High Potential Season 2, Episode 10, “Grounded” Spoilers Ahead
High Potential delivers an emotionally charged and thoughtfully compelling episode in “Grounded,” demonstrating that this show’s strength lies in its found family and the lengths our favorite characters will go in order to protect one of their own. Following last week’s “Under the Rug,” we get further proof of how valuable Morgan really is to the team, making it stand out from most procedurals.
Shows like High Potential often provide thrilling cases that supply ample entertainment, but so much of the heart lies in the character journeys, and this one’s packed with exceptional moments that also allow Judy Reyes to shine as the episode’s MVP.
Soto Finally Stands Up to Wagner in High Potential Season 2, Episode 10
Since Wagner came into the picture, it’s safe to assume we’ve all been waiting for the moment when Soto would finally stand up to him. The events of “Behind the Music” showcased how her team is aware of the fact that she deserved the promotion, but the fact that High Potential Season 2, Episode 10, “Grounded,” gives Selena the platform to stand up for herself is everything. It’s especially significant because Wagner isn’t the only one she stands up to, but Solomon, too.
Moments like this not only help the show stand out, but they also give women the space to assert themselves in fields where they’re often underestimated. The reality is that we constantly watch Soto go out of her way to protect her team, and it’s about time men like Wagner do, too. He should know that she’s fully aware of her value, and that she’s the type of officer whose loyalty puts his to shame.
He should know that no matter how hard he tries, his lack of transparency is his own undoing. His own actions are the reason no one wants to be close to him, yet if anything happened to Soto, every single one of them would fight like hell for her. There’s nothing they wouldn’t do for her, in the same way that there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for them, but can Wagner really say the same? “Grounded” ultimately showcases that he can’t.
Tearful Goodbyes and Perfect Performances
It was safe to assume that Morgan wouldn’t actually get fired, or that the decision wouldn’t last long, but how the show delivered the goodbye scene still managed to leave me in shambles. Reyes, Kaitlin Olson, Daniel Sunjata, Deniz Akdeniz, and Javicia Leslie each do such a breathtaking job of showing how much they’ve loved being a team, and it momentarily heightens the stakes of Solomon’s decisions so well that I was concerned despite my better judgment.
Still, a scene like this is exactly how you execute a conflict that your audience might not exactly believe in. It’s especially evocative when, in the same episode, we get glimpses into how Morgan and Karadec have solidified their partnership through intimate knowledge of each other’s likes and dislikes.
Food is very much a love language, and so is bringing your partner their preferred sandwich, even if you forget pickles. (Which, like, come on, man—how do you forget the pickles?) But a gentle tap on the shoulder is also a love language. It might be a fleeting beat—an action without a conscious thought behind it, but it’s still meaningful. It’s Karadec showing Morgan that he has her back. It’s Karadec reminding us that when it comes to Morgan, he sees her, he respects her, and he cares about her deeply, even when she changes his ringtone to the most obnoxiously hilarious ’90s songs.
She’s his girl (and it doesn’t matter who comes into the picture) because Morgan’s role in his life is so different. Sitting with her silences is comforting to him. Being around her adds the kind of levity in his life that no one else can. And the performances that both Sunjata and Olson deliver in this moment are so deeply satisfying because they want the audience to continue observing that these characters value each other.
And for Morgan, there’s something to be said about how this job has changed her. How it’s the place that finally lets her shine without ever once dimming her light, despite men like Wagner and Solomon and whatever meaningless perp tries. Her value is indisputable, and the fact that we get further proof after last week is impeccable writing that also trusts its audience to appreciate the continuity. It’s a warm moment, but it’s vulnerable and sad, and the fact that these characters feel safe around each other to show these feelings is also where so much of the show’s strength lies.
“Nothing you wouldn’t do for me” – Morgan, Selena, and Banana Splits
We talk about Karadec and Morgan’s partnership a lot, but no two characters have made me cry the way Soto and Morgan do. Because it’s in them that we get such a healthy, achingly comforting relationship of strong women who are better because they know each other. There aren’t many things that people can know with certainty when the state of the world is as grim as it is, yet the fact that Soto knows Morgan would fight for her is further proof of how she sees her. How she knows she’s worth it because she sees how Morgan respects her. There’s value in strong female friendships that we don’t see often on TV, and the fact that High Potential continues to fortify their bond is admirable on so many levels.
Even if Morgan actually got fired, the fact that Soto wouldn’t give up on finding Roman is another lovely detail to cling to because you don’t do things for people you love so they can one day return the favor. You do it because you care. You do it because you don’t know how not to. You don’t know how to step away because the friendship matters significantly. And ending High Potential Season 2, Episode 10, “Grounded,” with this beat makes it one worth watching over and over again. Simply stunning in every way.
Stray Thoughts
- Daphne’s outfit is once again A+. I want her entire wardrobe.
- Going back to school would give me so much anxiety, and Morgan is so ridiculously funny in this episode.
- Also, Karadec taking her to school is so cute. What even is this?
- “Your silence speaks volumes.” Oh, the difference between this exchange and “I know your silences” is so beautiful. The writing on this show is everything.
- Arthur being safe is so important to me!!!
- He brought her food!!!! The shoulder touch!! Oh my God, this is kryptonite for me. If you know, you know.
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on the High Potential Season 2, Episode 10, “Grounded?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: (Disney/Jessica Perez)