R.J. Decker

Critics are embracing "RJ Decker" as ABC's latest comfort food procedural, with Collider praising it as "wonderfully weird" and calling the lead "a delicious hot mess with heart." TV Fanatic finds the premiere "humorous, heartfelt, and fun," while the Los Angeles Times notes its "light, quirk-friendly tone" that pairs well with network stablemates "Will Trent" and "High Potential." Even Metacritic, typically more reserved, calls it "solid" despite its "unlikely investigator." Audience reaction remains quiet in the opening weekend window—perhaps telling for a show banking on broad appeal. The critical consensus suggests viewers aren't rushing to social media with hot takes, which could signal either gentle satisfaction or gentle indifference. If you're looking for Tuesday night background viewing that won't challenge you, "RJ Decker" delivers exactly what ABC ordered: another procedural that plays nice with the lineup. The LA Times nails the target audience—people "who like to let a network play straight through prime time." This is appointment television for the DVR crowd, not the discourse crowd.