Warning: SPOILERS forDoctor Odysseyseason 1, episode 12, “Sophisticated Ladies Week.”
The odds of ABC renewingDoctor Odysseyare beginning to look somewhat grim despite the show finally proving how just great it can really be. Unlike some ofRyan Murphy’s TV shows,Doctor Odysseydidn’t exactly premiere to become a runaway hit. Despite featuring several quality guest stars throughout the season such as Margo Martindale and John Stamos, not to mention including small-screen veterans Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson inDoctor Odyssey’s main cast, the show’s tone was a bit of an acquired taste.
Setting a medical drama on a cruise ship certainly makes for an interesting premise, and combining it withDoctor Odyssey’s odd-duck sense of humor and willingness to embrace a certain amount of soap opera camp in the series’ interpersonal storylines has made it quite enjoyable. However,some viewers and critics found it to be outlandishly unwatchable for the same reasons that others found it charming, and those criticisms took their toll enough that the prospect of aDoctor Odysseyseason 2remains uncertain at best.
Doctor Odyssey May Be On The Brink Of Cancelation
Quality Improvements Mean Little If The Ratings Are Dropping
Before its release,Doctor Odysseyseemed destined for success. As noted byDeadline, the trailer alone received 77.8 million views within just two days of being posted. The series also had a fairly strong premiere of 4.2 million viewers, which raised to more than 13 million by the end of the week. Since then, however, the tide has shifted.Ratings for broadcast viewership dropped to as low as 2.6 million viewers by just episode 5, marking a notable decline from which the show still hasn’t fully recovered.
I Bet You Didn’t Notice The Subtle Doctor Odyssey Change That Could Be Ryan Murphy’s Bid To Save The Show
The Doctor Odyssey midseason premiere was notably different than usual and it may all have to do with Ryan Murphy’s desire to save the show.
That’s not to say there hasn’t been any progress at all.Doctor Odyssey’s9-1-1crossoverraised viewership for the next couple of episodes up to about 3.5 million viewers, something the preceding two-part shark attack event was unable to accomplish. But even ifDoctor Odysseycould reliably hold at that number,the series is expensive enough to produce that it might not be considered worthwhile without stronger performance. The actors aren’t cheap, nor is the luxury setting with its constantly shifting themes. However, that doesn’t mean ABC should stop footing the bill just yet.
Why Doctor Odyssey Deserves A Season 2
It’s Starting To Become What It Should’ve Been All Along
Perhaps the show’s campy vibe and oversexed plot require some time to grow accustomed before they really start to settle in, but the series is getting there.Doctor Odyssey’s love trianglehas also exploded into something remarkably more interesting, with Avery getting pregnant while both Max and Tristan feel ready to become the baby’s father. Add to that the fact thatthe series aired three action-adventure episodes in a row, and it’s gotten to the point that “medical drama” barely even feels like the proper genre descriptor for the show anymore. It’s become something entirely its own.
Avery no longer claims the only intriguing pregnancy on the show, either. As of episode 12,Shania Twain’s Heather and Don Johnson’s Captain Masseyare also expecting a child together. Since the showrunners intend to endDoctor Odysseyseason 1 on a note that could work as a series finale if the show doesn’t get renewed, these pregnancy storylines set up the perfect ending in which multiple characters leave the ship to focus on parenthood. If so, we can only hope a greenlit second season will give those same characters cause to return before very long.
Doctor Odyssey
Cast
Doctor Odyssey is set aboard a luxury cruise ship where Max, the new on-board doctor, and a small, resourceful medical team confront unique medical crises and interpersonal dynamics while isolated miles from shore.
