ABC’s “RJ Decker” delivers precisely what you need out of this sort of present. Mysteries that wrap up with the satisfaction of finishing a 500-piece puzzle. Characters with depth, charisma, and chemistry. A singular setting that colours all of it.
Scott Speedman performs RJ Decker, a essentially good man, whose life goes sideways at such a steep angle that he goes to jail, shedding his profession as a photojournalist within the course of. We see the related elements of his downfall through flashback. Based mostly on Carl Hiaasen’s character of the identical title, the Decker of this sequence is stumbling alongside, residing in a dilapidated trailer and dealing as a personal investigator.
He’s not edgy or wounded like PIs of tales previous. As a substitute, I’d enterprise to say he’s downright healthful. However in a contemporary manner, the place he can, say, keep mates together with his ex-wife (Adelaide Clemens)–and his ex-wife’s new spouse (Bevin Bru), who, as a cop, occurs to be a helpful supply for him. The present and the character don’t see something salacious on this setup, however somewhat the widespread human messiness that makes for good TV. And Bru and Speedman play properly off one another along with her toughness colliding together with his slipperiness to make a satisfying research in contrasts.
SCOTT SPEEDMAN, KEVIN RANKIN
A community star for practically three a long time, Speedman is properly forged on this position as an unfortunate good man who’s made his justifiable share of errors. And he’s paired properly with Jaina Lee Ortiz as his love curiosity Emi Ochoa. The “Station 19” alum is assured and alluring as a part of a corrupt, highly effective Florida household who has her personal ethical compass–and the cross to bear that comes with it. And it helps that after an preliminary hook-up, the present builds up a plausible will-they-won’t-they dynamic between the 2 of them. There’s a purpose it’s such a favourite troupe of serialized storytelling: it really works, giving the viewers one thing unsure to want for.
As a result of clearly, RJ Decker goes to resolve the thriller each week. That a lot is thought. However how the clues mount up is satisfying, thanks largely to the present’s use of its Fort Lauderdale setting. The primetime drama gently teases and clearly takes inspiration from South Florida tradition, constructing a thriller on the planet of pirated Venus Fly Traps, for instance, or making its personal “Florida Man” jokes.
Florida’s gotten a whole lot of small-screen time recently, with various levels of success. Reveals like “Florida Man” and “Griselda” exoticize the Sunshine State, exaggerating the place’s weirdness. In distinction, “RJ Decker” lets Florida breathe. So, when a person walks by in a speedo and a cowboy hat and our ideas react in numerous methods, we perceive that we’re in a spot the place bizarre issues occur usually–however that doesn’t make them much less bizarre.
SCOTT SPEEDMAN
It’s the kind of refined, efficient transfer that this present delivers so properly. And the factor is, “RJ Decker” is enjoyable too. There’s pleasure and a silliness to this present’s world, at the same time as our characters are busy fixing murders and attempting to get by.
So, for instance, within the first two episodes despatched to critics for assessment, characters joke about how widespread a stint in jail is on their present–this can be a present about an ex-con, in spite of everything. However the ABC procedural, for all its mild tone, doesn’t shrink back from what meaning. Decker’s pal and former cellmate Aloysius ‘Want’ Aiken (Kevin Rankin, doing what he does so properly) needed to actually win the lottery to get the financial safety of getting a small enterprise –aka what most reveals nonetheless faux is regular for white guys within the U.S.
It’s a pleasant combine, one which acknowledges the pratfalls of our actuality whereas constructing a narrative all its personal out of Florida shenanigans, Speedman’s heat coronary heart, and as a lot whimsy as is smart in a murder-mystery.
Two episodes screened for assessment. It premieres tomorrow, March third.