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R.J. Decker Review: Scott Speedman Leads ABC’s Fun, Offbeat Florida P.I. Series
- Damian Ali
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Scott Speedman in R.J. Decker. Courtesy of Disney/Dana Hawley.
Based only on the first episode, this R.J. Decker review finds a lot to like about the ABC action-crime drama starring Scott Speedman as a disgraced newspaper photographer, and ex-con turned private investigator in South Florida. And with the success of shows like Will Trent and High Potential, it makes sense to roll the dice on another crime drama, but this series has a much lighter tone with a fun premise.
Instead of leaning into gritty crime drama, R.J. Decker plays its mysteries with a slightly offbeat energy that feels closer to a beachside caper than a traditional procedural.
Written by Rob Doherty (Elementary) and inspired by Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy, the story smartly starts off with something viewers can’t ignore, and that’s a train wreck: Decker’s current situation as he faces trial for assaulting the son of a state senator. What worked in the first episode was how quickly we’re able to move through Decker’s backstory while he works on an unsolved case that started him on his P.I. journey.
In the case of R.J. Decker, he isn't just a messy detective. He’s a disgraced professional who has been “chewed up and spit out” by the system. He wears the classic tropical uniform, but with a layer of salt-stained grit that suggests he’s been living out of his car rather than a guest house. What Scott Speedman brings to this role is vulnerability. He doesn't just look messy. He looks hurt. After catching a glimpse of his life, you want to root for him to get it back together, especially when he’s sitting in a sinkhole looking for clues.
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(L to R): Bevin Bru, Adelaide Clemens, Scott Speedman, Kevin Rankin, Jaina Lee Ortiz in R.J. Decker. Courtesy of Disney/Justin Stephens.
Alongside Speedman, the series stars Jaina Lee Ortiz (Station 19) as Emilia “Emi” Ochoa, whose character is hard to read, and you get the feeling she is hiding something. The vibe between Ortiz and Speedman was fun, but it’s not yet clear which one will be the sensible one.
Bevin Bru (Batwoman) plays the by-the-book Detective Melody “Mel” Abreu, who is married to Decker’s ex-wife. Thankfully, the show avoids dragging out the usual detective-versus-P.I. trope. There’s a little back-and-forth tension, but it stays light and lets the story move forward.
Decker’s ex-wife, Catherine Delacroix, is played by Adelaide Clemens (Justified: City Primeval), a journalist who still supports her former husband. Rounding out Decker’s support system is Kevin Rankin (Justified) as Aloysius “Wish” Aiken, who credits the P.I. with helping him turn his life around. You don’t get a full dive into everyone’s history, but there’s enough in the first episode to spark curiosity.
R.J. Decker has a fun cast and the perfect backdrop for solving cases. The series feels like a blend of Magnum P.I., with its sun-soaked private investigator setting, and Burn Notice, with a disgraced professional trying to help the little guy while navigating a colorful local underworld. If the chemistry between the characters continues to build, there may even be a little Moonlighting in the mix in the episodes ahead.
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