ABC’s glamorous new series, Doctor Odyssey, launched last night, right after the exciting Season 8 premiere of 9-1-1. This show takes place on a luxury cruise ship, led by Captain Massey (Don Johnson).
The series aims to be a thrilling procedural, and from its fast-paced premiere, it looks like ABC might have found a new show similar to Grey’s Anatomy.
Fast-Paced Introduction of Characters
In just the first few minutes, Doctor Odyssey presents its lively cast. We meet the ship’s nurses, Avery (Phillipa Soo) and Tristan (Sean Teale), who are eager to see what Captain Massey will do after their former doctor made a mistake. Avery is also hoping to get the newly-opened doctor position. Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson), an impressive and overqualified doctor, joins the crew.
The cruise ship crew’s motto is to “preserve the fantasy,” which Max finds amusing. He learns that patients on cruise ships have unique issues, unlike those in hospitals. The premiere introduces various odd medical cases, like iodine poisoning and penile fractures, giving the audience a preview of what the crew will face.
Doctor Odyssey may also adopt a guest-star-of-the-week format, with Saturday Night Live’s Rachel Dratch appearing as the anxious wife of the premiere’s first patient. The show has a vibe similar to The Love Boat, but without the pure sitcom feel.
Romance Developments in Doctor Odyssey
Romance is an important part of any good network procedural. While some cases may be memorable, the relationships keep viewers interested.
The premiere hints at a love triangle, which is exactly what the show needs. Tristan has a crush on Avery, but the real chemistry appears to be between Avery and Max. Their first case shows Avery’s skills, leading to some playful rivalry between them.
One afternoon, away from patients, Max and Tristan talk about Tristan’s crush on Avery. This results in a funny dance-off between Tristan and Max to “Despacito.” Although Tristan shows off his dance moves, Avery chooses Max as her partner, leading to a heated moment in Avery’s quarters.
However, they quickly realize they are crossing ethical lines and decide to bond over Max’s traumatic past instead. It is too soon to tell how these relationships will develop, but Doctor Odyssey seems ready to have fun with the dynamics introduced in the premiere.
Mysterious Past of Dr. Max Bankman
Over the past four years, the industry has struggled with how to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Some shows pretend it never happened, but network television often includes it in their stories. Since Doctor Odyssey is a medical drama, it is not surprising that the pandemic is part of Max’s backstory.
While talking with Avery, Max shares his near-death experience with COVID, where he was the first patient at his previous hospital. This experience deeply affected him, just like it did many people in real life. He learned to “pursue joy at all costs,” which motivated him to take a dance class and work on the cruise ship.
Joshua Jackson Shines on Network Television
Joshua Jackson has been a well-known face on television since Dawson’s Creek started in 1998. His return to network television comes with Doctor Odyssey, after his role in Fox’s Fringe, which ended in 2013. While he has worked in other series, this show allows Jackson to return to playing a leading role.
Don Johnson also feels at home in Doctor Odyssey. His role is different from his past crime-solving characters, like in Miami Vice and Nash Bridges, but he delivers a strong performance. Both actors excel at turning standard episodes into entertaining and memorable experiences, making their performances enjoyable to watch again.
Expectations for Doctor Odyssey
ABC placed Doctor Odyssey in an ideal time slot, right after the weekly excitement of 9-1-1 and just before Grey’s Anatomy begins its 21st season. The pilot does a good job of introducing the characters and hinting at future storylines. Captain Massey, played by Johnson, is a mysterious character who seems dedicated to maintaining the magic of the cruise experience.
The trailer for the next episode suggests that Episode 2 will show Captain Massey’s character further. One concern about the pilot is that it felt too packed with information. Hopefully, future episodes will focus more on the main cast instead of just the rotating guest stars facing medical emergencies.
With its first episode, Doctor Odyssey gives a great preview of what’s to come, promising an exciting ride ahead—even if Captain Massey insists that the cruise ship is the farthest place from hell.
ABC’s new series Doctor Odyssey premiered after the Season 8 debut of 9-1-1. Set on a luxury cruise ship, it follows Captain Massey (Don Johnson) and his medical crew, including Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson) and nurses Avery (Phillipa Soo) and Tristan (Sean Teale).
Still from Doctor Odyssey (Credit: Hulu)
The show combines medical drama with romance, hinting at a love triangle involving Avery and her coworkers. Max’s mysterious past includes a near-death experience with COVID-19, influencing his decision to work on the cruise ship. The premiere sets up a fun, fast-paced series filled with unexpected medical cases and character dynamics.
Doctor Odyssey airs on ABC on Thursdays at 9 PM ET and is available on Hulu the next day.
This season starts on September 29 and shifts its attention from Daryl, played by Norman Reedus, to his best friend, Carol (played by Melissa McBride). Daryl Dixon takes the story to France, where the apocalypse began. The finale of the first season left viewers wondering if Daryl and Carol will meet again.
