If you grew up on a steady diet of classic detective fiction and watched TV shows where the flawed detective always wins, RJ Decker will seem familiar to you. The imperfect detective from the 1970s and 1980s seems to have returned to our screens, with money issues, an RV, and an ex-con tag he didn’t deserve (The Rockford Files); relying on friends for help and wearing loose Hawaiian shirts to feel free (Magnum PI); and helping law enforcement agencies despite their detestation of his barging in (Psych).
The nine-episode first season follows R.J. Decker (Scott Speedman), a disgraced newspaper photographer turned ex-con turned private eye who takes on cases ranging from slightly odd to outright bizarre in South Florida. With the help of his journalist ex (Adelaide Clemens), her police detective wife (Bevin Bru), and a mysterious woman from his past (Jaina Lee Ortiz), he tries to keep the city crime-free while staying out of prison himself.
Even though the first season has just nine episodes, it has been renewed for a second season for several reasons. First, it is a breezy, character-driven show that follows old-school storytelling. Second, it shows the lead character being given a second chance, which is exactly what made 80s TV shows look better and more engaging. Finally, the mystery behind the many terrible things that happened to him and his loved ones remains unsolved, and the audience wants the man responsible, as the characters do.
The difference
RJ Decker is not like other crime dramas that are really serious and dark; it is much easier to watch. Each episode centres on an investigation, but it does not rush through it. Like the protagonist’s laidback attitude, each episode takes its time so viewers can get to know the characters and the setting where the story unfolds. The sunny setting is almost a character in its own right, making the show feel more relaxed.
Created by Robert Doherty and inspired by Carl Hiaasen's novel Double Whammy, the best quality of the series is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The writers do a good job of making it both interesting and funny, and one should also commend actor Scott Speedman, who does exactly what is required of him. His character talks to people in a witty, funny way, and, like the other characters, the audience learns a lot about his personality as the series progresses.
Scott Speedman’s RJ Decker is very charming, and while that can be his gift, it is also his curse because most of the time, he ends up in trouble because of this charm. Unlike other TV detectives or private eyes, he makes mistakes, which adds to his relatability factor. The backstory about his wrongful arrest and the people behind it is as mysterious as the motive, and one hopes that it gets resolved in the next season, if there is one.
Pace-wise, it reminds me of the many TV shows that aired during the last twenty years. Like Monk, Psych, The Mentalist, and White Collar, it mixes mystery and comedy, and keeps the audience guessing till the last minute. While some episodes follow crimes considered too awkward for the police, others are more serious, which keeps the show from feeling repetitive. However, most of the plot feels like something you might have seen before, making the show predictable at times.
Another element that sets RJ Decker apart is its ability to maintain audience attention. It does not try to shock or overwhelm viewers; it simply invites them to watch. The stakes are real, but not so heavy that you have to wait for the kids to go to bed to watch the episodes. It is comfortable to watch and engaging; as for its charm, it lies in its familiarity, which it exudes in a stylish way.
Like Selleck’s Magnum PI?
For me, RJ Decker seems like a distant cousin to Magnum, P.I., the Tom Selleck version. Since Magnum was an investigator working in Hawaii during the 1980s and the novel on which RJ Decker is based was written around that time, the common vibes aren't that uncommon. Both are private investigators, both depend on their friends to bail them out, and both lead their shows with a carefree attitude that sets them apart.
Like Magnum, P.I., RJ Decker blends mystery, humour, and a sense of escapism unique to Hawaii in the 80s, now part of South Florida. Their cases are also on the same lines; their bank statements align, and their friends help them without ever receiving a thank you.
Another thing both shows have in common is their tone. Both shows use humour without making the cases they are solving seem important. Magnum, P.I. was known for its voice-overs, one-liners, and breaking the fourth wall, while RJ Decker has a similar sense of humor, though it is more subtle and directed at himself.
What sets them apart is that while Magnum drove a Ferrari (which wasn’t his), RJ drives a Jeep that definitely looks like his. While the former had luck with women, the latter remains a one-woman guy. Also, Magnum P.I. had a different story in every episode, while RJ Decker has stories that span several episodes, which makes it feel more modern and fresh.
That doesn’t mean the Magnum PI reboot, which aired for five seasons from 2018 to 2022, is forgettable; it just means that RJ Decker looks more attuned to Tom Selleck’s portrayal than Jay Hernandez’s.
Another season?
Why did the show get renewed after a nine-episode season, amongst a sea of TV shows that didn't? Well, it is one of those shows that grow on you, as Psych did, where everything was borrowed from other shows, yet the way it was presented made it unavoidable. The same thing can be said of RJ Decker, which is more or less like Psych, which had a brilliant run in two different stints.
You can also find elements of classic shows like White Collar and Burn Notice, where the lead character had to use his wits to stay alive and free, and where one wrong move could mean the end for both. These shows had a sense of place and a similar storytelling approach, which, when combined with action and adventure, won over viewers' hearts and minds.
Whether it's RJ Decker, Magnum P.I., White Collar, Psych, or Burn Notice, what ties these shows together is a philosophy: crime-solving need not be dark and serious to be compelling. They proved that audiences are as interested in characters as in mysteries. RJ Decker is following that tradition and should be renewed accordingly.
And if that doesn’t make you watch it, let me tell you something about the mysteries. There’s a case in which a rich man’s wife dies inside her exploding house while RJ is keeping tabs outside in his car, but it turns out she didn’t die! Similarly, in another episode, a family is threatened by an unknown enemy, but neither the husband nor the wife has any clue who is behind it. The mystery behind RJ’s incarceration is kept alive with hints in every episode, and while the season finale touches on the conclusion, the cliffhanger leaves viewers wanting more.
The only argument I have with modern cop shows is the producers’ reliance on a checklist, which might not help their series. Just as the reboot of Quantum Leap was cancelled after the second season, the forced insertion of a character who is either bisexual or identifies as a ‘they’ might not go down well with some viewers. I am sure that when the book Double Whammy was written, there was no binary or lesbian character in it, yet the producers thought it best to use such characters for no reason.
Besides that, there seems to be nothing wrong with the series. Each actor, from lead Scott Speedman to Jaina Lee Ortiz, Kevin Rankin, Adelaide Clemens, and Bevin Bru, does a commendable job in this midseason replacement. It would be a shame if the cliffhanger climax isn’t resolved, because each character has carved out a distinct identity, and it would be great to watch them take the series forward with better mysteries and funnier scenarios.
Besides that, there seems to be nothing wrong with the series. Each actor, from lead Scott Speedman to Jaina Lee Ortiz, Kevin Rankin, Adelaide Clemens, and Bevin Bru, does a commendable job in this midseason replacement. It would have been a shame if the cliffhanger climax hadn't been resolved, but since the show is returning for another season, that question will be answered. It is a great development because each character has carved out a distinct identity, and the audience will now get to spend more time with them, hopefully with better mysteries and funnier scenarios.
Call it the nostalgia factor or the relatability factor, RJ Decker is here to stay. It does not try to imitate its predecessors but emulates them in a way that, by the time you are through the series, you long for the very predecessors that made it feel so good. It combines the spirit of those shows and brings it to you, letting you see something simple without sacrificing depth. It reminds viewers that a good story, well told, is timeless. In doing so, it carves out its own identity while honoring the legacy of the shows that came before it.
The writer is a freelance contributor who writes about film, television and popular culture
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