No way that’s the end of The Game Maker, right?
So much came to a head during High Potential Season 2 Episode 2, as they wrapped up one large story arc faster than I anticipated, while broadening the mystery of another: WHAT is going on with Roman?
Nevertheless, the hour was intense and satisfying.
Should the Game Maker Have Carried on the Cat and Mouse Game Longer?
It may be because David Giuntoli has completely enthralled me in this role, and every scene with Morgan and Matthew, a.k.a. The Game Maker, had me leaning forward and holding my breath, but is it too soon to resolve this?
I anticipated the series wrapping things up with Maya. And I loved what contributed to Matthew tipping Morgan off in the first place.
However, they didn’t have anything to pin on him, and he had spent a great deal of time staying one step ahead of everyone.
He’s not the type of character you wrap up with a bow, even if they can get some mileage out of him sitting in prison and homing in on Morgan from behind bars.
It feels like things were getting interesting with him, and that their “game” could’ve gone on a bit longer with him serving as someone untouchable.
I Love a Villain with Sass and Heart
Matthew was such a fun villain because he genuinely took pleasure in Morgan’s intelligence. His little messages to her were entertaining, and I appreciate the guy’s flair for the dramatic.
His primary game amounted to that of Chicken, and there was a fascinating respect and reverence he had for Morgan that made things interesting.
Can you imagine him also being the sort who’d be weirdly protective of her? I can. And while nothing compelling comes from those types of dynamics in real life, they’re certainly fascinating to watch onscreen.
Taunting her throughout the interrogation and talking about his misdeeds in person were all great moments for Matthew. But among my favorites was when he took the time to process her and Maya’s positions as mothers, rather than his own as a son.
There’s no doubt that his sympathy for Morgan, as she surrendered the game and exposed her vulnerability as a mother who wants her children to be safe, is what prompted him to tip her off about Maya’s location.
In the end, he wouldn’t want to be responsible for children losing their mother. It’s the sticking point for him that fueled his motivation and drove him to do what he did.
And his only real issue with Jason was what he represented as an aloof, self-absorbed, wealthy man who Matthew felt looked down on the little people.
With a working-class mother who had her life ruined by a theft accusation, Matthew didn’t have much love for the criminal justice system or the wealthy. He felt everyone involved in those institutions had failed his mother.
Matthew’s War Against the Rich Using the Poor? Ahh, Logic!
A baddie railing against the rich isn’t anything new, but I actually felt bad for this man and found him interesting because of these motivations.
What was so unusual about Matthew was how he always took for granted that the things he implemented wouldn’t result in deaths at his hand. He could never anticipate and guarantee that Oz wouldn’t drown in that pool, or that Morgan and Karadec (or anyone else) wouldn’t be in that car that blew up.
Nothing about his games and plans was foolproof. Matthew tried to convince himself that his cause was noble and that he always had control over everything, but that’s not the case.
Nevertheless, for a man who stayed steps ahead of them for so long, it’s surprising that what amounts to an affection for Morgan is what resulted in his takedown.
Given that she said he wouldn’t comply with an arrest and he’d rather take himself out, the fact that he fell off the balcony and landed on the air cushion wasn’t entirely surprising.
Morgan took a bit of a risk going to his house alone the first time, but there was no way she’d repeat that mistake, especially when confronting him.
But it makes me wonder what’s next for The Game Maker? Will we find out that he’s trying to take his life in prison? Or will he orchestrate a plan of escape or use his time to still indulge in games with Morgan?
Matthew isn’t dead, and as long as he’s alive, there are still stories to mine from his existence in the narrative. I’m eager to see how the character could resurface in some way.
Can the Real Roman Sinquerra Please Stand Up?
I guess “Roman” wasn’t Roman after all!
Admittedly, I didn’t see that one coming, but it’s an exciting development, as we still have this delicious mystery of where the real Roman is and what he’s running from.
Unsurprisingly, cops showing up to ask questions didn’t produce the desired effects, even though it was Daphne and Oz, and they’re friends with Morgan.
Arthur’s comments imply that Roman is on the run from law enforcement, but not necessarily because of his own misdeeds, but likely because of some of theirs.
It sounds like Roman is in over his head, and that’s why Morgan is the only person he feels he can trust.
But we aren’t closer to a reunion yet because he’s unsure about her relationship with the police, so Arthur is the perfect buffer until we get the real Roman coming out of hiding.
Roman was an informant for the Feds, that much we know, but I’m curious about what he was investigating and what he discovered.
His lack of trust in any form of law enforcement suggests that he may have known something that specifically involved them, and his being on the run is a much bigger issue.
I don’t know how he can move past that enough to reunite with Morgan and Ava. Ava is such an intuitive young woman, and I’m excited for her to get some closure with her father.
For a bit, it has felt like Morgan was trying to keep things from her to protect her. However, she has been more open lately. Now, I’d like to know if she’ll get into details about Arthur, especially since Ava asked about him.
Fleeting Thoughts
- I love how Elliot’s arcs are often utilized to show how tough it is to navigate HPI — Morgan is always so worried about him experiencing half of the things that she had to endure, and that’s so heartbreaking.
- Elliot’s rap was the cutest! Somebody better sit with him at his table, dammit!
- Morgan lashing out at Karadec for his interrogation methods cracked me up.
- Maya talking Derek down when he was about to shoot Jason tugged at my heartstrings. But, oof, that poor woman was held in captivity and STILL had to take care of an emotional man.
- I’m so happy Oz was the one who got to cuff Matthew—well-deserved collar.
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