Compare and Contrast High Potential Versions

[shapeshifter]

Compare and contrast High Potential with the original, French-language version, HIP: Haut potentiel intellectuel, currently available on Hulu for streaming through season 4: 
hulu.com/series/hip-high-intellectual-potential-ff569a53-672c-488f-82ec-59b7b0eb886b
You can watch with either subtitles or dubbing.

There are more adaptations in other languages too: wikipedia.org/wiki/HPI_(TV_series)#International_adaptations

This thread can be a place to compare and contrast any of the different versions of the series. 

Since this is just one thread for the entire, already aired series, there will be spoilers. 

IMDb has detailed descriptions of the French episodes: imdb.com/title/tt14060708/episodes
and (currently) briefer descriptions of the more recent English-language episodes: imdb.com/title/tt26748649/episodes

Wikipedia has more detailed synopses of the English-language adaptation episodes: wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Potential#Episodes

 

Through at least March 5, feel free to message me about anything that should be added or subtracted from this top post.
After that, probably contact a moderator?

Edited February 24 by shapeshifter

[Percysowner]

I did try to watch the first episode of HPI and was unimpressed. The Pilot for High Potential is virtually a word for word remake of the first HPI episode. The version on Hulu is dubbed and I found the characters to be less interesting than the ones in High Potential, but I don't know if that was due to the actors or the dubbing. I thought the character of Karadec was so unemotive as to be wooden, but again, was that what the show wanted? Or did the dubbing fail? I did appreciate that the French version was willing to cast characters who are not all gorgeous. For example the sister who is involved in the crime was not terribly attractive, not young and looked like someone who could be conned by a good looking, rich, and powerful man. I got more of the feeling that she was being used, instead of an active participant.

I didn't go any further in watching the French version, so I can't speak to subsequent episodes. I know this is the original version and has a good premise. Perhaps if I hadn't seen the American version I would have been impressed, but it just didn't catch me.

Edited February 24 by Percysowner

[Irlandesa]

1 minute ago, Percysowner said:

I did try to watch the first episode of HPI and was unimpressed. The Pilot for High Potential is virtually a word for word remake of the first HPI episode. The version on Hulu is dubbed and I found the characters to be less interesting than the ones in High Potential, but I don't know if that was due to the actors or the dubbing.

Hulu has a dubbed version and a subtitled version.  Unlike Amazon or Netflix where you can select the audio language and the subtitle language all in the same show area, Hulu separates out its subtitled version and the dubbed version so the version you get will depend on which "HPI" you choose. 

Otherwise, I also had a hard time with how similar the shows were.  It came out on Hulu around the same time the ABC version started and I decided to go with the ABC version.  Maybe I'll go back to the French version but I prefer other French mystery shows.

[LisaM]

I am on the 5th or 6th episode of Season 1 of the French version (with subtitles). I watch a lot of French mysteries and generally like them. I am not sure whether I would still be watching HIP if I had not watched the entire US version first. Part of my enjoyment is comparing the two series and seeing where the storylines diverge. 

I was surprised to see the the US version literally copied almost everything about the French version - including the names of most of the children, the opening theme music and the facial hair on Karadec. The biggest difference (so far) is the character of Morgan. I prefer the US actress and character; the French character is a bit too annoying for me. I also prefer Oz to Gilles, the French detective who works with Karadec and is portrayed as a bit of a goofball. 

[LizBug]

I'm currently watching the French version (after watching all episodes of the US version).  Discovered that ... if you choose to watch it in French with English subtitles, it's much more interesting than if you choose the dubbed version.  Seems the dubbed (voice over) version actors are really bland when reading their lines; they're almost emotionless.  The French w/English subtitles gives a much more vivid portrayal of the characters even if you're reading the lines.  You can catch subtleties in the interactions that aren't available in the dubbed version.

That said, I also noticed a shift in how Morgane is portrayed after the first few episodes.  During the pilot and maybe through episode 3, she was really covered up in layers of clothing.  Maybe it was because those episodes were filmed in colder weather.  But ... beginning about episode 4, she started wearing tighter clothing, shorter skirts, shorts ... and her character became more playful.

And, although the initial storylines of the US version copied almost directly from the French, that stopped about episode 5.  The French version is dealing with subjects that might be hard to get past the US censors ... i.e., murder to harvest body parts, son killing father because father is gay, etc.     

[shapeshifter]

4 hours ago, LizBug said:

I'm currently watching the French version (after watching all episodes of the US version).  Discovered that ... if you choose to watch it in French with English subtitles, it's much more interesting than if you choose the dubbed version.  Seems the dubbed (voice over) version actors are really bland when reading their lines; they're almost emotionless.  The French w/English subtitles gives a much more vivid portrayal of the characters even if you're reading the lines.  You can catch subtleties in the interactions that aren't available in the dubbed version.

Yes! 
I watched a French-language series a few years ago with just English subtitles and appreciated being able to hear the actors' inflections, plus it made me feel like I was brushing up on my French, LOL. 
Unfortunately, either Hulu only had the dubbed version at first, or I just couldn't find the version with subtitles at the time, so I watched the first 3 seasons with dubbing.
Now I'm trying to decide which way to watch season 4. 
Based on your post, @LizBug, I think I'll give the subtitles a try.

[shapeshifter]

I finally watched 4.1 with subtitles, and did prefer it to the near-monotone dubbing. Plus, I enjoy catching the French words that are recognizable to me, which are often not translated as I would have. Interesting. 

Morgane seemed more likeable, but I don't know if it was hearing her voice or if the character was reworked for the 4th season?
Assuming it was her voice that made her more likable, that is a serious reason to watch with subtitles instead of dubbing. 

However, I no longer have a functioning iPad, so I watched on my phone. 
I think for the next episode, I'll watch on my laptop.
The small TV in the bedroom is too far away to read when they talk that fast in another language.
The ginormous TV in the living room that used to be in my pre-son-in-law's bachelor pad has legible captioning from across the room, but it's so wide of a line of type that it's hard to follow. IDK. I might try it. 

There were 6 commercial breaks during the one episode on Hulu, with 2 commercials per break. That seems excessive, even to me, and I don't mind commercial breaks in general.

[shapeshifter]

I’m watching 4:5 “Cold Shoulder” with subtitles — Karadec’s voice is deeper; all are more pleasant.
In the first crime-scene scene, Morgane gives an overly detailed explanation of why the distribution of marbles/balls on the floor indicates they were placed there on purpose to make it look like an accident.
But to illustrate and prove her explanation, she dumps another container of identical balls/marbles on top of the original, staged balls, thereby making it virtually impossible to prove any fingerprints on the balls belong to the killer.🤷‍♀️