High Potential Season 1 Episode 4 "Survival Mode" Review
This episode was really intense. The tension was high, and the show managed to delve into dark themes without going overboard. While there wasn't any progress in the search for Roman, the episode did focus on the compelling character dynamics between Morgan and Karadec. Their interactions were captivating, and it was satisfying to see a growing sense of mutual respect between them. The episode began with a startling scene: the discovery of two young girls in the trunk of a car, illuminated by the assailant's flashlight.
Meanwhile, Morgan is struggling with insomnia but arrives at the station in surprisingly good spirits as she is on the brink of receiving her LAPD badge. However, there's a condition attached – she must agree to certain terms and conditions before gaining access to the evidence locker, a condition she naturally rejects. While taking pictures with her new badge, she meets a woman in the restroom, and they bond over a shared concern. The woman discloses that her daughters are missing, and their father has been out of contact. Could there be a connection between this woman and the missing girls from the earlier scene?
Indeed, Morgan pledges to locate the missing girls. It is later revealed that Wendell, the girls' father, is Morgan's ex-husband, and they are in the midst of a divorce. Wendell, who was once an environmentalist, has now taken a more extreme path, wanting to live off the grid with his daughters. He has even purchased a cabin in the woods, while one of the girls, Mia, resides with John Ashford, her father.
Selena tells Morgan that they cannot activate an AMBER Alert until the girls have been missing for 24 hours. The team then goes to Wendell's house, where they discover a chaotic scene: the kitchen table is messy, the sink is dirty, and the place looks very lived-in. They find Ellie's fluffy bunny abandoned. While inspecting the greenhouse, Morgan notices a gardening mistake that leads to the discovery of Wendell's lifeless body. With Wendell deceased, the urgency to locate the missing girls intensifies.
Against protocol, Karadec issues an AMBER Alert, prompting Selena to remark that Morgan's rebellious streak is influencing him. Traces of fresh tire marks suggest that the chances of finding the girls decrease significantly (by 42%) if they were abducted by a stranger. Their focus shifts to investigating Mr. Ashford, Mia's father who runs a hotel and may be connected to a potential ransom plot. Additionally, they learn that Wendell had a heated argument with a woman shortly before his death.
While cleaning a cabinet at the Ashford mansion, Morgan discovers additional clues, and a conversation with the maid reveals Wendell's deep affection for his daughters. Prior to his death, Wendell had also departed from Mr. Ashford's office, and a CPS report filled with falsehoods becomes a central focus. Sarah Keller, the CPS officer behind the report, was facing financial difficulties, raising suspicions about her trip to an Ashford resort in Hawaii. It is revealed that Wendell was in possession of evidence indicating that Ashford had been bribing others to advance his projects, and Sarah had informed Ashford about it.
As the incriminating evidence against John Ashford piles up, they head to the mansion to interrogate him. There, Curtis, a driver, attempts to provide an alibi, but it quickly unravels. Ashford strongly opposed environmental activists like Wendell and had bribed judges to develop on protected land. During the interrogation, it emerges that Ashford had a team of individuals ready to manage difficult situations, leading them to suspect that the girls might have been abducted by one of them. However, when they apprehend the "prepaid phone guy," he does not have the girls. Nevertheless, he discloses that Mia was the woman seen arguing with Wendell at his residence. Consequently, suspicion now falls on Mia: if she was aware of Wendell's plans to undermine her father, she had a motive.
Matching tire tracks from Wendell’s residence to her car further raises suspicions about the mother. Despite this, Morgan becomes emotional, especially upon returning home and sharing a tender moment with Ava and Elliot. However, she senses that something is amiss. Upon viewing a news report about the missing girls, she becomes aware that the Buddha in the Ashford mansion has been relocated. This discovery prompts her to visit an antique store, where she encounters Mia, who had swapped a Ming vase with a counterfeit one. When questioned, Mia initially brushes her off but eventually discloses receiving a ransom call. She admits that she had visited Wendell to plead with him not to report her father for bribery and explains that she was unable to seek help from the authorities as per the kidnapper’s instructions.
As the ransom exchange is arranged, Karadec instructs Morgan to remain nearby. With the list of suspects dwindling, the kidnapper's identity becomes clearer. A tense pursuit ensues, during which Karadec fires a shot, but the suspect manages to escape. The vehicle catches fire, but the girls are not inside. After the flames are extinguished, Morgan notices the radio tuned to a horse betting station, leading her to a revelation: Curtis is the kidnapper.
Curtis, who was in love with Mia, kidnapped the girls in an attempt to win her affection. He had been concealing his true intentions under the guise of a false alibi he provided for John, but his scheme eventually fell apart. Thanks to their father's wilderness survival teachings, the girls were well-prepared and were ultimately found unharmed, bringing this intense case to a conclusion.
The standout moment in the episode was undoubtedly the scene featuring Morgan at home. Although she didn't say much to Ava and Elliot, except for giving the latter some homework, Kaitlin Olson's performance was exceptional in her interactions with the children. Despite not resembling her, the maternal bond she shares with them is truly convincing.
The episode struck a perfect balance between tension, drama, and mystery. The pool of suspects was sufficiently varied, and even though Curtis was a predictable culprit, his underlying motives and the clues leading to his discovery were well-executed.
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