ place, and it’s there that Morgan realizes Rhys has a bullet hold wound in his shoulder, and connects that injury to the story of Jean-Bapiste. A great reveal that will have to be resolved when the show returns in the winter.

High Potential Season 2 Episode 7 sets up a great two-parter and moves the Roman story further along in an exciting and intriguing way.

Stray Thoughts:

• Keredec backing Morgan up to Wagner was such a nice moment.
• It’s about time we get some answers about Roman. It’s starting to feel a bit dragged out.
• Daphne and Oz still not having much to do, go figure.

High Potential Season 2 is available on Hulu. The show premieres for the back half of Season 2 on Jan. 6.