The arrival of Doctor Odyssey, starring Joshua Jackson, has certainly stirred the waters of television anticipation. For many viewers, the image of Jackson, reminiscent of his beloved Dawson’s Creek days but now in a doctor’s coat, is inherently appealing. Coupled with the promise of a medical drama set on a luxurious cruise ship, Doctor Odyssey seemed tailor-made for fans of both genres. However, beneath the glossy surface and star power, early impressions suggest a show navigating somewhat familiar, and potentially choppy, seas.
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Image alt text: Promotional still of Joshua Jackson as Dr. Max Bankman in Doctor Odyssey, showcasing his charismatic presence in the medical drama.
The Ryan Murphy Blueprint: Formulaic or Familiar Comfort?
While not explicitly credited as the showrunner, the unmistakable scent of Ryan Murphy’s production style permeates Doctor Odyssey. Similar to Murphy’s other successful procedural dramas like 9-1-1, Doctor Odyssey quickly establishes a pattern. Each episode appears structured around weekly themes aboard the cruise, such as “Singles Week” and “Plastic Surgery Week,” guiding the unfolding medical cases and character interactions. This episodic approach, while providing a clear framework, runs the risk of feeling overly predictable.
The narrative structure also mirrors the procedural format, introducing patients sequentially throughout each episode. This patient-of-the-week formula, while common in medical dramas, combined with Murphy’s penchant for heightened drama and camp, creates a distinctive, albeit potentially divisive, tone. While episodes like “Plastic Surgery Week” offer undeniably engaging television, the rapid injection of camp and overt sexual tension, a hallmark of many Ryan Murphy productions, might strike some viewers as forced or inorganic.
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Image alt text: Joshua Jackson and Phillipa Soo in a scene from Doctor Odyssey, highlighting the developing professional and personal dynamics between their characters.
Joshua Jackson as Dr. Max Bankman: Reaching New Heights or Leveling Off?
Joshua Jackson steps into the role of Dr. Max Bankman with a charm that feels both familiar and slightly restrained. While the character’s roguish appeal and hinted-at sexual fluidity seem to suit Jackson’s established on-screen persona, it raises questions about the long-term trajectory of his career choices. Dr. Bankman, while charming, might not provide the vehicle for Jackson to reach new dramatic heights. Instead, Doctor Odyssey may represent a comfortable plateau, maintaining his visibility without necessarily pushing his acting range to its full potential. Whether this role will allow Jackson’s inherent “sparkle” to truly shine or simply keep it at a steady simmer remains to be seen.
Character Dynamics and Lingering Questions
Despite the formulaic elements, Doctor Odyssey maintains a degree of watchability through its character dynamics and unfolding storylines. Phillipa Soo’s portrayal of nurse practitioner Avery Morgan is a standout. Her character is deliberately written as “blunt, aggressive, overly ambitious,” and Soo embodies these traits effectively, creating a compelling, if at times abrasive, presence. The hinted romantic tensions, particularly between Avery and Dr. Bankman, and Avery and Tristan (Sean Teale), are present but lack a palpable spark. The inevitable romantic entanglement between Avery and Max is predicted to be underwhelming, despite the show’s attempt to subvert the “forbidden workplace romance” trope by initiating a brief encounter early on.
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Image alt text: Trio shot of Joshua Jackson, Phillipa Soo, and Sean Teale in Doctor Odyssey, emphasizing the ensemble cast and interconnected storylines.
Tristan’s character development, initially presented as a stereotypical “fuckboy,” begins to gain depth with the introduction of his family backstory, including his mother’s Huntington’s disease diagnosis and his own “mommy issues.” However, the fact that his most intriguing traits are rooted in his relationship with his mother raises questions about the character’s independent depth. Similarly, Dr. Bankman’s past experience with COVID-19 is presented as a significant backstory element, yet its narrative purpose remains unclear. Whether this storyline will evolve into a meaningful exploration or serve merely as a superficial backstory detail is a point of curiosity for ongoing viewers.
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Image alt text: Justin Jedlica and Joshua Jackson sharing a scene in Doctor Odyssey, hinting at guest appearances and diverse patient stories within the series.
Setting Sail with Reservations
Doctor Odyssey, at this early stage, hasn’t committed any major missteps, but it also hasn’t fully charted a course for groundbreaking television. Similar to Captain Massey, portrayed by Don Johnson, viewers may find themselves “along for the ride,” hoping for entertaining diversions along the way. However, whether Doctor Odyssey will ultimately prove to be a memorable voyage or simply another predictable cruise in the vast sea of network television remains uncertain. For Joshua Jackson, while Dr. Max Bankman is a charismatic role, it’s difficult to gauge if it will reach the heights of critical acclaim he achieved in Dr. Death or fulfill the unrealized potential of his near-miss opportunity with Grey’s Anatomy. The journey of Doctor Odyssey is just beginning, and the destination is still shrouded in a degree of intriguing, if cautious, anticipation.
