Doctor Odysseywas recently canceled on ABC after one season and the chances of a pickup elsewhere are uncertain. This cancellation was by default, as the contracts for theDoctor Odysseycasthad expired. However, it’s still a shocking cancellation because the Ryan Murphy show became ABC’s most-watched new drama in four years.
ABC has denied thatDoctor Odysseywas outright canceled. However, since no new deals were made to renew the cast’s contracts, the network has seemingly pulled the plug on the show without fully admitting it. Lead starJoshua Jackson has even stated his blunt opinion thatDoctor Odysseyis likely over, along with ABC’s refusal to admit anything about the show’s future.
Joshua Jackson Isn’t Hopeful About Doctor Odyssey 2 Happening
The Future Of The ABC Series Is Very Much In Doubt
Joshua Jackson portrayed the protagonist, Dr. Max Bankman, onDoctor Odyssey, the new doctor brought in to work on a luxury cruise ship alongside nurses Avery Morgan and Tristan Silva, led by Captain Robert Massey. Jackson expressed his joy at working on a creative Ryan Murphy show (perPeople), while also being displeased with the series ending. Read Jackson’s quote below:
That was a really good group of people, and it was a really fun show. But this is a crazy and difficult business, and whatever the reasons were for them not wanting to move forward with it, they don’t actually tell us those things. I’m going to miss the gang for sure. I hope they got the same thing that we got out of it, which was that it was a beautiful, over-the-top kind of experience that was like nothing else on television, I don’t think. I’m sad that we don’t get to go back and do it again. But I really enjoyed the time that we did get to do it. They may make that show with somebody else. I have no idea what their plans are. They haven’t let me know, but I am not holding my breath that it’s coming back.
The fact that ABC hasn’t been forthcoming to Jackson and the cast about the future ofDoctor Odysseysignifies the network’s lack of faithin continuing the show. Given the series’ strong viewership and the powerful chemistry between Jackson, Don Johnson, Phillipa Soo, and Sean Teale, its cancellation is a major letdown, especially since the show had more to offer.
OneDoctor Odysseymystery that deserves answersis the theory that Max may still be in a coma after his COVID-19 diagnosis in 2020, and the entire show depicts his imagination. This theory also speculates that Max envisioned becoming a doctor on a cruise ship to escape his stressful past, with Captain Massey referring to the ship as heaven during the pilot episode.
If Jackson & The Cast Have Moved On From Doctor Odyssey, ABC Has Very Little Chance Of Reviving It
The Cast Of Doctor Odyssey Should Advocate For The Show’s Renewal If They Want It To Return
Since the castis free from their contracts,they have more standing than the network regardingwhether they wantDoctor Odysseyto return. While the show did end on an intriguing note, including the love triangle between Max, Avery, and Tristan, the characters’ futures still require more exploration.
Sean Teale
Nurse Tristan Silva
Doctor Odysseywas praised for its effective combination of a medical drama reminiscent ofGrey’s Anatomyand a romantic dramedy on a cruise ship inspired byThe Love Boat. The series also contained plenty of star power and guest stars, including country singers Shania Twain and Kelsea Ballerini, and Angela Bassett’s9-1-1sergeant Athena Grant-Nash.
While it appears likely that ABC is unwilling to continueDoctor Odyssey, the best chance the series has is if Jackson and his co-stars advocate for the show’s return. Another network or streaming service can also pick up the series if ABC rejects it.Doctor Odysseydeserves a season 2 renewalto continue Max’s journey, his love for Avery, and the bond he’s established with his new crew.
