ABC's New Crime Series Comes for 'High Potential's Crown With Record-Breaking Debut

2 weeks ago 10

Published Mar 10, 2026, 5:54 PM EDT

In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, video gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate and detail-oriented writer and journalist at Collider.com. In addition to his work as a Senior Resource Writer, Aidan has also contributed to Collider's features and news reporting sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con and the D23 Expo, and has had the privelege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more. This sincere love for the art of storytelling began at a young age, with Aidan making video movie reviews for the news program at his local high school. That love only increased over the years, with an ongoing career in independent filmmaking and screenwriting after graduating with a degree in Film and television from DePaul University.

ABC has a new detective in town, and he's coming for High Potential's crown as one of the most popular shows on the network right now. Not only did Kaitlin Olson's new procedural become a certified hit after just two seasons on the network, but High Potential also became the most-watched network television series of 2025, beating major players like 9-1-1. While High Potential clearly isn't going anywhere anytime soon, with Season 3 already confirmed to be on the way, the smash-hit detective series may have a new challenger on ABC.

On March 3, 2026, the first episode of crime procedural newcomer R.J. Decker officially premiered on ABC, and it is already an almost instantaneous success for the network. According to reports, the Scott Speedman-led series scored a whopping 3.69 million views on the network alone, with a grand total of an even more impressive 11+ million views across Disney's other platforms such as Disney+, Hulu, and ABC proper. Not only do those numbers surpass the initial series premiere ratings of both High Potential and Will Trent, but it also marks ABC's most-watched 10 PM drama in over 5 years.

R.J. Decker shares the same programming block with High Potential on Tuesday nights, and it's no wonder why that is as the shows share quite a lot in common. Both follow an unlikely civilian whose keen knack for solving mysteries surpasses even that of the police departments they find themselves often working with, though R.J. Decker takes things even further with a protagonist who has a more than complicated past. Featuring Grey's Anatomy alum Scott Speedman in the titular role and having Daredevil creator Drew Goddard at the creative helm, R.J. Decker tells the story of charismatic photography with a lengthy criminal history, who decides to become a witty private investigator in Southern Florida.

Will 'R.J. Decker' Get a Season 2?

After just one episode, it's too early to say if R.J. Decker will secure an official Season 2 renewal, but if it keeps up the strong viewership, then a sophomore season is all but assured. Then again, stranger things have happened, as Doctor Odyssey was also a fan-favorite for ABC that sadly did not come back for another voyage. Critics have also been singing the praises of R.J. Decker with a rock-solid 75% on Rotten Tomatoes out of 8 reviews. Collider's own Jennie Richardson agrees with the praise in her review of the series, calling the show a "wonderfully weird" addition to ABC's stellar procedural slate.

Episode 2 of R.J. Decker premieres tonight on ABC at 10 PM ET.