Doctor Odyssey

Main

• Joshua Jackson as Dr. Maxwell "Max" Bankman,^[5] a Attending Physician in Internal Medicine and a newly hired doctor on a luxury cruise ship known as The Odyssey
• Phillipa Soo as Nurse Avery Morgan,^[5] a nurse practitioner on The Odyssey
• Sean Teale as Nurse Tristan Silva,^[5] a nurse on The Odyssey who is secretly yearning to be with Avery
• Don Johnson as Captain Robert Massey,^[5] the captain of The Odyssey

Recurring

• Jacqueline Toboni as Rosie, The Odyssey's engineer
• Marcus Emanuel Mitchell as Spencer Monroe, the first officer of The Odyssey
• Rick Cosnett as Corey, the head of housekeeping on The Odyssey
• Laura Harrier as Vivian, the personal chef for Bethany Welles, who then becomes a chef on The Odyssey

Notable guest stars

• Rachel Dratch as Mrs. Rubens, Burt's wife
• Tom McGowan as Burt Rubens, Max's first patient on The Odyssey, who is diagnosed with iodine poisoning
• Shania Twain as Heather, a widow who strikes up a connection with Captain Massey
• Chord Overstreet as Sam, a young single guy who plays the field and is diagnosed with syphilis
• Gina Gershon as Lenore, the wife of the owner of the cruise ship
• Justin Jedlica as Ken, the real Ken doll
• Amy Sedaris as Bethany Welles, a wellness expert with a large following
• Margaret Cho as Judy, a wellness expert
• Kelsea Ballerini as Lisa, a bride-to-be who is having her wedding on The Odyssey
• Margo Martindale as Ellen, Lisa's mother
• John Stamos as Craig, Captain Massey's alcoholic younger brother who has been sober for 15 years
• Cheyenne Jackson as Bryan, Craig's significant other
• Caldwell Tidicue^[6] as Marsha, Craig's favorite drag queen
• Loretta Devine as Jill Manafort
• Angela Bassett as Athena Grant-Nash, a LAPD patrol sergeant from 9-1-1^[7]
• Jaclyn Smith as Delia, an older woman who is lying to her younger significant other about her cancer returning
• Donna Mills as Olivia, an older woman who tested positive for COVID-19 who refuses to follow Max's orders to quarantine
• Debra Mooney - as June in "Casino Week"
• Adrianne Palicki as Dr. Brooke Lane
• Frankie McNellis as Young Avery Morgan
• Anton Starkman as Young Max Bankman
• Joaquin Obradors as Young Tristan Silva

Development

On March 20, 2024, Doctor Odyssey was given a straight-to-series order by ABC. The series is created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken, who executive produce alongside Joshua Jackson, Paris Barclay, Eric Paquette, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, and Nissa Diederich. Production companies involved with the series are 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television.^[27] On June 27, 2025, the series was canceled by default after one season after the main cast's options expired.^[28] Per reports, should ABC decide to continue the series, new options would need to be secured.^[29]

Casting

Upon the straight-to-series order announcement, Jackson was cast to star.^[27] In April 2024, Don Johnson and Phillipa Soo joined the main cast in undisclosed roles.^[30][31] On May 2, 2024, Sean Teale was cast in an undisclosed starring role.^[32] In August 2024, a trailer for the series revealed Shania Twain making a guest appearance.^[33] The full official trailer was released in September 2024 and revealed additional guest stars that would be appearing throughout the series, including John Stamos and Kelsea Ballerini.^[34]

Filming

Filming was expected to have begun in Los Angeles in July 2024.^[35] First look images from the set were released to the press in August 2024.^[4] Some filming occurs at Rye Canyon Studios in Santa Clarita, California, with more filming occurring in Fillmore, California.

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 63% approval rating with an average rating of 5.2/10, based on 8 critic reviews.^[39] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 66 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.^[40]

Matthew Creith of TheWrap found Joshua Jackson's portrayal of Dr. Max Bankman as an easygoing and charming doctor engaging and relatable, particularly as he adjusts to his new environment post-COVID. He praised the chemistry between Jackson and his co-star Phillipa Soo, saying it adds depth to their characters while navigating both medical emergencies and personal interactions. Creith noted that while the series starts strong, it trends toward a more surface-level exploration of the glamorous cruise lifestyle, prompting curiosity about how the show will develop throughout the season.^[41] Craig Mathieson of The Age gave Doctor Odyssey a score of three out of four stars, complimenting the show for its engaging blend of humor and drama, and likening it to Grey's Anatomy set on a cruise ship. He found the series to have a silly yet enjoyable tone, attributing this to the chemistry between the characters and the light-hearted storytelling. Mathieson said Jackson brings a charming presence to the role, showcasing both authority and a laid-back attitude. He also praised the creative team behind the show, noting that their collaboration results in a unique mix of influences, from comedic medical situations to a nostalgic nod to The Love Boat.^[42]

Joel Keller of Decider said that Doctor Odyssey aims to extend the formula of Murphy's 9-1-1 franchise to a medical drama set on the high seas. He praised the show's entertainment value, likening it to The Love Boat with its mix of guest stars, outrageous medical cases, and romantic tension among the characters. Keller praised the performances, particularly those of Jackson and Soo, noting their strong chemistry and Soo's confident portrayal of her character. However, he found some moments in the first episode, such as a lengthy monologue about COVID and a dramatic rescue scene, to be over-the-top.^[43] Joly Herman of Common Sense Media rated Doctor Odyssey three out of five stars, describing it as a soapy yet entertaining medical drama. She praised the series for its positive messages, pointing out the importance of integrity, teamwork, and understanding others' perspectives. Herman highlighted the strong characters who advocate for their principles and responsibilities. Despite its light-hearted approach, she found that the show effectively focuses on serious values, encouraging viewers to enjoy life while striving to be good people.^[44] Columnist Maurice Tougas dismissed the series as being "so ludicrous that it's almost watchable," finding the plots repetitive.^[45]

Ratings

Doctor Odyssey became ABC's most-watched drama debut in four years, drawing 7.59 million total viewers in live plus three-day viewing and securing a 0.38 rating in the 18–49 demo. It retained 87% of its lead-in audience and held the No. 1 spot on Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list for three consecutive days, remaining in that position as of September 30, 2024.^[46] The series later attracted 13.6 million cross-platform viewers in its first week, representing a 230% increase over its live + same-day audience of 4.13 million.^[47]

Accolades