In the first season, Daryl ends up on the shores of France after an unknown group kidnaps him. They want to use him as a test subject. After escaping from a ship, he finds the Abbey of Saint Bernadette. There, he meets some surprising allies, including killer nuns.
To get back to America, Daryl joins forces with the nuns and helps them with their mission. However, by the end of the season, returning home becomes more complicated for Daryl. He develops new loyalties and gets caught up in the dangerous politics of post-apocalyptic France.
At the Abbey, Daryl meets Sister Isabelle (played by Clémence Poésy). She brings him into the nuns’ mission to escort a gifted child named Laurent (played by Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) to a safe place called the Nest.
They believe Laurent could help end the apocalypse because his mother gave birth to him after she turned into a walker. It is unclear if Laurent can resist walker bites or if he represents hope—life coming from death.
Throughout Daryl Dixon, Daryl, Isabelle, and Laurent face constant threats and often have to split up to survive, just like in the original series. Laurent’s father, Quinn (played by Adam Nagaitis), even tries to take Laurent away. In the end, Isabelle convinces him to help them, and he sacrifices himself to save Daryl.
Quinn asks Daryl to tell Isabelle and Laurent about his good deed. Daryl agrees, making sure they think Quinn redeemed himself. This shows that even though Daryl seems tough, he has a kind heart.
Daryl successfully brings Isabelle and Laurent to the Nest, where they give him a boat to go home. Before he leaves, he visits his grandfather’s grave, who died in France during the war.
Although Daryl wants to get back to Rick Grimes’ (played by Andrew Lincoln) children, he feels torn because of the new friendships he has made in France. His grandfather’s grave reminds him that some causes are worth fighting for, especially the nuns’ mission to end the apocalypse.
At the same time, Daryl forms a father-son type bond with Laurent and possibly a romantic connection with Isabelle.
Although he has reasons to return to the Commonwealth, people in France now need his help and have become important to him. In the final scenes of Daryl Dixon, we see Daryl on the beach, unsure whether to go home or stay at the Nest with his new family.
‘Daryl Dixon’ Reveals New Walker Variants in Apocalypse’s Ground Zero
The politics of post-apocalyptic France also play a big role in Daryl’s story as he gets involved in it. France is divided between two sides. One side is led by Genet (played by Anna Charrier), a strict commander who controls France and runs labs that experiment on walkers and humans.
This season introduces new types of walkers, such as the burners Daryl faces in the first episode and the powerful walker (called “Ampers” by the creators) he fights while chained to Quinn in a fighting ring at Genet’s base.
This connection also suggests that Rick and Michonne (played by Danai Gurira) only defeated one part of the mysterious organization. They may return in future seasons, especially since the showrunners are planning a major three-way crossover.
Still from The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon (Credit: AMC+)
Genet sees Laurent as a threat because his presence inspires the people of France to stand up against her rule. As a result, Daryl becomes a target for Genet’s forces because he protects Laurent. Throughout the season, the trio must face dangers from the apocalypse and avoid Genet’s soldiers.
Towards the end, they get captured, leading to a showdown between Daryl and the super-powered walker. They are saved by L’Union, the opposing political group. By the end of the season, the people in the Nest prepare for an upcoming war. The question remains: will Daryl join them?
During the season, Daryl, Laurent, and Isabelle are hunted by a mercenary named Codron (played by Romain Levi) and his crew, called the gurriers. Codron is hired by Genet to kill them, but he has a personal reason for wanting Daryl.
In the first episode, Daryl stops a group of thieves who are attacked by Codron’s brother and his friends. Daryl kills Codron’s brother, which fuels Codron’s desire for revenge. Although Codron gets close to the group several times during the season, he confronts them directly in the finale.
He could inflict great pain on Daryl by killing Laurent in front of him, a perfect way to get back at Daryl. However, Codron refuses to harm children and instead shoots at his own men. He tells Daryl, “Not today, Dixon. Next time,” before leaving with his team and returning to Genet.
Even though Codron tries to hide what happened, Genet sees through the lie. The scene ends with Codron facing a serious punishment.
Both Codron and Daryl are now on Genet’s bad side, suggesting they might work together in future seasons. This could give viewers a taste of the unstoppable teamwork that we last saw with Daryl and Rick.
Although Carol does not appear much in the first season, The Book of Carol will focus on her search for Daryl. She has two brief appearances in Daryl Dixon, both hinting at significant events. In her first appearance, Daryl contacts her briefly through a radio.
Carol’s second appearance happens at the end of the finale, showing her strong character. She travels to Maine to find Daryl, the last place he was in America. She confronts a man riding Daryl’s motorcycle and takes him down.
Still from The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon (Credit: AMC+)
She puts him in the trunk of her car and rides off on his bike, determined to reunite with her best friend. Unbeknownst to her, Daryl is torn between his new relationships and returning home.
We can picture her rolling her eyes as she tries to pull him back to America. According to the showrunners, Season 2 will see these stories unfold, with Carol’s search for Daryl creating unexpected situations.
