Far be it from me to step on a fanperson or shipper’s toes, but am I the only one who feels like Morgan and Karadec are destined to be strictly platonic?
For the record, I’m not opposed to romance in a series. Often, viewers who decry romance as if it’s not a natural part of life confuse me every bit as much as those who see it everywhere.
You could say I tend to fall in the middle and base things on whether it makes for a good story and whether the chemistry is there.
Morgan & Karadec Have Chemistry — Just Not Romantic Chemistry
However, when it comes to Morgan and Karadec, it doesn’t feel like a romance between them would be a great fit for the story, outside of simply checking a box on the list of things that may or may not appeal to viewers.
And as far as their chemistry? Well, they have it.
Olson and Sunjata are great together, and it’s a fun opposites-attract dynamic that often leads to great buddy-cop series and films. But does it feel romantic in the slightest?
I’m sorry, but I don’t see it. What am I missing?
High Potential Thrives in the Found Family Dynamic
I understand why shipping two leads in a series is popular, especially when they’re both likable, and it’s become commonplace for partnerships to blossom into friendships and eventually romance.
In fact, if High Potential had the, well, potential to pull that off organically, it’s something I’m more prone to buy with Daphne and Oz than Morgan and Karadec.
With the latter, as deeply enjoyable as their dynamic is, there’s something about it that doesn’t feel distinctly romantic. The lack of sexual undercurrents between the two is one of the many things that make this dynamic so compelling in the first place.
The series is doing a solid job of building on the “found family” dynamic among all the characters in a way that’s refreshing and unlike standard fare.
Morgan and Ludo’s relationship, for example, is one of the most invigorating demonstrations of exes who still deeply love and care about one another but are no longer romantically linked. They’re still able to be friends and family to one another.
Morgan’s Journey Center Self-Discovery
Ludo is imperfectly perfect — a man who doesn’t distinguish between children who are his and who aren’t, and would never once consider that this family stopped being his family when he and Morgan separated.
Morgan has a natural ability in this area. As much as they could attempt to tease something out with her and Karadec, that dynamic feels similar in the sense that he’s slowly becoming a part of the family.
She cares about him, and he, her. Karadec has grown attached to her kids in a way that’s unexpected for him, and having her and those children in his life has pushed his boundaries in fun ways and made him step outside of himself.
But that level of personal growth doesn’t feel like something that results from romantic love, but rather the early stages of an unconditional one from a burgeoning friendship that is potentially getting past Karadec’s defenses and possibly even healing something in him in the process.
What we’re getting is the early stages of a dynamic that is of such high value for Karadec that it almost feels wrong to risk it with romance or detract from the personal development he gets from it by exclusively focusing on a will-they/won’t-they component.
Morgan and Her Family Contribute to Karadec’s Growth
Morgan makes Karadec vulnerable — and it’s apparent that this vulnerability is in a manner he doesn’t often experience, which is great for his self-discovery and growth, and excellent for the audience as we get to peel back layers of this enigmatic character through his unusual dynamic with Morgan.
However, Morgan is someone who requires independence, or is on a path toward it.
We have a fascinating example of a single mother who is still figuring herself out. Her path toward self-discovery is gratifying and at the hub of what makes High Potential so interesting.
It’s been satisfying — and relatable, even — to see a woman who is still just scratching the surface of her own identity, not just as a woman, a mother, and someone who is neurodivergent, but also beyond that.
Morgan’s story doesn’t feel like one that should center romance. The love story, when it comes to her, is one of self-love, and that’s a great journey in its own right.
Romance Doesn’t Feel Like a Natural Focus of Morgan’s Story
Essentially, it’s why she and Ludo didn’t work out, and why, as endearing as her fleeting romance with Tom was (and suspicious to some), it didn’t feel like something we wanted to spend too much time with.
In many ways, High Potential is Morgan’s story — about her coming to grips with her past, her identity, and her family.
Unlike how Karadec benefits from being in Morgan’s light, she thrives while navigating the world on her own. Karadec feels like a supportive presence in Morgan’s life — an unexpected addition to her found family — but not the emotional centerpiece or romantic partner her journey seems to call for right now.
I can see where Morgan adds value to Karadec’s life in terms of helping him evolve, but it doesn’t feel mutual in the same way.
Plus, while opposites attract can be fun with buddy-cop dynamics and even effective in the field, their incompatibility in how they view the world so differently doesn’t feel like the best foundation for a long-term romantic relationship.
Morgan & Karadec’s Incompatibility is Fun for Partnership, but Alarming for Romance
They’re emotionally compatible — vulnerable with each other in great ways that speak to their deepening friendship. But they don’t feel logistically compatible in a way that suggests they should be a long-term romance (or a romance at all), and they’re certainly not narratively easy as a pairing.
Morgan is a harbinger of chaos; she thrives in it. She’s impulsive, runs on instinct, bold, reactive, and pure energy.
Karadec is more structured, internal, risk-averse, and easily overwhelmed and anxious. As a friend — or family, Morgan is great for bringing him out of his shell and being what he can’t be at all times.
But as a romantic partner?
People severely underestimate how overstimulating and unintentionally exhausting a high-energy, chaotic person like Morgan is for an anxious, introverted person like Karadec. They’re such extremes that the thought of them romantically linked actually gives me anxiety.
So, as popular as this pairing is, I haven’t been able to envision the two in a romantic capacity. Is it just me? Or am I missing something?
Ultimately, not every close partnership needs to blossom into romance to be meaningful or powerful. Morgan and Karadec demonstrate a rare kind of emotional intimacy — one rooted in mutual respect, personal growth, and a bond that doesn’t always fit the traditional romantic mold. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe that’s the magic.
Watch High Potential Online
High Potential is off for the summer, but we know you Fanatics are still out there with lots to say — so if you’re out there, holler back.
Comments, shares, and good vibes all keep this little ship afloat. Thanks for reading.
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