The moment I discovered that R.J. Decker's second season was limited to just seven episodes, my heart sank. Season 1, with a mere nine episodes, had already left me yearning for more. The prospect of its abrupt ending is heartbreaking, especially as detective shows, particularly optimistic ones like this similar to the "Blue Sky" shows of my childhood (an era that happens to now be coming back around in the nostalgia cycle meaning R.J. Decker could tap into that wave), face immense challenges surviving in the contentious streaming age. However, R.J. Decker is a gem with untapped potential, largely due to its unique and intriguing setting of not just Florida but Fort Lauderdale when I can't think of another current show apart from it that is set in Florida but somewhere in Florida that's outside Miami.

In a world dominated by streaming services where even popular network shows struggle to survive, R.J. Decker stands out. Its Florida backdrop offers rich, untold stories and diverse narratives waiting to be explored. This show could be a phenomenal success for ABC, reminiscent of the growing triumph of High Potential, which it shares more than Tuesday nights with as they share a similar tone and in R.J. Decker's first season and High Potential's second they often had similar story beats on the same night. An expanded season would not only allow the series to deeply explore its characters and plot lines, but it also wouldn't seemingly write this show off as an afterthought or a gap filler as for example, while season 2 may have only premiered when it did because of High Potential season 3's move to a midseason premiere, the fact that most of R.J. Decker's sadly-too-short season 1 was spent having High Potential as its lead-in proves they can share a schedule for hopefully fuller seasons so R.J. Decker's gain doesn't have to be High Potential's loss. Perhaps if they can be airing side-by-side (or at least one right after the other which is as close to side-by-side as a schedule can give shows on the same network) for long enough to become linked in people's minds they could even cross over. Sure Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale may be geographically quite far settings for it to seem easy how any of the characters of one show's ensemble could meet the other where they're at but both shows' mythologies have common factors of political intrigue lurking behind the case-of-the-week stories and characters who especially in today's digital age it seems reasonable to assume might have found a way to connect. And if the original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which was set in Las Vegas could find a way to pull off something similar with how it backdoor-piloted CSI Miami. 

Detective tales set in the vibrant landscapes of Florida can capture imaginations and offer narratives not typically found on traditional network TV.  Especially as Fort Lauderdale is uncharted territory and even Miami hasn't really been visited by a crime show in that way since CSI Miami. R.J. Decker has the charismatic energy needed to mark its place alongside other legendary series, but it requires room to grow. And as the two episodes there have been so far of the second season have proved, R.J. Decker can strike the delicate balance between the nostalgic appeal of a Blue Sky procedural from a time when 20-odd episode seasons were a regularity (hint hint) and the weirdness that's come to be associated with Florida thanks to weird being easier to make news there. I mean on the one hand it's one of at least two shows (it's just I watch two this is true of I don't know about others) on current broadcast TV that still can take the time and effort and time out of their airtime to actually have a theme song/sequence that lasts long enough to cover all the regulars' names and give them more attention than the at-the-bottom-as-the-show-airs opening-credit-billing that should be reserved for guest stars. On the other hand if it can start S2 with essentially (if you'll pardon me adapting a meme about Florida) "Florida Procedural Opens Episode With Massive Dance Number Featuring DWTS Pros" who knows how weird we could get from here.

Let’s appeal directly to ABC, urging them to extend R.J. Decker’s second season beyond seven episodes and ensure a robust renewal for a third season with more than 10 episodes. Doing so can seize the opportunity to create a legacy, fostering a deeper connection with viewers and ensuring a more dynamic and thrilling narrative.

Sign this petition to show ABC the overwhelming support for R.J. Decker, advocating for the captivating stories that deserve to see the light. With your signatures, we can push for longer seasons and richer storytelling, securing the future of a show that so many of us hold dear.