Susan Kelechi Watson is headed to ABC’s High Potential, joining the light procedural’s second season in a recurring guest role that’s already raising eyebrows.
The This Is Us alum will make her debut in the January 27 episode titled “NPC,” playing a woman from Detective Karadec’s (Daniel Sunjata) past. While the series is keeping character specifics close to the vest, the timing has fueled speculation that Watson could be portraying Lucia — the ex-fiancée Karadec previously revealed walked away because he was married to the job.
Watson’s character is described as “wry, open-hearted, and independent,” someone driven not by impulse but by a genuine appetite for life. She’s a woman who follows her curiosity wherever it leads, whether that’s a new city, a new experience, or an entirely new chapter — a sharp contrast to Karadec’s all-work-no-play approach.
Airing January 27 at 10 PM on ABC, the episode finds the LAPD Major Crimes Division investigating the murder of a former esports champion, with both a gaming rival and a sushi chef emerging as suspects. As Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) gains unexpected insight into the case through time spent with her son Elliot (Matthew Lamb), Karadec reconnects with the woman from his past — setting the stage for both emotional and professional complications.
Watson’s arrival comes amid mounting romantic tension across the series. The midseason return introduced a budding connection between Morgan and art consultant Rhys (Aiden Turner), with showrunner Todd Harthan teasing that these storylines are only beginning to unfold.
“I think we have some of our biggest and most exciting guest stars coming in the back half,” Harthan previously said, noting that the series is building toward a penultimate stretch designed to push the story forward in a way that could set up a potential Season 3.
Created by Drew Goddard and based on the French-Belgian format Haut Potentiel Intellectuel (HPI), High Potential is produced by 20th Television. Watson is best known for her six-season run as Beth Pearson on This Is Us and most recently starred in Netflix’s The Residence. She’s also currently in production on the Netflix feature Don’t Ever Wonder opposite Nia Long*.
With Karadec’s past resurfacing and personal dynamics shifting across the squad, Watson’s addition signals a pivotal moment for High Potential — one that could reshape relationships well beyond a single episode.