(Photo: Disney/Pari Dukovic)
The doctor is “out” and won’t be back for ABC‘s 2025-26 TV season. Doctor Odyssey has been essentially cancelled as the cast’s second season option expire. The first season of 18 episodes finished airing last month.
A medical drama series, the Doctor Odyssey TV show was created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken. The series stars Joshua Jackson, Don Johnson, Phillipa Soo, and Sean Teale. In the story, Dr. Max Bankman (Jackson) is the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship. On board, Captain Robert Massey (Johnson) and his staff work hard and play even harder. It’s all-hands-on-deck as Max and his small but mighty medical team — Nurse Avery Morgan (Soo) and Nurse Tristan Silva (Teale) — navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore. Guests in the first season include Shania Twain, John Stamos, Gina Gershon, Kelsea Ballerini, Chord Overstreet, Cheyenne Jackson, Laura Harrier, and Justin Jedlica.
Airing on Thursday nights, the first season of Doctor Odyssey averaged a 0.26 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 3.05 million viewers (includes DVR playback through 3:00 AM).
The series started strong (in today’s ratings world), but it lost steam over the course of the season. Of the Alphabet Network’s nine scripted series this season, Doctor Odyssey ranked eighth in the demo and seventh in viewers. The series is reportedly expensive to produce, so given the ABC ratings, it’s not a surprise that the network has let the cast options expire.
According to Deadline, the show from Ryan Murphy could return at some point, on ABC, Hulu (it’s popular for the streamer), or elsewhere. Murphy is said to be weighing his options but regardless will continue to have two shows on ABC next season — 9-1-1 and new spin-off 9-1-1: Nashville.
What do you think? Have you stuck with the Doctor Odyssey TV show? Are you disappointed this series wasn’t renewed for a second season on ABC?
I absolutely loved the show. It was one of those that allowed you to just relax and escape. After investing a year with the characters and the theme of the show, you find out you wasted all that time. I’m really getting sick of networks pulling this crap. Our time and investment are worth something. I’m going to stop watching all network programming and see how that works for them.
Sad to see it go. I loved it!!!
So disappointed! I loved the show and was so looking forward to the next season.
BIG DISAPPOINTED. I finally got through hang of it and i start to like it. Would be nice to being it a back with better different stories for each episodes. It sad and now what. Since there wont be any good show except all not so great of half hour show. They won’t get rid of it since they may have low rate while got rid of good rating show. It sucks. I just don’t get it.
Loved the show! Can’t believe it’s been canceled.
That’s too bad. We enjoyed the show. It took awhile to get established and a few episodes were a bit strange, but overall entertaining and a nice change from all the gory dramas.
I really enjoyed Dr. Odyssey. I was hoping that it would be renewed. I am very sad that it hasn’t been. I am a 79 year old woman, so I am probably not in the demographic to which they are aiming. But I enjoy medical and romantic shows also. I hope they bring it back in another venue (maybe Hulu)
When the threesome aired that was the end for me. Way too trashy.
Murphy only does trash.
Well, we started watching this show because of Don Johnson. Have always been a fan of his since Miami Vice and Nash Bridges so we were excited to see him back in a series. But, when the show took the avenue of a threesome, gay cruises, etc (typical ABC & Disney these days) we quit watching! It really was good at first but then, not so much. Not surprised at all that it is now being cancelled. When will they learn that “woke” programming just doesn’t cut it or last!!
So true and well said!
What are you talking about?
Thought it was lane so I won’t miss it.