ABC's High Potential Replacement Confirms Morgan's Biggest Missing Character Isn't Roman
Antonella Gugliersi (she/them) has been a feature writer for Screen Rant since 2021. While studying for her bachelor’s in Economics & Management, they started writing about movies and TV shows for Turin-based The Unconventional Mag. After a brief internship at TPI, she decided she wanted to pursue journalism and graduated with a degree in International Journalism from Brunel University.
Warning! SPOILERS ahead for R.J. Decker season 2, episode 4.ABC’s High Potential replacement flawlessly exemplified why it’s imperative for a character who isn’t Roman to appear in season 3. Roman’s disappearance has been a driving force for High Potential’s story since the beginning, as Morgan only accepted the offer to become a consultant for the LAPD after Lieutenant Soto agreed to investigate what had happened to Roman. Because Roman disappeared years before, High Potential was able to scatter new information about his case throughout seasons 1 and 2, effectively becoming High Potential’s most important overarching story.
Because of the implications for Ava’s life and the disturbing revelations investigating Roman’s disappearance brought up in High Potential, his appearance in the crime drama can be perceived as the most urgent, as it would mean the resolution of High Potential’s most consequential mystery. However, RJ Decker season 2, episode 4, “The Angler” incidentally proved that isn’t necessarily the case with the introduction of Reggie Decker to the story, which points to the appearance of Morgan’s father being potentially more significant than Roman’s.
While no direct in-story connection exists between RJ Decker and High Potential, the similarities between them are several. The two ABC shows not only fall in the same genre that mixes drama with comedy and follows a procedural structure, but they also have a main investigator at the center of the story who isn’t part of law enforcement, granting them the opportunity to bring their unique perspective when tackling their weekly cases. RJ Decker season 2 taking over High Potential’s slot cements their similarities, making RJ Decker’s introduction of Reggie a hint that High Potential should follow with Morgan’s father.
Reggie's Introduction Fleshed Out Scott Speedman's Character In RJ Decker Season 2
RJ Decker season 1 focused on R.J.’s re-entry into society and what caused him to go to prison in the past when his personal life was involved. Before RJ Decker season 2, episode 4, very little was known about the family R.J. grew up with, as Catherine, Mel, Sofia, and Wish were presented as the family that really matters to R.J. in the ABC crime drama. However, Reggie’s introduction in RJ Decker season 2, episode 4 offers a valuable insight into what motivates R.J.’s choices.
R.J. refused to take the worry of the fishing event organizer seriously despite taking the job, and yet his attitude completely changed when he recognized his father among the sponsors of Dickie Dupree, whose extremely successful winning streak painted him as the most probable cheater. Investigating his father with Mel highlighted how R.J. expected the worst from Reggie, and his conflict in relation to the entire situation became even more evident when R.J. wasn’t immediately sure of his relief when it became clear that Reggie wasn’t involved in Finch Palmer’s murder.
While RJ Decker never mentioned Reggie before, his unexpected appearance in season 2, episode 4 exemplifies how one of R.J.’s key characteristics, his inability to let go of a hunch, must be a consequence of being abandoned by Reggie after his parents’ divorce. Reggie’s involvement in the investigation undoubtedly provided comedy relief, but it also became a source of closure after R.J. managed to see his father’s point of view. With just a brief visit from Reggie, RJ Decker season 2 gave viewers a better understanding of R.J. without diminishing the weekly case story in any way.
Why Morgan's Father Is More Vital To High Potential's Story Than Roman
In contrast with RJ Decker, High Potential mentioned Morgan’s father. The emphasis was always on how the belief Morgan’s father had in cultivating one’s intelligence above everything else shaped Morgan in antithesis to that, as Morgan always put compassion first. This was evident in how Morgan talked about her father’s values negatively influencing her as a child, but also in how she reacted to a High Potential season 2 case focusing on a father-daughter duo with similar problems.
While Roman’s disappearance altered the direction of Morgan’s life, she has moved on by High Potential’s beginning, wanting to find out what happened specifically for her firstborn, Ava. Instead, High Potential proved that her difficult relationship with her father still shapes Morgan, making her father’s appearance in High Potential season 3 important for the development of Morgan as a thoroughly fleshed-out character.
RJ Decker season 2, episode 4’s introduction of Reggie offers the perfect blueprint for High Potential to follow. Linking Morgan’s father to a case in High Potential limits his reach, while also letting him stir up trouble and challenge Morgan more than any given case ever does. His appearance can offer a glimpse into what drives Morgan to High Potential’s characters and viewers alike, making her a more compelling character as a result.
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