James Roday Rodriguez, best known for his role as Shawn Spencer on Psych, has returned to the director’s chair for the start of High Potential‘s second season. He directed the first two episodes, reuniting him with Todd Harthan, the showrunner of the ABC crime drama who was also an executive producer on Psych.
This collaboration marks a continuation of their long-standing creative partnership. Rodriguez’s involvement is a significant draw for fans of his work, particularly his skillful blending of comedy and drama, which he honed over eight seasons on Psych.
The Directed Episodes: Season 2, Episodes 1 and 2
James Roday Rodriguez directed the two-part season premiere of High Potential Season 2. The episodes are titled “Pawns” (Episode 1) and the follow-up chapter .
“Pawns” aired on September 16, 2025, and picks up immediately after the events of the first season finale. The episode finds Morgan Gillory (Kaitlin Olson) working to protect her family from the threats of the mysterious Game Maker, a villain who sets up complex games for the LAPD. When a new crime occurs, Morgan is pulled back into the Game Maker’s web, and the police must learn to trust her unconventional instincts to prevent a tragedy .
The story continues in the second episode, which aired on September 23, 2025. This episode resolves the initial Game Maker storyline, with Morgan and the team racing to save kidnapping victims and finally confront the person behind the elaborate scheme .
The collaboration between Rodriguez and Harthan is not new. Their professional relationship dates back to the early 2000s when they co-wrote the screenplay for the film Skinwalkers together . This partnership continued throughout Psych, where Harthan was an executive producer and Rodriguez both starred in and wrote for the show .
Rodriguez is also familiar with the world of High Potential. Before directing the Season 2 premiere, he had already directed two episodes for the show’s first season: Episode 7 and the Season 1 finale, Episode 13 . His work on the finale was particularly notable, as it introduced the “Game Maker” villain, a character that fans and critics noted has similarities to the iconic Psych killer Mr. Yang, played by Ally Sheedy .
What to Expect in the New Season
Season 2 of High Potential continues to explore the life of Morgan Gillory, a single mom with a brilliant, unconventional mind who helps the LAPD solve crimes. The new season delves deeper into the ongoing mystery of the Game Maker while also exploring Morgan’s complicated family dynamics .
Showrunner Todd Harthan shared some insight into the season’s direction, stating:
“I think the things that people were loving about the show are going to stay and hopefully even get better, and the things they have a big appetite for that we barely did last year are going to bloom.”
He specifically mentioned that the story surrounding Morgan’s ex, Roman, would be a significant focus, and that the dynamic between Morgan and Detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) would continue to develop .
James Roday Rodriguez’s Expanding Directorial Career
While many recognize him as an actor, Rodriguez has built a substantial career behind the camera. After directing several episodes of Psych, he went on to direct episodes for series like The Resident, Rosewood, and The Crossover for Disney+ .
His feature film directorial debut was the 2015 horror-comedy Gravy, which he also co-wrote with Todd Harthan . He has since directed other projects, including the Hulu horror film Treehouse .
New episodes of High Potential air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC and are available for streaming on Hulu the following day .
Also Read: High Potential Season 2 Release Time: When and Where to Watch
