‘R.J. Decker’ Season 2 Episode 3 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch and Expectations

Fans of ‘R.J. Decker’ can mark their calendars as Episode 3 of the ABC drama’s second season is set to air on Tuesday, September 29 at 10 p.m. ET. This episode continues the series’ weekly rollout following its fall relaunch. New viewers will find it easy to catch up since the first season only consisted of nine episodes.

Led by Scott Speedman, this procedural has quickly become one of ABC’s standout successes this year, generating excitement among fans on social media. With a new murder mystery unfolding and heightened personal stakes for the main characters, ‘R.J. Decker’ promises to be must-see TV for another season.

‘R.J. Decker’ Season 2 premiered on September 12 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, right after the season premiere of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ New episodes have been airing weekly, with Episode 1 on September 15 and Episode 2 on September 22. Episode 3 will maintain this Tuesday night schedule, fitting seamlessly into ABC’s fall lineup.

The show airs new episodes every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET and PT on ABC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. This allows fans who miss the live broadcast to catch up quickly before the next episode airs.

Season 2 is shorter than the first, which had nine episodes after being picked up as a midseason replacement. According to the official episode guide, Season 2 will consist of seven episodes in total, making Episode 3 nearly the halfway mark of this current arc.

For those without a live cable setup, streaming access is straightforward. In addition to the Tuesday ABC broadcast, episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu and through Disney+ for bundle subscribers, offering viewers flexibility in how they watch.

Critical reception has remained strong as the show transitions 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 collected so far.

These ratings indicate that the show has successfully retained both critics and casual viewers as it delves deeper into its sophomore season.

The series has also proven to be a significant ratings draw for ABC, which is crucial for the show’s future in this Tuesday night slot. Its March 2026 premiere set a five-year ratings record for ABC’s 10 p.m. time slot, attracting 3.69 million live plus same-day viewers and reaching 11.64 million multiplatform viewers within six days across ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, digital platforms, and two linear encores.

The central mystery this season revolves around the shocking death that concluded Season 1. The finale revealed Victor, the corrupt politician and father of R.J.’s love interest Emi, found dead in his pool, and Season 2 will explore who is responsible for his death. This whodunit is expected to unfold as the season progresses beyond its initial episodes.

Showrunner Rob Doherty has hinted that the fallout will impact the show’s core characters. He mentioned to TV Insider that those closest to Victor will be scrutinized, especially since Victor himself acknowledged his shady political dealings. This suggests that Episode 3 may narrow the circle of suspects surrounding R.J. and Emi.

Lead star Scott Speedman has shared insights about how the case affects his character in these episodes. He explained that R.J. starts the season believing he has moved past his criminal past, only for Victor’s death to disrupt both his business and his romantic relationship with Emi. Costar Jaina Lee Ortiz echoed this sense of turmoil for her character, describing the situation as very juicy and expressing a wish that Victor could somehow still be alive, given the complexities of Emi’s relationship with her father.

In addition to the central murder plot, the season premiere embraced a case-of-the-week format that fans can likely expect to continue. The premiere featured a prison acquaintance pulling R.J. into a series of bank heists, along with a guest appearance from Sasheer Zamata as an FBI agent with ties to Detective Mel. As Episode 3 continues this rhythm of quirky cases layered over a slowly unfolding murder investigation, the show aims to maintain its unique blend of comedy and crime drama.

With the mystery of Victor’s killer still unsolved and R.J.’s relationship with Emi in a precarious state, Episode 3 carries significant weight as it approaches ABC’s Tuesday night slot. Who do you think is responsible for Victor’s death, and how might it affect R.J. and Emi’s relationship moving forward?