ABC renewed virtually all of its present scripted collection this week, save for one: Physician Odyssey. The cruise ship-set medical drama made a giant splash when it debuted on the community final fall, premiering between confirmed procedurals 9-1-1 and Gray’s Anatomy. But, regardless of its buzzy arrival — with the teaser trailer changing into the most-viewed ever for a community present with 77.8 million views in two days — the present’s future is unsure presently.
So why is Physician Odyssey at present on the bubble?
Properly, forward of the announcement of ABC’s renewals (for 9-1-1, Gray’s Anatomy, The Rookie, Shifting Gears, and Will Trent), Physician Odyssey was reportedly being thought of for cancellation as a consequence of a mix of prices and lagging rankings.
Deadline reported that the expense of manufacturing the present is giving the community pause — particularly because the rankings took a slight dive from the premiere (down from 13.6 million cross-platform premiere viewers within the first week to a mean of three.5 million) — about launching one other season. As such, the season finale is reportedly being made to doubtlessly function a collection finale. (Selection added some extra figures to the combo, reporting that Physician Odyssey‘s pilot acquired 16.5 million cross-platform viewers in its first 35 days, with 5.96 million within the first week in September and 5.19 million for a newer episode.) In different phrases, the present is likely to be too costly to make if the recurrent rankings don’t justify it.
Followers of the present have expressed their hopes that ABC will ship out an SOS for Physician Odyssey. In the meantime, collection lead Joshua Jackson additionally expressed his hopes that they’ll launch a second collection of theme week enjoyable, telling Vulture, “I’m actually hopeful the reception is powerful sufficient for them to offer us a second season. I strive as finest as I can, only for my very own psychological well-being, to not dive in too deep.”
Given the versatile setting of the ship-based present and its scorching drama parts, we’re within the camp of hoping for its renewal as nicely.
Why ought to Physician Odyssey be renewed?
There’s numerous promise to the premise of this collection that you simply received’t discover wherever else on TV proper now, and the present takes full benefit of it, too.
The theme weeks preserve the brand new arrivals contemporary.
Every week, there’s a brand new theme and coterie of recent characters (with buzzy visitor stars clearly having a blast) that carry distinctive energies, backgrounds, and prerogatives to the story. The circumstances have to date been something however extraordinary and definitely not repetitive because of that framework. (On the identical time, as Shania Twain proved, visitors can nonetheless be recurring, so there’s potential for lengthier story arcs in the event that they work.) Because the central storyline progresses, with the Max-Avery-Tristan triangle backdropping all the display journey, the introduction of a bevy of recent passengers retains the waters from getting too muddy on the present.
The love triangle is as partaking as any TV ‘ship.
Usually, it takes even the soapiest drama present a few seasons to get wherever close to love triangle territory, however Physician Odyssey dove in toes first — with a threesome and a ensuing being pregnant and child daddy thriller, no much less! The Ody3 fandom got here collectively rapidly because of this, and lots of followers are very, very critical about that ‘ship.
That sort of no-holds-barred storytelling deserves to be rewarded. If we’re getting all this within the first few episodes, think about what sort of twisty territory could be ready on the subsequent port of name for this present.
Disney / Tina Thorpe
We’ve to search out out if there’s an otherworldly aspect to this.
The fixed references to heaven and brilliant lights sprinkled into the present — plus the truth that the title boat is called after one of many best epics of all time — have justifiably satisfied some followers there’s one other layer to this ship than meets the attention. To date, that principle hasn’t panned out, however that doesn’t imply there’s no room to discover it extra. And as Jackson instructed Vulture, the solid and creatives are open to it.
“The one particular person on earth who will get to make that call will probably be Ryan [Murphy], however he likes the thought,” he mentioned. “Our writers are additionally in these message boards and are tweaking folks alongside the way in which, however possibly they’re simply laying the groundwork. I actually don’t know, however I’ll discover out a few weeks earlier than everyone else if it does go that means. I’m legitimately all for it. I feel it will be hysterical as a result of then you can do loopy issues. Are we in Dante’s Inferno? Can we undergo the seven circles? Are we in purgatory one season, then it’s hell, then we’re in heaven?”
Even when the season finale does go there, giving audiences a little bit of satisfaction on that principle entrance, we might positively need to see extra of it than a last-minute affirmation.
It’s simply plain enjoyable.
The perfect half about Physician Odyssey is that it’s simply plain enjoyable. It’s the definition of an escapist present, and goodness is aware of we want all we are able to get of that these days.
Physician Odyssey, Thursdays, 9/8c, ABC