Cool, calm, and collected, Morgan is always ready for anything in High Potential because she knows pretty much everything. In fact, if Morgan does not have the answer, it is safe to assume that something is very, very wrong.
So, when Morgan and Karadec were faced with a potentially life-ending dilemma in season 2 episode 12, "The Faust and the Furious," it opened floodgates never seen before: Morgan's unraveling. Only lasting a few captivating minutes, Morgan's brain works in overwhelming distress and overload as she struggles to face the potentially fatal situation that could end with her and Karadec's final moments being a cruel and painful death at the hands of toxic gas.
Trapped in the same room where the victim of the week was found dead, Morgan made the horrifying realization that the deceased, Gabe, had killed himself to avoid continuing to feel whatever pain he was undergoing. Morgan faces brief flashbacks of Karadec and her three children, thinking about what it would mean to leave them behind. This is a new side of her character, one that shows an honest vulnerability toward mortality in a way never seen on High Potential before.
This is a scene that adds stakes to the show, at least in a more emotional way toward its main character. Morgan, always on top of things, losing control is not the normal standard. Allowing Morgan to lose control, even for a few minutes, adds another layer to her character, a stronger understanding of how she views the world, and results in deepening her personal and professional bond with Karadec.
In the end, it is Karadec who helps pull Morgan out of her spiral. Karadec's decision to give Morgan a hug turns him into a grounding force. She breathes in sync with him, which helps calm her down. In this moment, High Potential shows how far these two have come since they first met. They are not just good at their job as investigative partners. They are friends who care about each other. Karadec steps up when Morgan needs him, fully knowing and believing that if the time came where Morgan needed to step up and do the same for him that she would.
However, Morgan is not the only character whose role got more vulnerable in "The Faust and the Furious." Both Karadec and Oz also saw moments of diving deeper into their personal lives. Karadec's reunion with Lucia has opened the door to seeing a new, more romantic side of Karadec as he questions if he and Lucia have another chance at real happiness.
Karadec and Lucia's relationship is still in the process of being explored, and nicely sets up the question how much Karadec has changed in the five years since they were last together, and if their relationship stands a real chance. Still, following Karadec outside of a professional setting does the necessary work of growing his character beyond being a detective. Previously, Morgan's home life was the only one that was actively explored. So, spending more time seeing Karadec explore personal relationships helps add layers to his character.
Meanwhile, getting to see Oz interact with his mother and dealing with his father's memorial may have been a tragic storyline to get a glimpse of Oz's life outside the office, but it was one that helped learn more about who he is and what his life is like. While every character on High Potential blends into a well-formed ensemble, the decisions to start broadening the scope of personal storylines beyond Morgan help layer every character in a personal and professional manner.
For the most part, only Morgan's home life had been explored in season 1, seeing her as a consultant and mother. Season 2's decision to devote more time to the rest of the cast only helps the series develop. While there are still significant plot threads that High Potential needs to address, the show continues to make solid decisions that help the storylines and characters grow and develop.