Scott Speedman is back as South Florida’s most unconventional private investigator. R.J. Decker returns for its second season on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Before the new chapter begins, here is everything that happened in Season 1 and what to expect from Season 2.
The ABC crime drama is inspired by author Carl Hiaasen’s 1987 novel Double Whammy. Season 1 premiered on March 3, 2026, and ran for nine episodes, ending on April 28, 2026 with the finale titled “Even Walls Fall Down.” The show set a five-year ratings record for ABC’s 10 p.m. time slot, drawing 3.69 million live viewers for its premiere and reaching over 15 million viewers across five weeks of multi-platform viewing.
What Happened in R.J. Decker Season 1
R.J. Decker is a former newspaper photographer who served 18 months in prison after attacking Lucas Ochoa, the son of a wealthy politician. Lucas had tried to steal R.J.’s camera, and R.J. reacted violently. The show revealed over the season that Lucas was ordered by his father, Victor Ochoa, to steal the camera because it contained photos linking Victor to a murder cover-up.
Emilia “Emi” Ochoa, Victor’s daughter, was the stranger who testified against R.J. in court. She lied on the stand and sent him to prison. The two later reconnected when Emi became a shadowy benefactor for R.J.’s private investigation work. Their relationship grew complicated as R.J. learned the truth about why she lied.
R.J. built a new life in South Florida with help from an unusual team. His ex-wife, Catherine Delacroix, a journalist, let him live in her pool house. Catherine is now married to Detective Melody “Mel” Abreu. R.J.’s former cellmate, Aloysius “Wish” Aiken, runs a bar and sent clients his way.
Through Season 1, R.J. solved several cases, including the murder of a man named Clem Crayshaw, who was investigating a health company, and the disappearance of a rehab businessman’s son. The bigger story was R.J.’s quest to prove he was framed.
The Truth Behind R.J.’s Camera
In the finale, Emi revealed that Victor ordered Lucas to steal the camera because it held photos from a murder scene. The victim was Jessica Laurent, an architect whose death was ruled a suicide. The photos showed a car belonging to Ray, Victor’s trusted helper, at the scene.
The team discovered that Bruce Vinkour, a business associate of Victor, killed Jessica in a moment of anger. She found a dangerous flaw in one of his building designs and planned to expose it. Bruce called Victor to clean up the mess, and Victor sent Ray to make it look like a suicide. Ray also stole Jessica’s work drive and gave it to Victor.
How Victor Ochoa Was Caught and Killed
Steven Crane, the former business partner of a murder victim named Peter Bellweather, confessed to hiring a killer to murder Peter years earlier. This confession helped reopen old case files. The evidence from the SD card, combined with Bruce’s confession, was enough to arrest Victor Ochoa.
The victory was short-lived. After R.J. and his friends celebrated at Wish’s bar, Victor was found floating face down in his own swimming pool, killed by an unknown person. Victor was released on bail before his death. R.J. and everyone close to him became suspects in the murder investigation.
“It raises the stakes for the character and the show itself. Again, the balance between the light and the darkness of our show, that’s really going to put R.J. … He’s going to be one of the number one suspects, and that whole group is going to be put into the spotlight.” — Scott Speedman told PEOPLE in April 2026
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What to Expect in R.J. Decker Season 2
Season 2 picks up with the fallout from Victor Ochoa’s death. The premiere episode is titled “The Point of Us Breaking.” According to ABC’s official description, a reunion with an old prison acquaintance pulls R.J. into a string of daring bank heists as the investigation into Victor’s murder deepens.
Emi turns to R.J. for help finding her father’s killer. The new season will feature more unusual cases, including a group of bank robbers who commit their crimes without wearing pants and thieves targeting people on the beach.
The trailer shows R.J. dodging a rocket launcher and searching for a severed hand in a cooler. Sasheer Zamata guest stars as FBI Special Agent Melinda Winwood, who shares a history with Mel. Dancing with the Stars pros Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy appear in the premiere, along with former Bachelor star Joey Graziadei in a scripted role as a thief caught on camera by R.J.
R.J. Decker Season 2 Cast and Release Info
Scott Speedman returns as R.J. Decker. The main cast includes:
- Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emilia “Emi” Ochoa
- Bevin Bru as Detective Melody “Mel” Abreu
- Kevin Rankin as Aloysius “Wish” Aiken
- Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix
David Zayas played Victor Ochoa in Season 1. His character’s death will be central to the new season’s mystery.
Season 2 premieres on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. New episodes will stream the next day on Hulu. For viewers outside the United States, the show streams on Disney+ in several regions, including Singapore, where Season 1 arrived on March 6, 2026. In the UK, Canada, and Australia, streaming availability may vary. Viewers in those regions can check Disney+ and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle access.
The show was renewed for a second season in May 2026. ABC confirmed the renewal after strong multi-platform viewership. The series was the last scripted ABC show awaiting word on its future, and its pickup meant ABC had zero cancellations for the 2026-27 season.
Also Read: RJ Decker Episode 4 Cast and Character Guide for ABC’s Crime Drama
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