The fall finale of High Potential Season 2 left viewers on the edge of their seats, as a stolen painting investigation led Morgan into a dangerous romantic entanglement and a mysterious new threat emerged in the hunt for Roman.
In “The One That Got Away,” Morgan and the LAPD’s Major Crimes team are assigned to recover a stolen Rembrandt, a case that takes a shocking turn when the prime suspect turns out to be the charming art expert working alongside them. Meanwhile, the off-the-books investigation into Roman’s disappearance escalates dramatically when a dangerous stranger appears.
The Personal Art Heist
The episode opens with the theft of a $20 million Rembrandt painting titled “Young Girl Leaning on a Windowsill” from a local museum. Morgan quickly determines that the heist was personal, as the thief ignored more valuable artworks to specifically target this one piece.
The painting’s insurers send an art recovery specialist, Rhys Eastman, to assist the investigation. Morgan and Rhys immediately clash over their methods. Morgan’s digging uncovers a deeper story behind the artwork; she learns that the painting was originally owned by a family who lost it after their possessions were seized during the Holocaust. The current claimants, a wealthy couple named the Fosters, had loaned the piece to the museum. Morgan becomes determined to return the painting to its rightful heirs rather than the insurance company.
A Captain’s Outburst and a Dangerous Attraction
Morgan’s commitment to the case leads her to break protocol. She accompanies Rhys back to the crime scene without police backup after he receives a tip. This action infuriates the new captain, Nick Wagner, who unleashes a public reprimand in the middle of the bullpen, calling her “reckless and insubordinate.”
Wagner removes both Morgan and Rhys from the case. A frustrated Morgan then goes for drinks with Rhys, where they bond over their shared frustrations. The flirtatious evening leads them to Rhys’s hotel room. As they begin to get intimate, Morgan spots a scar on Rhys’s shoulder—a scar that matches the gunshot wound a security guard inflicted on the elusive art thief “Jean Baptiste” years earlier. At that exact moment, Morgan receives a call from her partner, Karadec, informing her that a dead body has been found at the museum.
Showrunner Todd Harthan explained the casting, saying, “We needed somebody who was charming, smart. What would Morgan be drawn to? We needed to find that actor who had that level of confidence and charm without it being arrogant.”
Tensions Flare Within the Police Team
The confrontation between Wagner and Morgan was a pivotal scene. His aggressive public dressing-down of Morgan was noted by other team members as being excessively harsh. Later, while driving with Karadec, Wagner claimed his anger stemmed from a desire to protect his team, stating that he needs to know everything happening in his department to keep people safe.
Karadec issued a quiet but firm warning to Wagner, making it clear that speaking to Morgan in that manner again would lead to problems between them. The professional tension between Wagner and Karadec was further highlighted when their attempt to apprehend a suspect during the art case resulted in a chaotic car chase and a collision between their vehicles, allowing the suspect to escape.
A New Threat in the Roman Mystery
Simultaneously, the investigation into the disappearance of Morgan’s ex, Roman, took a dangerous new turn. Lieutenant Soto had been secretly examining the contents of a backpack that once belonged to Roman. With the help of detectives Daphne and Oz, she worked to identify a mysterious bearded man from a photograph found inside.
In a related development, Morgan’s daughter, Ava, secretly contacted Arthur, the man who claims to be in touch with Roman. Arthur agreed to meet with Ava and Morgan to properly discuss Roman, whom he described as a “stand-up guy” who always did the right thing.
The episode concluded with a major cliffhanger: the same mysterious bearded man from the photograph confronted Arthur in his car, demanding to know the location of the backpack. This new player is directly connected to the secrets Roman has been hiding.
Executive producer Todd Harthan teased the mystery man’s role, stating, “He’s someone that knows a lot about the who, the when and the what of what happened all those years ago. He’s going to be very challenging. We’re going to lean into that in the back half.”
The fall finale of High Potential delivered a tense and twist-filled hour, leaving Morgan in a perilous situation with a potential killer and the Roman mystery more threatening than ever. The show will return with new episodes on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Also Read: High Potential Season 2 Episode 8: Release Date, Time Shift, and Mid-Season Cliffhanger
