Created by Rob Doherty.
R.J. Decker premiered on March 3, 2026.
Distributed by ABC.
R.J. Decker TV Series Review
R.J. Decker is a quirky crime drama that follows a disgraced photographer and ex-con as he rebuilds his life as a private investigator in South Florida.
The series mixes unusual cases, humor, personal relationships and a colorful Florida setting.
Scott Speedman gives the lead character a relaxed presence, while the supporting cast adds plenty of personality.
Season 1 introduces R.J. and his unusual circle as he takes on strange cases while dealing with unfinished business from his past.
The season builds toward Victor Ochoa’s murder and a major cliffhanger.
Season 2 continues with R.J. investigating new cases while the mystery surrounding Victor’s death remains central.
His complicated relationship with Emi also develops as the investigation creates new tension.
CR Rating: 8/10.
R.J. Decker Actors
Scott Speedman as R.J. Decker
DOB: September 1, 1975.
Bio: Canadian actor born in London, England, and raised in Toronto, Ontario, after his family moved there when he was four.
Before pursuing acting, he was a highly competitive swimmer and a member of the Canadian Junior National Swim Team, placing ninth at the 1992 Olympic trials.
Role: R.J. Decker is a disgraced former newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in South Florida.
After serving time in prison, he takes on unusual and often dangerous cases while trying to rebuild his life.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (12 eps).
Interesting facts: Speedman was a competitive swimmer during his youth and was part of a relay team that held the Canadian national record for the 400-meter medley.
Notable Works: Felicity, Animal Kingdom, Last Resort, Grey’s Anatomy, Underworld, The Strangers.
Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emilia “Emi” Ochoa
DOB: November 20, 1986.
Bio: Born Jessica Ortiz, is an American actress and dancer born at Fort Ord, California, and raised in The Bronx, New York.
She began taking salsa and mambo classes at age nine and was teaching and performing internationally as a professional dancer by her teens.
Role: Emilia “Emi” Ochoa has a complicated history with R.J. Decker.
She testified against him, helping send him to prison after an incident involving her stepbrother.
In the present, Emi works for her father, Victor Ochoa, a powerful figure involved in politics and real estate.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Ortiz began professional salsa and mambo dancing as a teenager and traveled internationally as an instructor and performer before concentrating on acting.
Notable Works: Rosewood, Station 19, Grey’s Anatomy, Shooter, The After, The Long Game.
Kevin Rankin as Aloysius “Wish” Aiken
DOB: April 18, 1976.
Bio: American actor and producer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
He has built a long television career playing characters ranging from law enforcement figures to criminals and complicated supporting personalities.
Role: Aloysius “Wish” Aiken is R.J. Decker’s former cellmate and one of his closest allies after his release from prison.
Wish owns a bar that serves as a regular meeting place and a useful source of information for R.J.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Rankin has been married to Jill Farley since 2010, and they have two children.
Notable Works: East New York, Breaking Bad, Justified, Unforgettable
Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix
DOB: November 30, 1989.
Bio: Australian actress born in Brisbane, Queensland.
She began her professional acting career in Australian television while still a teenager, appearing in productions including Love My Way and Blue Water High.
Role: Catherine Delacroix is R.J. Decker’s ex-wife and a journalist who remains connected to him after their marriage ends.
Her relationship with R.J. adds another layer to his complicated personal life as he attempts to rebuild his life and career as a private investigator.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Clemens began her television career in Australia while still in high school and received a Graham Kennedy Award nomination for her early television work in Love My Way.
Notable Works: Love My Way, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Parade’s End, Rectify, The Great Gatsby, Silent Hill: Revelation.
Bevin Bru as Detective Melody “Mel” Abreu
DOB: March 27, 1991.
Bio: Cuban American actress, writer and producer born and raised in Miami, Florida.
She developed an interest in acting at a young age before moving to New York City to study at AMDA and later relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her entertainment career.
Role: Detective Melody “Mel” Abreu is a police detective and Catherine Delacroix’s wife.
She is part of R.J. Decker’s close circle and often finds her professional responsibilities intersecting with R.J.’s private-investigation work.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Bru grew up with two mothers, an experience she has discussed as an influence on her commitment to authentic and inclusive storytelling.
Notable Works: Batwoman, Will Trent, Landman, The Rookie: Feds.
Mélodie Rose Romano as Sofia
DOB: N/A.
Bio: American actress who has been building her screen career through television and independent productions.
She is also credited in other recent productions, showing that she is developing her career across contemporary screen projects.
Role: Sofia is Mel Abreu’s daughter and Catherine Delacroix’s stepdaughter.
She is part of the family circle connecting Mel and Catherine and adds a personal dimension to their relationship.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (6 eps).
Interesting facts: N/A.
Notable Works: Mr. Manhattan, Bad Day.
David Zayas as Victor Ochoa
DOB: August 15, 1962.
Bio: Puerto Rican American actor and producer born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and raised in The Bronx, New York.
Before establishing his acting career, he served in the United States Air Force and later worked as a New York City police officer, including as a beat cop in Times Square.
