High Potential Season 2 Episode 14 Review: If You Come for the Queen
Morgan is one of the smartest characters on television, and High Potential Season 2 Episode 14, “If You Come For The Queen,” proves this. Instead of trying to offer Ava some comfort as she deals with racial prejudices, she steps back. That’s the most empathetic and loving thing she can do.
The series rarely acknowledges or addresses the fact that Ava is the only Black person in this family. We know her dad is Black, but we have yet to meet Roman. Nonetheless, this ABC hit is a very diverse series.
Morgan is one of the few white main characters at her job. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the show approaches the topic of race with kindness and care. Naturally, Morgan is a know-it-all. As such, she may want to try to offer some advice and reassurance.
However, she knows this isn’t her place. Morgan has never had to deal with issues of race. She cannot possibly offer anything of substance in this situation. She can offer support and love, but not guidance.
The choice not to try to intervene shows that Morgan has a level of emotional intelligence that may seem obvious but is not for many. This choice allows Daphne to step up and become a potential mentor for Ava.
Ava and Daphne have interacted before, but you don’t really consider the idea that they may share common struggles until “If You Come for the Queen.” After their interaction, you see a world where Daphne can step into places where Morgan lacks some awareness.
Daphne may become Ava’s Dottie.
This interaction with Ava also leads to Daphne deciding to stop hiding from her fears and also embrace a new program. It’s a huge moment for Daphne and a potential start to a new career path.
The topics of race, especially involving women of color gives “If You Come for the Queen” its substance. Nonetheless, the main case isn’t the most compelling.
It invest you because you care to know who tries to kill Dottie. It also has some interesting twists, but overall, not a strong leading case.
You care enough to stay invested in it the entire runtime, but it becomes a bit overly complicated. It has a fun twist (a murder pact), but it doesn’t offer enough layers. We also haven’t known Dottie long enough to really root for her and Daphne to solve this case.
“If You Come for the Queen” is supposed to be Daphne’s big moment to take charge, but you don’t get too many highlights with her in this case.
Her strongest moments come with helping Ava and showcasing her bond with Dottie. Learning the culprit of the hit on Dottie also feels disappointing when we learn it’s a jealous former classmate. This could have been the setup for some cop corruption.
This has been done plenty of times, so it’s more enjoyable that High Potential doesn’t go the predictable route. However, it needed a bigger impact.
“If You Come for the Queen” works best when it focuses on the impact of racism and sexism on women of color. It needed some bigger moments with the case.
What did you think of this episode of High Potential? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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High Potential airs Tuesdays at 9/8 C on ABC.
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Jerrica Tisdale
Jerrica Tisdale is your favorite neighborhood pop culture junkie. She will annoy you with random TV and film facts, while complaining about whatever is the hottest new book. She has been a TV fan all her life but writing about it for over a decade. You may find her work all over the internet especially reality TV rants. She is a senior writer at Tell-Tale TV.