High Potential is incredibly adept at handling these two-part episodes, isn't it? If you need a refresher, Season 2's midseason finale left Morgan with egg on her face when it turned out she was frolicking with the prime suspect in the case of a stolen Rembrandt and the murder of a museum curator. To make matters worse, her job was on the line due to Captain Wagner's intense mistrust of her, and her private search for Roman was getting increasingly sinister, with Arthur, the only person who seemed to have any meaningful leads on the subject, being targeted. Episode 8, "The One That Got Away: Part Two," picks up on all these threads and expertly weaves them into a knotted conclusion.
The murder of curator Cyrus Carrow was a great way to escalate the stakes in a case that, by the show's usual standards, felt a bit tamed. I also appreciate that we don't have to deal with an entire episode of Morgan keeping her tryst with Rhys a secret while sneaking around on her own investigation. The fact that she immediately tells Karadec the truth speaks volumes about their relationship development, and there are several instances throughout the rest of the episode where he returns the favor by showing genuine loyalty to Morgan. Perhaps a bit too much loyalty by the end? We'll discuss that when we get to it.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues. It seems highly unlikely that Rhys murdered Cyrus since Morgan gives him an alibi - which she can't share for obvious reasons - but someone did. When Wagner finally relents and allows Morgan to work the case, she and Karadec visit the late curator's partner, Emilio. There's a great use of Morgan's deductive talents here as she pieces together a few clues in his office that imply his guilt, and he certainly acts like a guy with something to hide. But this is, as expected, a red herring.
It probably won't come as much of a surprise that Linda and Greg Foster, the insufferable wealthy couple, faked the theft of their own painting to cash in on the insurance money. They paid Cyrus to steal it, but he got too greedy, so they had to kill him. They're eventually caught on their yacht, the brilliantly named *Easy Monet*, by Karadec and Wagner, but the original Rembrandt once again goes missing, stolen by a mysterious man in a wetsuit. None of this is particularly interesting on its own terms, but it's nice to see Morgan putting things together, Karadec and Wagner working together without the latter's ego getting in the way, and the eventual payoff with Morgan and Rhys.
In the realm of Morgan's relationships, her undeniable chemistry with Wagner continues to spark, especially as he's softened his stance and recognized her invaluable contribution to the team. However, Karadec's intense gaze as they flirt is intriguing. Is it a case of jealousy? Or is he concerned that Wagner might harbor ulterior motives? We'll have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, in "The One That Got Away: Part Two," we revisit Arthur, who's now in a precarious situation. He was recently attacked by a bearded man, seemingly trying to retrieve something from Roman's backpack. The incident left Arthur feeling endangered enough to call Morgan for a warning and even agree to meet Selena at the gym where he's taking refuge. The assailant appears to be the same man featured in the photo found in Roman's backpack. We even catch a glimpse of this same man spying on Morgan during her celebratory after-work drinks.
But what exactly did that man do to Arthur in the interim? That's the big question. Arthur was certainly being followed by him, and took the pursuit seriously enough to call Selena. However, when she attempts to reach him later, his phone is found on the ground next to his abandoned truck, from which he presumably has been abducted. The way these two core storylines are interwoven is effective after such a long hiatus, and while I imagine it'll take a few episodes of relative normality before the next major development, it's definitely something to look forward to.
