By Mr. Nobody
R.J. Decker returns for Season 2 with an episode that manages to do something difficult: bring back the show’s quirky crime-comedy identity while simultaneously raising the emotional stakes surrounding its characters.
Titled “The Point of Us Breaking,” the Season 2 premiere picks up in the aftermath of Victor Ochoa’s death and sends R.J. into another bizarre South Florida investigation involving an old prison acquaintance, a string of daring bank robberies and a group of criminals whose methods are as strange as the world surrounding them. The episode aired September 15 on ABC. (abc.com)
R.J. Is Back in Trouble
Scott Speedman slips comfortably back into the role of R.J. Decker, the disgraced former newspaper photographer and ex-con who has reinvented himself as a private investigator.
One of the strengths of the premiere is that R.J. doesn’t suddenly become a different character simply because the stakes have changed.
He’s still sarcastic, observant and willing to put himself in questionable situations if it means helping someone.
That becomes particularly important when an old acquaintance from his prison days resurfaces. What initially appears to be an isolated problem eventually connects R.J. to a series of bank robberies.
The case gives Speedman plenty of opportunities to showcase the dry humor and understated confidence that make R.J. such an enjoyable character.
A Very Strange Bank-Robbery Case
The weekly mystery is exactly the kind of offbeat case that fits R.J. Decker.
Rather than becoming another grim procedural, the show embraces its bizarre Florida setting. The bank-heist storyline is serious enough to create genuine danger but strange enough to preserve the show’s personality.
That balance is important.
The premiere understands that the appeal of R.J. Decker isn’t simply figuring out who committed a crime. It’s watching R.J. navigate a collection of unusual people and increasingly ridiculous circumstances while trying to maintain some control over his own life.
The episode also cleverly connects the case to R.J.’s past, reinforcing the idea that his prison years aren’t something he can simply leave behind.
The Victor Ochoa Mystery Still Hangs Over Everything
While the bank-heist investigation provides the episode’s main case, the emotional story is still the aftermath of Victor Ochoa’s death.
That gives the premiere a darker undercurrent.
Emilia “Emi” Ochoa, played by Jaina Lee Ortiz, is still dealing with the consequences of her father’s death. Rather than rushing through her grief to get the R.J.-Emi relationship back on track, the episode allows the characters to remain uncomfortable around one another.
That’s a smart choice.
The chemistry between Speedman and Ortiz remains one of the show’s strongest assets, but Season 2 appears to be taking its time with their relationship.
Instead of immediately turning their connection into a romance, the premiere puts some distance between them.
That creates more room for both characters to develop.
Sasheer Zamata Is a Welcome Addition
One of the premiere’s most interesting new elements is the introduction of FBI Special Agent Melinda Winwood, played by Sasheer Zamata.
Winwood has a history with Detective Mel Abreu, played by Bevin Bru, giving the premiere another relationship to explore outside of R.J.’s immediate circle.
Zamata brings a different energy to the series, and her scenes with Bru add another layer to Mel’s character.
The FBI storyline also gives the show an opportunity to expand its world without taking the spotlight away from R.J.
The Opening Is Pure R.J. Decker
The episode wastes very little time reminding viewers that this isn’t a conventional detective series.
The premiere opens with a Dancing with the Stars crossover involving Joey Graziadei, Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy before the story transitions into R.J.’s latest investigation.
It is ridiculous in exactly the way R.J. Decker wants to be ridiculous.
Instead of feeling like an unnecessary stunt, the sequence establishes the show’s willingness to have fun with its South Florida setting.
It’s also a useful reminder that this series doesn’t take itself quite as seriously as the darker elements of its story might suggest.
Scott Speedman Continues to Carry the Series
Speedman remains the heart of the show.
R.J. works because he’s not portrayed as an unstoppable super-detective. He’s capable, but his personal history constantly complicates his investigations.
His prison background, damaged relationships and tendency to get involved in situations beyond his control make him considerably more interesting than a traditional television private investigator.
The premiere also begins opening the door to more of R.J.’s personal history. That should give Speedman even more material to work with as the season progresses.
The Supporting Cast Remains Strong
Kevin Rankin’s Wish and Adelaide Clemens’ Catherine continue to provide important pieces of R.J.’s unconventional support system.
Catherine, in particular, gets some interesting material as she deals with the fallout from Victor’s death and her relationship with the people surrounding R.J.
The show understands that these supporting characters aren’t simply there to provide information when R.J. needs it.
They have their own relationships, problems and secrets, which makes the world feel considerably larger.
What Works
The biggest success of “The Point of Us Breaking” is its balance.
The episode has a legitimate crime story, continuing questions surrounding Victor Ochoa’s death, character drama, humor and several new relationships to establish.
And somehow, it doesn’t feel completely overloaded.
The premiere also makes good use of R.J.’s prison history. Instead of treating his past as exposition, the writers use it to create the central problem of the episode.
That’s an effective way to make the new season feel connected to what came before.
What Doesn’t Work
The biggest weakness is that the episode has a lot of story to restart.
Between the bank robberies, Victor’s murder, Emi’s grief, Mel’s history with Winwood and R.J.’s complicated personal life, some storylines inevitably receive less attention than others.
The premiere sometimes feels like it’s trying to remind viewers of everything they loved about Season 1 while simultaneously setting up the entire second season.
That makes portions of the episode feel slightly rushed.
Still, the larger pieces are strong enough that the pacing problem doesn’t seriously damage the episode.
Final Verdict
“The Point of Us Breaking” is a strong return for R.J. Decker.
The series hasn’t lost its strange sense of humor or its colorful South Florida personality, but Season 2 immediately feels more emotionally complicated.
Scott Speedman remains excellent as R.J., while Jaina Lee Ortiz gives Emi a more wounded and guarded presence. Sasheer Zamata’s arrival also adds an intriguing new dynamic to the supporting cast.
Most importantly, the premiere doesn’t try to reinvent the show.
It simply takes what worked in Season 1 and adds more complications.
The result is an entertaining, funny and occasionally darker premiere that leaves plenty of questions for the rest of the season.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Best Element: R.J.’s prison connection becoming the gateway into the bizarre bank-heist investigation.
Best Performance: Scott Speedman
Biggest Question: What really happened to Victor Ochoa, and how far will the fallout reach?
Bottom Line: R.J. Decker comes back with confidence, humor and enough unresolved drama to make Season 2 worth following.
