Fans of ABC’s hit crime drama High Potential are facing a substantial break following a cliffhanger-filled fall finale. The show’s second season is on hiatus, with the next episode not scheduled to arrive until early 2026. The mid-season finale left several storylines hanging, including a major art heist case and a mysterious new threat linked to Morgan’s past.
The return date for High Potential has been confirmed, marking a change in its weekly schedule. When the show comes back, it will solve the art theft mystery and continue the ongoing search for Morgan’s former husband, Roman.
Confirmed Return Schedule
High Potential Season 2, Episode 8 is set to premiere on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. This date was officially confirmed by ABC, ending speculation about the show’s mid-season return.
In a significant change for viewers, the show will move to a new time slot. Instead of its previous 10 p.m. broadcast, the series will now air at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. This shift places it in a powerful lineup alongside Will Trent at 8 p.m. and The Rookie at 10 p.m.
For viewers who prefer streaming, the new episode will be available on Hulu the day after it airs on ABC, starting January 7, 2026.
Unpacking the Mid-Season Cliffhanger
The fall finale, Episode 7, titled “The One That Got Away (1),” left the team with multiple unresolved cases. The primary investigation involved the theft of a Rembrandt painting valued at $20 million from a museum. Morgan Gillory, played by Kaitlin Olson, believed the theft was not about money, as the thief bypassed other valuable pieces.
Complicating the case was the involvement of an art recovery consultant, Rhys Easton. Morgan grew suspicious of Rhys and discovered he had a gunshot wound on his shoulder in the exact same spot where a known thief, Jean-Baptiste, was shot years ago while trying to steal a Picasso.
At the same time, the personal mystery surrounding Morgan’s first husband, Roman, deepened. The team found a photograph of an unidentified man in Roman’s backpack. The episode ended with that same man confronting Roman and asking about the backpack, creating a new threat for the team to confront in the second half of the season.
Showrunner Todd Harthan provided a hint about how the story will resume, indicating the show will not pick up directly from the cliffhanger in a predictable way.
“We came up with this clever little device that kicks off the episode in a way that I think is surprising and interesting. It’s not like she’s in the hotel room wondering what she’s going to do now. It gives us some interesting backfill about what happened in that hotel room in the time between getting that call and getting to a crime scene,” Harthan told TVLine.
The Cast Solving the Case
The main cast of High Potential is set to return for the remainder of the season. The series is led by Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory. She is joined by Daniel Sunjata as Adam Karadec, Judy Reyes as Selena Soto, and Javicia Leslie as Daphne Forrester. The cast also includes Deniz Akdeniz as Lev ‘Oz’ Osman and Amirah J as Morgan’s daughter, Ava.
Steve Howey also stars as the precinct’s new captain, Jesse Wagner, who was introduced at the start of the season.
Where to Watch New Episodes
Viewers have several options to watch the show when it returns:
- Live on ABC: Tune in on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET, starting January 6, 2026.
- Stream on Hulu: New episodes are available on Hulu the next day, starting January 7, 2026. Hulu offers different subscription plans, including a basic tier with ads and an ad-free version.
- Other Streaming Services: Past episodes of the season can also be streamed on platforms like fuboTV and Disney+.
A Longer Season Ahead
High Potential Season 2 has a total of 18 episodes, which is five more than its first season. The first part of the season consisted of seven episodes. This means that after Episode 8 premieres, there will be 10 additional episodes to complete the season.
Based on the release pattern of the first season, it is expected that the show will air its remaining episodes without any further interruptions. If this pattern holds, the two-part Season 2 is projected to conclude in March 2026.
Also Read: High Potential Season 2: Karadec’s One Line in Episode 5 Wins Over Fans
