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Will we truly tire of the genius detective? Probably not – the thrill of witnessing a remarkably talented person solve incredibly intricate cases remains among fiction’s surest draws. As ever, our screens are swarming with them: in the past year alone we’ve met Ludwig, David Mitchell’s riddle-creator turned brilliantly perceptive detective; been reunited with Natasha Lyonne’s human lie-detector Charlie Cale in Poker Face; and crossed paths once again with brainiac attorney Elsbeth.

A Different Kind of Genius Detective

Returning for more mental gymnastics is Morgan Gillory, the lead character of lighthearted crime series High Potential, now back for a second season. With an IQ of 160 – earning her “high intellectual potential” – Morgan’s ability to decode exceptionally convoluted sequences of events is truly remarkable. But there’s something a little different about this brilliant crime-solver.

Since an reclusive drug addict named Sherlock Holmes established the genius detective mold, such characters have usually had some flaws. Ludwig is reclusive, his talents paired with intense social anxiety. Cale is a unpredictable, commitment-phobic loner fond of a drink or two, while Elsbeth is a unfiltered weirdo who gives people the creeps.

Morgan – portrayed by Kaitlin Olson – has no comparable weaknesses. Initially, she’s working as a cleaner in the offices of the LAPD. Upon knocking over a pile of investigation notes and spotting some serious errors, she leaves a clue to guide the detectives in the right direction. Before long, she’s brought on to work alongside the police, where she duly solves a series of highly complex crimes with practically no assistance.

A Multifaceted Heroine

Morgan is not only exceptionally intelligent, she’s also a fearless, charismatic, elegant, stunning go-getter with flawless instincts and exceptional emotional intelligence. She may be somewhat assertive at times, but given her role in the business of protecting people and catching killers, a bit of urgency isn’t entirely inappropriate.

If Morgan is almost ideal in every way, the same can’t be said for her life – at first. A solo parent of three, she finds it hard to cover expenses, and often uses her mental acuity to get the most out of her coupon-assisted supermarket shop. Motherhood can, of course, hinder women’s professional lives, but Morgan’s willingness to accept the demands and pay of a minimum-wage job seems unrealistic.

Juggling Believability and Entertainment

Similarly hard to buy is the show’s longest narrative thread: running through all her varied cases is Morgan’s resolve to track down the father of her eldest child, who disappeared without a trace a decade and a half back. In spite of her incredible powers of deduction, she hasn’t the foggiest idea where he is.

But High Potential doesn't focus heavily with realism. Produced by ABC in the US, this is polished, narcotic network TV. It’s popular and easy on the eye, the sort of thing you’d traditionally associate more with ITV than BBC Two. Morgan’s new colleagues are consistently pleasant, two-dimensional guys: smooth detective Karadec, investigators Daphne and Oz, plus Lt Selena Soto, perhaps the most reasonable and least fearsome police chief in detective show history. No antiheroes, no edge: the atmosphere is comfortable and heartwarming and somewhat simple.

Suspense and Excitement

Naturally, the crimes aren’t cosy or sentimental or basic. The first season's conclusion saw Morgan provoked by a kidnapper who forced her to solve extremely challenging puzzles to rescue the victims. He returns in the opening double bill here, abducting a young mother on her way home from a night out – but his real target is clearly Morgan, whom he sees as a formidable rival in his real-life game of chess.

Watching her get tantalisingly close to outwitting this man is tense and thrilling, but something this extreme requires a flawless ending. The question is: does the show prove as clever as its protagonist?

Conclusion

In a word, no. The show is very good at keeping the suspense going, but it can’t quite stick the landing, and the storyline concludes with a far-fetched twist. Still, there’s always next time. Actually, Morgan’s following investigation – although equally bananas – is better thought through, ending with a neat and surprisingly moving finale. The quality of the plotting may be somewhat inconsistent, but like her many predecessors and peers, this virtuoso citizen detective can always be relied upon to save the day.