Doctor Odyssey continues to wade through troubled waters as the fate of the ABC medical drama continues to hang in the balance. About a week ago, it all seemed well and truly over for the series following widespread reports that pointed to its cancellation. Those reports declared cancellation by default, drawing inferences from the fact that the cast members’ contract options were nearing expiration. The contracts officially expired on Monday, and as of this writing, new ones haven’t been handed out. While it’s a plausible enough reason to guarantee the show’s end, ABC, in a surprising development, has refrained from confirming them.
According to reports via The Hollywood Reporter, ABC is in no rush to officially label Doctor Odyssey as cancelled. The outlet reports that the network is holding firm on its earlier statement that it’s still “discussing its future.” It’s quite an unusual development for a scripted show, as THR rightly notes that this kind of unofficial shelving is more commonly seen with unscripted programming. The strategy allows networks to quietly remove a show from the schedule while keeping the door open for a potential return down the line, often in a new format or with revised creative direction. With discussions reportedly still active between series co-creator Ryan Murphy and Disney Television Group, this could be one of the options on the table.
Given the available facts and despite ABC’s reluctance to sink our hopes for good, it’s safe to assume that Doctor Odyssey, in its current form, is likely finished. Cast contracts expiring means that the actors are free to pursue other projects, as some have already begun doing. Should Murphy and Disney eventually agree to float the show, down the line, Doctor Odyssey would almost certainly look very different from the show audiences have come to know. It might return as a complete reboot, could be given the anthology treatment (which could serve well to explore that fever dream theory), or perhaps even a sequel. Whatever materializes from these ongoing future talks, the makers will inevitably face the challenge of winning the interest of viewers who already feel frustrated by Doctor Odyssey‘s current state. And so it begs the question, why not give them what they want now?
Was ‘Doctor Odyssey’ Really That Bad?
As with most premature, ill-fated shows these days, Doctor Odyssey‘s discontinuation wasn’t due to a lack of quality. In fact, many viewers deemed the show too perfect to be true. The medical drama offered an outrageous but refreshing spin on the genre, following a trio of attractive and highly-skilled medical professionals employed aboard a luxurious cruise ship to ensure everyone’s safety. Though it had some bizarre cases that could give The Pitt a run for its money, even more bizarre was the throuple that soon developed among its small medical staff. The show even had a lavish visual setting to match its wild premise and was an easy sell for many viewers.
Doctor Odyssey got off to a solid start, drawing 7.59 million live viewers for its premiere and setting a new ABC record for a freshman show. Unfortunately, those numbers sank over time, and the costs eventually outweighed the returns. Improved performance on streaming provided a lifetime, but it still wasn’t enough to justify its pricey budget, leaving Doctor Odyssey stranded out on the high seas. All episodes are currently available to stream on Hulu. As always, stay tuned for any future updates.
Doctor Odyssey
- Release Date
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September 26, 2024
- Network
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ABC
- Directors
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Maggie Kiley, Crystle Roberson, Jennifer Lynch, Michael Medico, Millicent Shelton, Tessa Blake, Bradley Buecker, Steven Canals, Our Lady J
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Joshua Jackson
Dr. Max Bankman
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Phillipa Soo
Avery Morgan
Source: The Hollywood Reporter