High Potential Season 1 Episode 5 recap: What happens after the death of the veterinarian?

High Potential
High Potential completes five episodes (Image Source: ABC)

With commendable consistency, High Potential continues to engage fans with new mysteries in each episode. The fifth episode, titled Croaked, came out on October 22 and follows Morgan and Detective Karadec investigating the mysterious death of an exotic animal veterinarian.

High Potential is inspired by the French series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel (HPI), which premiered in 2021 and was lauded for its unique and comedic narrative. Similarly, ABC's High Potential focuses on Morgan, a single mother with a high IQ who never misses a chance to help others, especially the police, to solve complex cases.

While Kaitlin Olson plays the lead, she's joined by Daniel Sunjata as Detective Karadec, known for his strict rules. Initially, Morgan and Karadec didn't seem to have liked each other, but their relationship is improving now that they're working together.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for High Potential Season 1. Reader discretion is advised.


What to expect from High Potential Season 1 Episode 5

In High Potential episode 5, Morgan saves Karadec's life while investigating a new crime. Read more to know what happened after the veterinarian was found dead.

An exotic animal veterinarian dies in High Potential Episode 5

Morgan with her kids and family (Image Source: ABC)
Morgan with her kids and family (Image Source: ABC)

High Potential episode 5 opens with a dramatic scene at a veterinary clinic where a lab technician ends up in Dr. Monica's office and is shocked to see her dead body. He sees papers scattered everywhere in the office, suggesting something wrong happened before her death.

Meanwhile, Monica is having breakfast with her second husband, Ludo, and notices Ava gulping down her juice. Ava brushed off her concern upon asking, and Morgan headed to her office. She's informed about Dr. Monica's death and arrives at the crime scene with her team and Karadec.

Morgan initially thought Dr. Monica died naturally, but when a printer suddenly started printing papers with the word "Murder," Morgan knew someone was involved, and the veterinarian had been killed.

As she digs deeper into the case, Morgan discovers that Dr. Monica died of a poison that was put inside the soap dispenser she used. It comes from a deadly dart frog, whose poison causes serious swelling and even muscular paralysis.

Since they were at the crime scene, Detective Karadec almost washed his hands using the soap dispenser, but before the prison reached his skin, Morgan stopped him and tranquilized him. The scene is undeniably dramatic but highlights Morgan's commitment to her team.

Morgan explained that she noticed Dr. Monica's palms had an allergic reaction, and a paper towel was lying there, too. Since the veterinarian kept exotic animals, the dart frog was one of them and was missing from the clinic. Using her high intelligence, Morgan concluded that someone had put the frog inside the soap dispenser, and when Dr. Monica fired her hands, it paralyzed her.

However, Morgan's suspicion in High Potential Episode 5 wasn't solely based on this. She also discovered that the office printer is voice-activated, which Dr. Morgan used before her death. She might have used it as a last-ditch effort to alert someone before dying.

Also Read: High Potential cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the 2024 ABC crime drama?


Morgan confronts the first suspect in Dr. Morgan's death in High Potential Episode 5

Morgan and Karadec ask Bethany about Monica (Image Source: ABC)
Morgan and Karadec ask Bethany about Monica (Image Source: ABC)

The investigation continues in High Potential Episode 5, as Morgan's co-worker Selena informs the investigators about Bethany, a hairdresser, and Monica's pal, who reported the doctor missing. As they visited Bethany, her son noticed a man yelling at Monica one day.

It turns out that he was Monica's ex-boyfriend Shane, who has a history of going to prison for armed robbery. The investigators then question Shane, but his ankle monitor proves he wasn't near Dr. Monica at the time of her death.

This means Shane isn't the one involved in Dr. Monica's death in High Potential Episode 5. Meanwhile, Morgan discovered some pills in her daughter Ava's room, likely birth control pills. She wanted to ask Ava, but Karadec suggested to hold it off.


Dr. Monica's killer is finally revealed in High Potential Episode 5

Morgan and Karadec (Image Source: ABC)
Morgan and Karadec (Image Source: ABC)

As the High Potential episode progresses, Morgan and Karadec question Monica's online enemy, who claims that Monica killed his best friend—a spider—saying it was infectious. He confesses to threatening Monica at her Hollywood address after losing his spider. Surprisingly, the same address is found on a receipt taken from Monica's trash.

Morgan then learns that Monica was involved in trafficking exotic species and using them in her clinic for illegal activity. She also finds Bethany and her son's picture at the office and discovers Monica's search for a house near Bethany. In High Potential episode 5, it is revealed that Monica and Bethany are more than friends; they are in a romantic relationship.

Bethany's husband, Nathan, learned about his wife's affair, which gave him a reason to eliminate Monica. Morgan and Karadec brought Nathan for questioning, and under pressure, he confessed to killing Monica out of rage.

However, Morgan isn't convinced that Nathan is the killer, so she continues her investigation. As expected, she is right! Nathan didn't kill Dr. Monica in High Potential Episode 5. Then who did?

As Morgan continued investigating, she visited Shane at his gym and noticed an ear dimple similar to Bethany's son Gavin. Morgan went deep into Shane's criminal past and learned that Monica was also involved in the robbery with him.

In a shocking twist, Morgan learns that Gavin is Monica and Shane's biological son, whom she gave up for adoption. Bethany discovers the truth about Gavin and also discovers that Monica isn't in love with her but only wants to live with her son.

Bethany was heartbroken and angry at Monica, and in rage, she killed her and later confessed to her crime. As for Nathan, he took the blame only to protect Gavin. He's released, and Bethany is arrested for the murder.

The episode ends with Monica's mother meeting her grandson after years and gradually developing a bond. Morgan initiates a talk with her daughter, and Ava explains that she's taking birth control pills to control acne and nothing else.


Also Read: Who does Kaitlin Olson play in High Potential? Exploring the actress' career, background, and notable projects

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni