Craving Sherlock? ABC’s Will Trent is the bingeable fix you need right now

Usually, the networks spend summer firing out their reality competitions — Big Brother overstaying its welcome on CBS, America's Got Talent blaring away on NBC, and Kitchen Nightmares serving up Gordon Ramsay's thousandth rant on Fox. Classic summer fare, good for a lazy night, but if you're hunting for a proper scripted show, there's one that's slipped under plenty of radars and is actually worth your time: High Potential. Two seasons are already out, and with Season 3 pushed to January 2027 by ABC, you've ages to catch up — that is, if you don't end up binging all 31 episodes in one go.

High Potential currently has 31 episodes for its first two seasons, and the next season won’t air until January 2027 at the earliest.

The Sherlock-Shaped Hole

Remember Sherlock? Benedict Cumberbatch strutting around, outsmarting Scotland Yard, generally being a smug genius. If you found that oddly enjoyable (I did), Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory in High Potential scratches a lot of those itches. Morgan's got the 160 IQ, can see connections nobody else does, and isn't fussed about rules or pecking order — essentially, a whirlwind crashing through the LAPD's Major Crimes Division as their latest consulting genius.

Like Sherlock had John Watson as the reluctantly loyal sidekick, here it's Adam Karadec, played by Daniel Sunjata. Karadec's intensely by-the-book, running the straightest line possible, so Morgan winding him up with her chaos is honestly half the fun. The show's writers seem to know this duo is gold — their banter is consistently sharper than most crime shows even attempt.

More Than Just Cases

The basic structure's familiar: new case every week, odd-couple sleuthing, mystery wrapped up by the hour's end. But High Potential chucks in extra layers beyond the usual formula. The show spends real time exploring Morgan’s complicated home life and the personal baggage that comes with being the smartest person in every room. Her teenage daughter Ava (played by Amirah J) sits at the heart of a running mystery over her missing biological father, while her younger son Elliot (Matthew Lamb) may have inherited a bit too much of mum’s brainpower for his own good. That’s far from filler; it’s well integrated and gives Morgan actual stakes beyond ticking off LAPD brass.

This isn't just a clever take on Sherlock or the American procedural retread either (The Mentalist, Psych, et al). The writing deliberately tugs between Morgan’s fierce intelligence (utterly handy for chasing down murderers) and the very real cost to her mental health and relationships. At times, her talent is less gift and more curse: obsessing over cases, burning out, alienating those around her. That keeps her — and us — on edge.

Why It’s Worth Your Summer

• 31 episodes on offer now, prime for a binge with no threat of spoilers until next year
• Perfect if you want the wit and energy of Sherlock with a modern LAPD spin
• Compelling season arcs — especially the ongoing search for Morgan’s ex, Roman
• A cast with proper chemistry, including Amirah J and Matthew Lamb as Morgan’s kids
• That "will-they-won’t-they" slow-burn between Morgan and Karadec, for anyone feeling the Benson/Stabler void from SVU
• Show leans into comedy just enough to keep it from getting grim, but doesn't shy away from emotional weight — especially as Season 2 ends on a cliffhanger

If your idea of a satisfying procedural is as much about the characters' messes as the mysteries themselves, you genuinely might end up as obsessed as Morgan. With the next series on ice until after Christmas 2026, this is one you can sink into at your own pace.