Doctor Odyssey Might Be Cancelled After Just One Season, And The Finale Is Reportedly Prepared To End The Show

Doctor Odyssey may be cancelled after one season, with the finale written as a potential end for the central characters. Led by Joshua Jackson, with Ryan Murphy among the creators and producers, the freshman series premiered on ABC in September. The story follows Dr. Max Bankman (Jackson), the new doctor on board a luxury cruise ship, and examines how he treats patients and deals with some wild changes in his personal life. With a main Doctor Odyssey cast that also includes Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale, and Don Johnson, the trailer for the medical drama set viewership records.

In its report on the ABC shows that have yet to be renewed, Deadline reveals that Doctor Odyssey may be cancelled after one season. The finale could serve to close the story, with the reason for the possible cancellation coming down to sliding ratings and the relatively high cost of the medical drama. It should be noted that most of this is speculation on Deadline‘s part, but also that the outlet is drawing conclusions based on previous industry trends and actions.

What The Latest Report Means For Doctor Odyssey

It’s Not The Only Show On The Bubble

Doctor Odyssey is in the same boat as Shifting Gears. Both new shows had a strong debut on ABC, but have experienced sliding viewership since then. The recent crossover between Doctor Odyssey and 9-1-1 nabbed 3.5 million live and same-day viewers, representing a decline from the 4.2 million viewers that the first episode received. The medical drama is also cooling off after positive pre-release buzz, with the trailer getting almost 78 million views in the first 48 hours and the premiere earning 13.6 million multi-platform viewers in the first seven days.

9 Special Weeks We Want To See In Doctor Odyssey Next

Doctor Odyssey has had some strange themes so far but it has so many more it can show as a special week on the luxurious The Odyssey cruise ship.

This slight decline is colored by the fact that the medical drama, with its elaborate scenes, in addition to its recognizable main and guest cast, is relatively costly for a network to produce. The 20th Television production may get a boost, however, from the fact that ABC has few scripted series overall. Compared to CBS, which has 18, and NBC, which has 15, ABC currently only has nine total scripted shows.

There is some positive news for the possibility of Doctor Odyssey season 2, which is that the show’s numbers increase when delayed viewing is taken into account. The data from Programming Insider highlights that, for several episodes, ratings increase by around 2 million viewers when non-live viewing is factored in. That brings in the overall viewers to around 4.5 million. This would still put it behind 9-1-1, which gets 5 to 6 million, and Shifting Gears, which is also on the bubble.

What Would Doctor Odyssey Need To Wrap Up?

There’s That Love Triangle

Created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken, Doctor Odyssey combines the emergencies of 9-1-1 with the romantic twists and turns of Grey’s Anatomy. Each episode features a specific theme, whether it’s Casino Week or Couples Week, and sees Max, Avery (Soo), and Tristan (Teale) watch over the patients that often get into some strangely specific medical emergencies on what should be an easygoing, luxurious cruise. One episode, for example, deals with a patient who has to abstain from sex during his honeymoon. The couple finds other avenues for their intimacy.

Captain Robert Massey (Johnson), who helms the titular Odyssey, is often the voice of reason. He has the potential for a romance with Heather (played by country music legend and recurring guest star Shania Twain), which would have to be definitively closed up in case of a Doctor Odyssey series finale. That, though, is simple compared to the three-way romance between Max, Avery, and Tristan.

Joshua Jackson, Phillipa Soo, and Sean Teale leaning against a rail as Max, Avery, and Tristan in Doctor Odyssey

Every Doctor Odyssey Romance Ranked

Doctor Odyssey has featured several love triangles and romances in what has been an exciting medical drama. However, only one couple can be the best.

Max and Tristan continue to battle over Avery’s affections, with tensions occasionally still bubbling up to the surface. Although the prospect of a throuple was introduced relatively early in the season, that hasn’t solved anything. That may be even more the case, with Avery’s pregnancy further complicating the situation. The biggest question likely has to do with the theory that Doctor Odyssey is merely an elaborate dream that a comatose Max is having. The theory has wavered at times, but it still may be viable — especially if there’s no second season to clarify the situation further.

Our Take On Doctor Odyssey’s Future

There Is One Big Question

Tristan, Avery, and Max smiling and standing next to each other in Doctor Odyssey season 1

The quirky sea-set dramedy could be renewed, with executives wanting to give the show more room to grow and to maintain the positive relationship with the show’s producers. If not, at least it sounds like the upcoming finale is primed to address some important lingering questions. That includes the dream theory. For most viewers, the main hope is that the story will end in a place that feels nearly complete and befitting of Doctor Odyssey without the need for a second installment.

Doctor Odyssey airs Thursdays at 9 PM ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.

Source: Deadline