The long wait for fans is finally over. Morgane Alvaro is back on La Une on May 12, 2025, and TF1 on May 15, 2025, in the fifth and final season of HPI (Haut Potentiel Intellectuel), which promises to be as explosive and moving as ever, filled with nods to existing series. Led by the incomparable Audrey Fleurot, whose number one hobby is finding outrageous outfits for her character, the red-haired heroine, an ex-cleaning lady with an extraordinary IQ but a questionable sense of protocol, returns more determined than ever to help the Lille police brigade solve cases while creating chaos.
This final season, described as a "firework display," will see Morgane finally find answers to her role within the police. Additionally, she will rediscover the joys of motherhood alongside Karadec, the father of her baby, who is also her colleague and roommate. This situation is not easy to manage. "We asked ourselves a lot of questions about the child. We didn’t want to frustrate viewers. But we think the directors' idea is brilliant. Morgane and Karadec are co-parents, but there’s no love story that goes with it. It’s funny to see them in co-parenting," explained Audrey Fleurot during an interview at the Séries Mania festival in Lille.
This baby will completely reverse their roles. "Morgane already has four children. She’s very experienced and versatile. For him, it’s his first. She has always shown up at crime scenes with her kids. She has always been a burden for Karadec because she has always been in childcare troubles. Now, the roles will reverse. It’s Morgane who will push Karadec to cut the cord," the actress added before passing the mic to her on-screen partner, Mehdi Nebbou.
"Karadec has always been rigid and hypochondriac. He is also with his child. I find it funny to see him completely overwhelmed and panicked. He can’t even leave his son at daycare. It’s comical. Plus, there’s this chaos that has settled in his home with Morgane’s children. He doesn’t know how to react to this tornado. One thing is for sure: his priorities are no longer the same," Nebbou shared.
This cohabitation will lead to an intimacy that had not existed until now. "In fact, we will realize that these two people are more in love than in any of the other seasons, even if they try to hide it," Nebbou explained, delighted. "I find it funny that Morgane and Karadec finally let loose!"
Wrapping up HPI is no simple task. "It’s very hard to live up to expectations," said Fleurot. "We are putting an end to something that will inevitably hurt us and the viewers. It’s very complicated to close something without being disappointing. So, we will try to end without completely doing so. We cut, yet we give hope." For all the actors, saying goodbye to HPI will be heart-wrenching. "We wanted this, so now we have to be coherent. But it’s going to be tough," Fleurot admitted. "Personally, I’ve had the chance to play in long-running series, so I know a bit about that. The end of Engrenages was very important to me, and that of Le Village français was very moving. But these are not series that I carried as much as HPI. I’m not a nostalgic person; I’m more eager to see what happens next. But I’m aware that this place of freedom and closeness with Morgane’s character, I might never find it again. Other adventures await me, but I think this was the role of my life."
According to the actress, there has truly been a before and after HPI for her. "I owe a lot to Morgane, who owes me a lot too. This character has given me a confidence I didn’t have." What she is "most proud" of is "the place HPI has taken in people’s lives. HPI represents a real turning point. I see Morgane in advertisements today. She has become a pop culture character. That’s a success!"
Since its launch in 2021, HPI has become a television phenomenon, achieving exceptional audiences of 9 million viewers in France (11.5 million for the first season). The series has crossed borders, captivating other countries with remakes already produced or in development in Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Portugal, and even the United States. The US version, High Potential, which is less quirky than HPI, is currently airing on Disney+ featuring Kaitlin Olson.
When asked about this remake, Fleurot admitted to being a bit disappointed. "Often, when Americans adapt, they do so very freely. The original object is often very far away. So, I was curious to see how they would reinterpret things and whether they would raise or lower the bar. I was very surprised to see how much they had done shot for shot and stuck to our version. From there, it’s not very interesting for us because there’s no new perspective. Let’s just say it’s more politically correct, so it becomes a police series. It’s less daring and less edgy than what we’ve done."
As the series nears its conclusion, fans are left wondering: will Morgane and Karadec finally become a couple? The answer remains uncertain, as the production team hints at surprises ahead. "Of course, we give the public what they expect, but we will also try to surprise them," producer Anthony Lancret explained at Séries Mania. Similarly, Alice Chegaray-Breugnot, the collection director, noted that the last episode is still being written, and they aim for an ending that is coherent with the characters' journeys.
Fleurot expressed the challenge of closing the series without disappointing the audience, emphasizing the desire to offer hope. Meanwhile, Nebbou seemed more ambivalent about the potential couple's future. "I like to be surprised. The more surprising it is, the more I’ll find it great," he stated. Marie Denarnaud, playing Céline, was more direct in her thoughts. "What I’ve always loved about the series is its refusal of norms and Morgane’s extremely politically incorrect, unruly side. I don’t think they should be framed too much in a norm," she declared. So, will Morgane and Karadec be together? The bets are open!
