'R.J. Decker' Review, Scott Speedman's Performance Makes This Familiar ABC Show A Must-Watch

ABC crime drama series, R.J. Decker, is out now. The pilot episode of the show arrived on March 3, 2026, and three more are scheduled to arrive in the upcoming three weeks. For the unversed, the new series is an adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s novel, Double Whammy, which was published back in 1987. The basic premise of the book focuses on an investigator who is tasked with exposing the real face of a bass fisherman, following which he gets dragged into a murder setup.

The pilot episode of R.J. Decker was released around eight months after the show started filming in July 2025. The premiere date was confirmed in January 2026, and it was among the shows that were a part of Tuesday night’s lineup, including Will Trent and High Potential. These particular shows will be streaming on Hulu the day after their premiere on ABC. Despite having a familiar storyline, R.J. Decker provides an entertaining experience for a few things. Keep reading to know more.

R.J. Decker works due to the new presentation of a routine storyline

R.J. Decker does not provide anything new when it comes to the premise. However, the circumstances surrounding the lead character, 'R.J.,' played by Scott Speedman, feel new due to the fresh presentation. This is the one particular thing that works in favour of the show, making viewers curious to know what happens next and wait for the upcoming episodes. Notably, the main character becomes a private investigator after serving his time in prison. But the cases that he gets involved with are very weird.

The show becomes interesting with the discovery of a dead woman in the trunk of a car. The reason behind the same is the resemblance of the case to the death of another woman, and it turns out to be 'R.J.’s' ex-wife. In this situation, the character takes the usual path of extracting information, including getting in touch with the person his wife is currently married to, aiming to resolve the case. Things are easy here because the woman is a detective, and a little bit hard because the woman does not like 'R.J.'

Scott Speedman’s character easily makes a connection with the viewers due to his ongoing situation

As mentioned, Scott Speedman portrays the lead character, 'R.J.,' in R.J. Decker. The makers establish the situation of the character in the beginning, which makes it easy for viewers to connect with him. He has been a photojournalist and is aiming to get adjusted to a world that has changed a little while he was in prison. 'R.J.' is facing financial problems at the same time. These issues are common for anyone who has been a victim of similar situations in the real world. The makers have added a few of them in the show as we witness 'R.J.' being unable to pay his rent and his RV near a sinkhole.

On the other hand, 'R.J.' is spotted trying to avoid the past, and the circumstances for which he was sent to prison remain hidden. 'R.J.' remains the same despite being poked by his former cellmate, 'Aloysius 'Wish' Aiken.' The makers also ensure to bring the troubles of 'R.J.’s' relationships on screen and the possible fate of those bonds in the future by introducing certain characters who can create complications.

Scott Speedman’s charming performance is the major highlight of R.J. Decker

Scott Speedman’s character in R.J. Decker is something that has been featured in many other shows of a similar theme. But Scott Speedman’s screen presence works here, with his charm specifically leaving an impact. The tone of the show specifically helps here. The makers do not take the dark path, balancing comedy and drama, which also lets Scott Speedman give his best on screen. Among the other characters, Bevin Bru leaves an impression as 'Melody 'Mel Abreu,' who is married to 'R.J.’s' ex-wife, 'Catherine Delacroix,' played by Adelaide Clemens.

Have you watched R.J. Decker on ABC yet? Let us know your opinion about the new show.

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