By Published May 8, 2026, 12:16 PM EDT Adam Bentz is a senior news writer at ScreenRant, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and lists. He studied creative writing and English with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University and interned as a writer/journalist for The Borgen Project, an influential organization that fights global poverty.
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ABC just closed the case on season 2 – and the verdict is officially in.
premiered on March 3 and aired for only nine episodes, relatively few for a network show since it was introduced as a late mid-season replacement, rather than a fall series. The season 1 finale aired on April 28, leaving the show's fate hanging in the balance.
Now, announced on X, has officially been renewed for season 2. The post reads, "Get your flip flops and your lawn flamingos ready because #RJDecker will be returning for season 2! 🦩" accompanied by a short video of a lawn flamingo floating in a pool:
According to Nielsen data, the series premiere has drawn 15.2 million viewers in total across 35 days of multiplatform viewing. Across its first eight episodes, R.J. Decker has also averaged about 3.2 million viewers on ABC in the United States, per Programming Insider.
With this renewal, ABC has now locked in its full primetime scripted slate for the 2026–2027 season. Earlier pickups include dramas 9-1-1, 9-1-1 Nashville, The Rookie, Grey's Anatomy, High Potential, and Will Trent, along with comedies Scrubs, Abbott Elementary, and Shifting Gears.
Created by Robert Doherty, based on the 1987 novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen, ABC's crime drama as the titular R.J. Decker, a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in the quirky yet crime-ridden world of South Florida, taking on cases ranging from unusual to downright strange.
The cast also includes Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emi, a woman whose corrupt state-senator father ordered her to put R.J. behind bars, Kevin Rankin as Wish, R.J.'s former cellmate and a current bar owner, Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix, R.J.'s journalist ex-wife, Bevin Bru as Mel, Catherine's current wife and a detective at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Mélodie Rose Romano stars in a recurring role as Sofia, Mel's daughter and Catherine's stepdaughter, while guest stars include as Victor Ochoa, Emi's corrupt state senator father, and Stephen Bishop as Bruce Vinkou.
In addition to strong viewership, which helped earn its season 2 renewal, from critics, resulting in a 75% Rotten Tomatoes score. It has a slightly better 77% audience score.
In the season 1 finale, RJ and Emi discover that her father, Victor Ochoa, engineered RJ's downfall. RJ and his team, including his ex-wife Catherine, outmaneuver Ochoa, ending with him floating face down in his pool. Justice feels sweet until suspicion turns back on him, and could once again focus on him clearing his name.
R.J. Decker season 1 is also streaming on Hulu.
Cast
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Scott Speedman RJ Decker -
Ellen Marguerite Cullivan Lawyer
Carl Hiaasen, Rob Doherty Expand Collapse
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