ABC has turned Tuesday nights into a crime scene, and viewers can’t look away.
ABC currently has three of the biggest crime dramas on television right now, thanks to the strong performances in Will Trent, High Potential, and The Rookie. All three series gained steady ratings with their first outings of 2026 and dominated the network’s midseason premiere week, signaling that ABC’s programming strategy is paying off.
Originally airing back-to-back on Tuesday nights, the trio benefited from strong audience flow and consistent viewer engagement. Even after The Rookie shifted to Monday nights, all three series have maintained impressive momentum.
So, what are these shows, and what’s the secret behind ABC’s winning formula?
Will Trent
Now entering its fourth season, Will Trent follows the incredibly observant Special Agent Trent, played by Ramón Rodríguez, who is a top investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Raised in the Atlanta foster care system and placed in a series of abusive homes, Will’s deep sense of justice fuels his career, making him the agent with the highest clearance rate in the GBI.
Will’s GBI cases often overlap with the Atlanta Police Department, reuniting him with APD detective Angie Polaski, his on-again, off-again lover who he grew up with in the foster care system. And of course, there’s Betty, his adorable Chihuahua, who steals every scene she is in.
Despite a challenge that often plagues long-running television series, Will Trent has continued to grow stronger with each passing season. While many shows gradually lose viewers as storylines shift or new characters are introduced, Will Trent has steadily attracted a larger audience. According to Screen Rant, Season 3 averaged 4.62 million viewers, an increase from Season 2’s 4.3 million and Season 1’s 3.058 million. The outlet also noted that those totals were “even higher when factoring in Live+7 playback.” Although Season 4 is still underway, the upward trajectory appears to be continuing, with viewership numbers climbing yet again.
High Potential
In its second season, High Potential, based on the 2021 French and Belgian television series HPI, has quickly become one of ABC’s breakout hits. The series stars Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory, a single mother of three living in Los Angeles.
Originally working as a cleaner at the police department, Morgan’s keen observation helps solve a case, launching her new role as a consultant for the LAPD. However, her abilities go far beyond keen instincts. With an IQ of 160, Morgan qualifies as a high-potential intellectual (HPI) and possesses both a photographic and encyclopedic memory. With her unique memory and unconventional way of analyzing evidence, she often sees patterns others miss. She’s partnered with Detective Adam Karadec, played by Daniel Sunjata, whose structured approach contrasts to her very irregular and at times chaotic analysis of crime scenes and people of interest.
Ratings-wise, High Potential has been especially impressive. This season, the series has been thriving in its new earlier 9/8c time slot, drawing 12.33 million viewers, a roughly 3% increase, surpassing both its fall season average and its fall finale audience of 11.52 million. In the Fall, Variety reported that High Potential was “the first time a 10 p.m. drama has topped the entertainment rankings since the 1999-2000 season, when NBC’s “ER” last accomplished that feat.”
The Rookie
Now in its eighth season, The Rookie continues to entertain viewers. The series stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, a middle-aged, newly divorced man who decides to pursue a new dream of moving to Los Angeles and becoming an officer in the LAPD after helping police during a bank robbery. As a 40-year-old rookie, the oldest in the training program, Nolan initially struggles to prove himself and adjust to his new life. Over the years, however, he and his fellow officers have climbed the ranks and become a family after enduring kidnappings, serial killers, breakups, career changes, and life-altering trauma together.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to Deadline, the Season 8 premiere delivered the biggest streaming debut in the series’ history and “ranks in the top five ABC premieres of all time on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.” Yahoo Entertainment also reported that, per Nielsen data, the premiere drew 9.35 million viewers, its strongest performance among total viewers and adults 18–49 since its Season 2 premiere.
Why are these three series performing so well?
Across the board, all three crime dramas are seeing positive ratings and growing viewership. So what’s ABC doing right? The network has capitalized on strategic scheduling, strong social media engagement, and a focus on strong character-driven procedurals, but more than anything, it’s the compelling storytelling and standout performances that are fueling the shows’ continued success.
High Potential’s most recent episode was arguably one of the best of the entire series, featuring incredible performances from Olson and Sunjata.
In the episode, Morgan and Karadec find themselves trapped in a room inside a victim’s home. With no clear escape and something coming through the vents, Morgan becomes convinced she won’t make it out alive. As panic sets in, she spirals into a full-blown panic attack—overthinking, crying, trying to rationalize the situation, and fearing her children may have to grow up without their mother. It’s a raw, truly emotional moment.
Karadec doesn’t dismiss her fear or try to silence her. Instead, he simply holds her and offers quiet comfort until the door finally opens. The acting in this scene is phenomenal. You can feel every ounce of fear, desperation, and tenderness.
The moment also adds fuel to the already hinted-at future romance between them. Later in the episode, Karadec is shown repeatedly glancing at Morgan. No dialogue is necessary, just powerful nonverbal acting.
Representation Matters
One of the most meaningful aspects of storytelling is the representation of diverse characters and storylines. All three of these shows include people of color and women in positions of power. While some roles may be the result of colorblind casting, seeing characters like Amanda as GBI Deputy Director in Will Trent and Selena as Major Crimes’ Lieutenant in High Potential is so important to little Black and Latina girls watching.
But there are so many other important characters and backstories, such as Will Trent’s Puerto Rican heritage and the show’s inclusion of an Asian nonbinary character who is seamlessly and respectfully referred to using they/them pronouns. In The Rookie, Lucy, Nyla, and Angela, characters who have been part of the series since its early seasons, all rise into positions of leadership. As an Asian woman, a Black woman, and a Latina woman, their characters openly address how race and gender shape their experiences.
While these shows may not always deliver perfect representation or flawless storylines, they make an effort to confront difficult topics. For example, The Rookie explored a storyline involving a white officer who deliberately policed and targeted communities of color, while his Black rookie grappled with the realities of racism within law enforcement. Similarly, before its cancellation, ABC’s Station 19 didn’t shy away from tackling heavy themes alongside its representation of women, POC, and queer people in leadership roles, something that truly matters to viewers.
They’re just fun!
These shows are simply fun and entertaining to watch. They skillfully balance heavy subject matter with humor and heart, giving audiences both the painful and joyful moments of the characters’ lives. That emotional range and depth are what make the connection feel so real.
Off-screen, the casts seem to enjoy working together just as much. You’ve probably come across a TikTok of The Rookie cast members dancing or taking part in goofy trends on set. Social media plays a significant role in the growth of television today, helping audiences form deeper attachments to the actors.
If you haven’t started any of these series yet, this might be the perfect time. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself completely hooked after the first episode.
Will Trent, High Potential, and The Rookie are available to stream on Hulu.
