REVIEW: Florida Detective Excels in "R.J. Decker"

Audio By Carbonatix

In the first episode of the new drama R.J. Decker, one of the characters refers to Florida as “the weirdest state in the union.” It’s a running joke in the program that a lot of strange things happen in the Sunshine State. From an inmate exiting jail and winning the lottery on the same day to an RV falling into a sinkhole, there are a lot of strange occurrences in the show and references to Florida’s unique reputation. Those occurrences and the show’s irreverent vibe make this show stand out.

Scott Speedman stars here as the title character, a former photographer who gets incarcerated in the program’s opening moments. After serving an eighteen-month sentence, Decker starts over as a private investigator. He begins anew with the support of his former cellmate Aloysius 'Wish' Aiken (Kevin Rankin), who won the lottery after his exoneration and now celebrates fellow headline-grabbing Florida men in his restaurant.

After Decker's RV collapses into a sinkhole, the title character moves back in with his ex-wife Catherine (Adelaide Clemens) and recruits two unlikely allies. He connects  with Catherine’s new spouse Melody (Bevin Bru), a detective Decker relies on for updates from the local police. Decker also aligns himself with Emi (Jaina Lee Ortiz), the daughter of a reportedly corrupt politician who wants to make amends with him. Emi's testimony helped put the title character in prison so she feels obliged to help Decker with some of his cases. 

Although there are a number of quality detective shows on the air now, R.J. Decker establishes itself with a strong lead and some quirky cases. Speedman, who also serves as an executive producer here, has a carefree energy that shows why he fits so well into this world of strange cases. In the show’s two episodes (which were available for review), Decker takes on a killer with a calf transplant and a murderer who provides body parts. One can only imagine what future storylines the show will offer.

Inspired by the novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen, the program feels fresh and satisfying even though it hits a number of traditional beats. It remains to be seen how Emi — who plays a bigger role in the first episode — will continue to stay in focus but the program hints that there will be more fireworks between the title character and her in the future.

The new ABC drama doesn't break the genre's mold as much as it finds its own unique identity in it. Decker's life experiences are unique and quirky, which makes him a perfect fit for a show set down in Florida.