Role: Victor Ochoa is Emi’s father and a powerful Florida state senator whose actions have major consequences for the story.
His political position gives him influence, but his personal and professional decisions create serious problems for his family and eventually place him directly within R.J.’s investigations.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (3 eps).
Interesting facts: Zayas is one of the few actors with actual professional experience as a police officer.
He worked as an NYPD beat cop in Times Square before pursuing acting full-time.
Notable Works: Dexter, Oz, The Night Agent, Shut Eye, The Expendables, Skyline.
Matthew Cornwell as Detective William “Bill” Ragsdale
DOB: July 31, 1985.
Bio: American actor, producer and editor born in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
He developed an interest in acting during high school and later pursued engineering, earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Role: Detective William “Bill” Ragsdale is a police detective whose work intersects with R.J. Decker’s private investigations.
His role represents the official law-enforcement side of cases that R.J. becomes involved in, sometimes placing the two approaches to investigation alongside each other.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (4 eps).
Interesting facts: Cornwell has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech.
He has also described himself as an introvert and has listed drawing, soccer and guitar among his interests.
Notable Works: Will Trent, Found, Outer Banks, Halt and Catch Fire.
Reinaldo Faberlle as Ray
DOB: November 22, 1977.
Bio: American actor, writer and musician born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, and raised in Northern Virginia.
He has built a screen career through film and television roles, appearing in crime, drama, action and science-fiction productions.
Role: Ray is a supporting character connected to the criminal and investigative world surrounding R.J. Decker.
His appearances add another layer to the cases R.J. handles and help expand the network of people involved in the series’ South Florida storylines.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (3 eps).
Interesting facts: Faberlle was a highly ranked swimmer during his school years and graduated from high school as the second-fastest sprinter in the country.
Notable Works: Ozark, Ordinary Joe, Raising Dion, Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad, Mayor of Kingstown.
Stephen Bishop as Bruce Vinkour
DOB: September 14, 1970.
Bio: American actor and former professional baseball player born in Chicago, Illinois.
He attended the University of California, Riverside, where he played baseball on an athletic scholarship before pursuing a professional baseball career.
Role: Bruce Vinkour is a supporting character whose connection to the larger story places him among the people surrounding R.J.’s investigations.
His appearances contribute to the wider network of characters and cases that develop beyond the central Decker family relationships.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (2 eps).
Interesting facts: Bishop played professional baseball before becoming an actor.
He attended UC Riverside on a baseball scholarship and was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 1993 MLB Draft.
Notable Works: Being Mary Jane, Run the World, Imposters, Lost.
Maximo Salas as Lucas Ochoa
DOB: November 21, 2001.
Bio: American actor from Dallas, Texas who began developing an interest in acting at a young age.
He devoted much of his adolescence to developing his craft and has steadily built television experience through guest and supporting roles.
Role: Lucas Ochoa is part of the Ochoa family and becomes important to the personal storyline surrounding Emi and Victor.
His connection to R.J. is particularly significant because events involving Lucas contribute to the mystery surrounding R.J.’s past and the circumstances that eventually bring the Ochoa family conflict to a head.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (2 eps).
Interesting facts: Salas grew up in Dallas, Texas, and says he developed a passion for acting at a young age.
Notable Works: Rooster, The Runarounds, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, FBI: Most Wanted.
Anthony B. Jenkins as Darius
DOB: N/A.
Bio: American actor who began working professionally at a young age.
He gained early attention for his role as Sam in the 2024 psychological horror film Never Let Go, in which he starred alongside Halle Berry and Percy Daggs IV.
Role: Darius is a supporting character who appears within the series’ wider collection of cases and personal storylines.
His connection to the characters around R.J. helps flesh out the South Florida world in which the private investigator operates.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (2 eps).
Interesting facts: Jenkins was still a student when his early acting work began receiving attention.
Notable Works: Never Let Go, The Pitt, Stranger Things.
More Actors
• Rizwan Manji as Alan.
• Dawnn Lewis as Officer Penmar.
• Tamera Mowry-Housley as Louise Vernon.
• Michelle DeShon as Kelly-Lynn.
FAQ – R.J. Decker TV Series
What is R.J. Decker about?
R.J. Decker follows a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts a new life as a private investigator in South Florida. His cases range from unusual mysteries to dangerous criminal investigations.
Is R.J. Decker based on a book?
Yes. The series is inspired by Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy.
Is R.J. Decker a comedy or crime drama?
It is primarily a crime drama/procedural with comedic and quirky elements. ABC describes it as a story about unusual cases in the crime-filled world of South Florida.
How many seasons of R.J. Decker are there?
There are currently two seasons. Season 2 premiered on September 15, 2026.
Where can I watch R.J. Decker?
New episodes air on ABC and stream the following day on Hulu. Season 1 is also available on Hulu.
Conclusion
R.J. Decker combines crime, mystery and humor into an entertaining detective drama.
With Scott Speedman leading a colorful cast, the series delivers unusual cases, personal conflicts and plenty of South Florida atmosphere.