'Doctor Odyssey' Reviews: "Sleek, well-produced, and addictive, this cruise ship soap has notes of flirty romance but doesn't forget it's a medical drama"

Photo Courtesy of Disney and Tina Thorpe

         On September 26, 2024, ABC premiered 'Doctor Odyssey', which has earned rave reviews from critics. In the series, "Max is the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the small but mighty medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore." The ensemble cast includes Joshua Jackson, Don Johnson, Phillipa Soo, and Sean Teale. But what did the critics say? 

        Joel Keller of Decider says, "Doctor Odyssey, created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz and Joe Baken, is taking the tradition of Murphy’s 9-1-1 franchise and extending it to the high seas. Really, the show isn’t trying to be anything more than a medical drama that floats, complete with crazy cases and people sleeping with each other. And, just like with 9-1-1, a pretty basic premise is elevated by the presence of well-known, very charming stars." Adding, "It helps that Jackson is as slyly charming and watchable as ever, and the chemistry between him and Soo is palpable. Soo is mostly known for her amazing voice and star turns in musicals like Hamilton, but she does quite well here, giving Avery a quiet confidence that permeates every interaction she has. The jury is still out on Teale, whose character Tristan is a pretty standard young hothead who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. But there’s time for him to evolve. Were there a bunch of silly moments in the first episode? Absolutely; Max’s monologue about his COVID struggle was not only too long, but we don’t even know if the timeline matches some of the aspects of his case. Having the medical staff also diving in the ocean to rescue the man that went overboard was a little much. But if you’re looking for veracity in your shipbound medical dramas, you might want to start watching other types of shows."

       Matthew Creith of The Wrap notes, There are inevitable comparisons to be made between “Doctor Odyssey” and “The Love Boat,” as every episode promises a new set of guests and new medical issues for Jackson’s character to resolve. The premiere gave us an underutilized Rachel Dratch, but the series promises more featured players like Shania Twain, John Stamos, Kelsea Ballerini and frequent Murphy collaborators Chord Overstreet and Cheyenne Jackson in future guest-starring roles. “The body is a miraculous healing machine,” Dr. Bankman notes to Avery, calling attention to the many situations he’s faced in his esteemed medical career. But everything about “Doctor Odyssey” so far has trended surface-level amongst the glamorous life on a cruise ship where anything can happen at any moment. The series starts off strong, but it will be fascinating to see where the good doctor takes his patients throughout the season."

       Joly Herman of Common Sense Media praises the series, stating, "Sleek, well-produced, and addictive, this cruise ship soap has notes of flirty romance but doesn't forget it's a medical drama. The Love Boat meets Grey's Anatomy in Doctor Odyssey, serving heady mix of luxurious encounters and sober medicine. Parents should be aware that sex is handled in a straight-forward manner in this show; when a man "breaks his penis," the staff don't joke too much about it, but they do talk about how it can happen. There's a sense in this series that the ship's staff's cohesion is of utmost importance, which serves as a mildly refreshing antidote to a slew of rudderless reality shows."