‘R.J. Decker’ Season 2 Episode 3 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch and What to Expect
‘R.J. Decker’ fans finally have their next dose of South Florida chaos locked in, and the wait is almost over. Episode 3 of the ABC drama’s second season is set to premiere on Tuesday, September 29 at 10 p.m. ET, continuing the show’s weekly rollout following its fall relaunch. Anyone jumping into the series for the first time will not have much homework to catch up on, since the first season only ran nine episodes.
The Scott Speedman led procedural has become one of ABC’s biggest success stories of the year, and the momentum going into these new episodes has fans buzzing across social media. With a fresh murder mystery unfolding and new personal stakes for its core cast, ‘R.J. Decker’ is shaping up to be appointment television for another season.
‘R.J. Decker’ Season 2 Episode 3 Release Date and Time
‘R.J. Decker’ Season 2 premiered on September 12 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, airing directly after the season premiere of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ New episodes have followed weekly, with Episode 1 airing September 15 and Episode 2 airing September 22. Episode 3 keeps that Tuesday night pattern intact, landing right in the middle of ABC’s fall schedule.
The show airs new installments every Tuesday on ABC at 10 p.m. ET and PT, with episodes then dropping the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. That means fans who miss the live broadcast will not have to wait long to catch up before the following week’s episode arrives.
Season 2 is a shorter run than its predecessor. The first season consisted of nine episodes after being picked up as a midseason replacement at ABC. Season 2, according to the show’s official episode guide, is set for seven episodes total, so Episode 3 marks nearly the halfway point of this current arc.
Where to Watch ‘R.J. Decker’ Season 2?
Streaming access remains simple for those without a live cable setup. Beyond the Tuesday ABC broadcast, episodes are available to stream the following day on Hulu and on Hulu through Disney+ for bundle subscribers. That gives viewers flexibility whether they prefer watching live or catching up midweek.
Critical reception has stayed strong through the transition into Season 2. ‘R.J. Decker’ currently holds a 78 percent average Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes along with a 72 percent average Popcornmeter score from audiences, based on the reviews and ratings gathered so far.
Those numbers suggest the show has managed to keep both critics and casual viewers on board as it heads deeper into its sophomore run.
The series has also proven to be a legitimate ratings draw for ABC, which matters for how long this Tuesday night slot stays secure. The show’s March 2026 premiere set a five year ratings record for ABC’s 10 p.m. time slot, drawing 3.69 million live plus same day viewers and climbing to 11.64 million multiplatform viewers within six days across ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, digital platforms, and two linear encores.
What to Expect from ‘R.J. Decker’ Season 2 Episode 3?
The overarching mystery driving this season centers on the shocking death that closed out the freshman run. Season 1 ended with Victor, the corrupt politician father of R.J.’s love interest Emi, found dead in his pool, and Season 2 has to reveal who killed him. That whodunit is expected to keep unraveling as the season progresses past its early episodes.
Showrunner Rob Doherty has teased that the fallout will hit close to home for the show’s core circle. Doherty told TV Insider that the people closest to Victor will find themselves under a magnifying glass, noting that Victor had already admitted to being a shady politician, which he called a rare thing. That suggests Episode 3 could keep tightening the circle of suspects around R.J. and Emi’s orbit.
Lead star Scott Speedman has also opened up about how the case reshapes his character heading into these episodes. Speedman explained that R.J. begins the season feeling like he has finally put his old life of jail time behind him, only for Victor’s death to send a shockwave through both his business and his romantic relationship with Emi. Costar Jaina Lee Ortiz echoed that sense of upheaval for her character as well. Ortiz described the situation as very juicy, admitting she wished Victor could somehow still be alive given how complicated Emi’s relationship with her father truly was.
Beyond the central murder plot, the season premiere leaned into case of the week energy that fans can likely expect to continue. The premiere alone featured a prison acquaintance pulling R.J. into a string of bank heists, along with a guest appearance from Sasheer Zamata as an FBI agent with history tied to Detective Mel. With Episode 3 continuing that same rhythm of oddball cases layered over a slow burning murder investigation, the show seems intent on keeping its blend of comedy and crime drama fully intact.
With Victor’s killer still a mystery and R.J.’s relationship with Emi hanging in the balance, Episode 3 has a lot riding on it heading into ABC’s Tuesday night slot. Who do you think is responsible for Victor’s death, and how do you think it will change things between R.J. and Emi going forward.
