The ABC crime comedy High Potential returned from its midseason break on January 6, 2026, bringing back not just the regular team but also a guest star who had many viewers double-checking their screens. The episode, titled The One That Got Away: Part Two, wrapped up the art heist storyline while introducing a mystery figure that has everyone talking.
With a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for Season 2, the show continues to follow Morgan Gillory, a single mother with a 160 IQ who works as a consultant for the LAPD. The winter premiere delivered major answers about the stolen Rembrandt painting and the charming art expert Rhys, while also setting up new questions about Captain Nick Wagner and the ongoing Roman investigation .
Here is a complete breakdown of exactly who played whom in High Potential Season 2 Episode 8, including the newcomer fans are confusing with another famous actor and the unannounced cameo that has yet to be fully explained.
The Main Cast Who Returned for Episode 8
Kaitlin Olson leads the series as Morgan Gillory, the cleaning woman turned police consultant. In this episode, Morgan faces her biggest moral test yet. She discovers that Rhys, the art consultant she was working with, is actually the notorious thief Jean Baptiste. Instead of arresting him, she lets him escape with the painting so he can return it to the family who originally owned it before the Holocaust. Showrunner Todd Harthan explained that Morgan operates with a different rule book than the police. He stated that Morgan only made this choice because she did not believe Rhys was a danger to society .
Daniel Sunjata plays Detective Adam Karadec, Morgan’s partner who has grown from skeptic to protector. Throughout the episode, Karadec watches closely as Morgan spends time with Captain Wagner. Harthan shared that Karadec is genuinely worried about losing Morgan as a partner. He also hinted that there might be a small layer of personal feeling underneath that professional concern .
Judy Reyes returns as Lieutenant Selena Soto, the head of Major Crimes who originally hired Morgan. In this episode, Soto makes progress in the Roman investigation. She finally gets Arthur Ellis to open up about his connection to Roman’s past. Reyes has a much bigger role in the back half of Season 2, with Harthan confirming that Soto is willing to risk her career and personal safety to find the truth .
Javicia Leslie appears as Daphne Forrester and Deniz Akdeniz plays Lev Oz Özdil. The detective partners spend most of the episode trying to figure out Captain Wagner while handling the fallout from the missing painting. They represent the rest of the bullpen who are all quietly watching the new captain, unsure if he is an ally or enemy .
Amirah J and Matthew Lamb play Morgan’s children Ava and Elliot. While they have smaller roles in this episode, their presence continues to drive Morgan’s motivation, especially regarding finding Roman, Ava’s father.
Season 2s Major New Regular
Steve Howey joined the High Potential cast this season as Captain Nick Wagner. He is described as a savvy political animal who wears expensive suits and oozes effortless charm. Unlike a traditional captain, Wagner has disruptor tenacity and likes thinking outside the box, much like Morgan herself .
In Episode 8, Wagner takes control of the art investigation and makes it clear he is watching Morgan closely. His suspicion grows after the painting goes missing under questionable circumstances. Harthan explained that the rest of Season 2 will explore whether Wagner becomes Morgan’s new ally or her biggest threat. He teased that the writers have a lot to unpack about what makes Wagner tick and what his true agenda is .
The Guest Star Everyone Is Talking About
Aiden Turner (spelled Aiden, not Aidan) appears as Rhys, a sophisticated art expert hired by the insurance company to assist with the stolen Rembrandt case. Turner is a British actor and model best known for his long run as Aidan Devane on the soap opera All My Children .
Many viewers have confused him with the Irish actor Aidan Turner, who starred in Poldark, Rivals, and The Diplomat. The Irish Aidan Turner does not appear in High Potential. This is a completely different actor with a very similar name.
Rhys turns out to be the infamous art thief Jean Baptiste. Morgan catches him red-handed with the painting, but he explains that the wealthy couple who reported it stolen had actually hidden it themselves to collect insurance money. The painting rightfully belonged to the family of Miriam Weisman, whose relatives lost it during the Holocaust. Morgan makes the controversial decision to let Rhys escape with the painting so he can complete this act of restitution .
Todd Harthan addressed this decision directly. He said the writing team discussed it extensively because it falls into gray area morality. He explained that Morgan does not view Rhys as someone who will hurt people. If she had even one percent doubt about his potential for violence, she would never have let him go .
The Mystery Guest Star Whose Role Remains Secret
John Pyper-Ferguson appears in Episode 8 as an unnamed character who has not yet been identified. He is the man seen waiting inside Arthur Ellis truck and later spotted drinking whiskey at the bar where the team celebrates closing the art case .
Pyper-Ferguson has a long list of recognizable credits including The 100, Suits, and The Last Ship. His character clearly has a connection to Arthur and likely to Roman as well. Harthan confirmed that this figure is firmly on Morgan’s radar now. He warned that when dangerous people take notice of someone, it raises the question of how close to her front door the threat will come .
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Returning Guest Stars in Episode 8
Mekhi Phifer returns as Arthur Ellis, the mysterious figure from Roman’s past. In this episode, Arthur finally agrees to share information with Lieutenant Soto. He is on his way to the precinct when he is apparently kidnapped by the man in the truck. Harthan reassured viewers that Mekhi Phifer will remain on the show. He stated that it is unlikely Arthur is dead and teased that there are surprising twists still coming in that storyline .
Reggie De Leon plays Cyrus Carrow, the museum director involved in the art case. Rita Zohar appears as Miriam Weisman, the elderly woman who rightfully owns the Rembrandt. Her family lost the painting during wartime, and Rhys ultimately delivers it to her.
Where to Watch High Potential Season 2
High Potential airs Tuesdays at 10:00 PM Eastern Time on ABC. New episodes become available for streaming Wednesdays at 3:00 AM Eastern on Hulu in the United States. Viewers in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and India can watch on Disney+ under the Star content brand. The show streams the day after the US broadcast in most international markets .
Season 2 has 18 total episodes. Episode 9, titled Under the Rug, aired on January 13, 2026. The show continues weekly through March 2026 .
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