Now thatDoctor Odysseyhas been unofficially canceled by ABC, lingering questions from the first season will likely never be answered. Despite the star-studdedcast ofDoctor Odyssey— including Broadway darling Phillipa Soo (Avery Morgan) and network favorite Joshua Jackson (Max Bankman)— the kitschy spiritual successor toLove Boatfailed to earn a second season due to creator Ryan Murphy’s reluctance.
Nevertheless, the medical drama raked in impressive ratings and an avid fanbase across its freshman season, leaving many disappointed by the news of its default cancelation. Fortunately, the season 1 finale already functions as a series finale, solvingDoctor Odyssey’s exhausting love triangleand offering most of the ensemble their own happy ever-after. Yet, there were still many loose ends.
7Will Max & Avery’s Relationship Survive?
The Tumultuous Couple Ended Season 1 Committed
From the first episode ofDoctor Odyssey, it was clear Max and Avery would have some sort of relationship, be it a will-they/won’t-they or classic slow-burn. In fact,Avery’s feelings for Max do a complete 180 within episode 1 alone. The Nurse Practitioner goes from resenting the new doctor aboard theOdysseyto feeling undeniable sexual chemistry with him.
As the season progresses, Max and Avery become one of the most volatileromances inDoctor Odyssey. Max craves stability and commitment while Avery dreams of independence and forging her own path. Their values seemed totally incompatible, but theDoctor Odysseyfinale has Avery profess her love for Max nonetheless.
It’s hard to believe that a dramatic love confession is enough to give Max and Avery’s relationship a strong foundation. Given how often Max and Avery were tested inDoctor Odysseybefore they were a committed couple, season 2 would have either broken the pairing up or shown how they overcome the many challenges of a new, long-distance relationship.
6Will Tristan Find His Perfect Match?
The Nurse Was Always The Third Wheel
Before Max and Avery confessed their feelings, there was Tristan Silva (Sean Teale), the third member of theOdyssey’s medical crew and perpetual third wheel. For most of the season, Tristan was trapped inDoctor Odyssey’s most useless subplotby acting as a conflict for Max and Avery. Tristan’s alleged“love”for Avery turned him into a mere plot device.
In hindsight,Avery cruelly led Tristan on, using him for casual sex when she knew his feelings ran deeper. Granted, every member of the cursed love triangle seemed to take one step forward, ten steps back inDoctor Odyssey. Avery would reject Max, Tristan would move on, and Max would let go, only to quickly reset to square one.
If he was truly ready to move on,Doctor Odysseyseason 2 could have given Tristan a healthy relationship to seriously pursue.
However,Tristan gave up on Avery for good in theDoctor Odysseyseries finale— or so it seemed. The shirked love interest supported Max and Avery’s romance, vowing he would stop chasing unavailable women. If he was truly ready to move on,Doctor Odysseyseason 2 could have given Tristan a healthy relationship to seriously pursue.
5Did Vivian Stay On The Odyssey After Breaking Up With Tristan?
The Chef Was Rarely Seen In The Second Half Of The Season
Sadly, Tristan could have had a loving partner if he had forgotten Avery earlier on inDoctor Odyssey.Vivian (Laura Harrier) joined the ship inDoctor Odysseyepisode 3 as a chef, immediately striking up a flirtation with Tristan. The two explored a casual relationship, but Vivian expressed her desire to become more serious inDoctor Odyssey’s midseason finale.
Strangely, despiteVivian and Tristan’s chemistry inDoctor Odyssey, Vivian seemingly disappeared in the second half of the season. She only returns once, in episode 15, for Tristan to break her heart. She was under the impression that they were in an exclusive relationship, butTristan abruptly tells Vivian he still loves Avery, effectively ending their dalliance.
Vivian deserved better than a silent sendoff, but it’s unclear if she quit her job to avoid seeing Tristan or stayed on theOdysseyand simply never crossed paths with the main characters again.Doctor Odysseycould have clarified her fate and, if she remained onboard, expanded her role.
4Is Captain Massey’s Job Really Safe?
Corporate Could Have Targeted Him
The leader ofDoctor Odyssey’s luxury cruise shipwas Captain Robert Massey (Don Johnson), the only main character who worked outside the ship’s infirmary. Throughout the season,Captain Massey revealed important details about his pastand encountered entirely new adventures and challenges in the present. From experiencing a cardiac event to navigating shark-infested waters, Massey faced it all.
The captain faced more adversity than natural disasters, however. Lenore (Gina Gershon), the wife of the cruise line’s owner, extorted Massey early on in the season. She leveraged her husband’s authority to force Massey’s hand, threatening him if he disobeyed. Later on, Massey became a target for corporate after he ignored protocol to rescue civilians during an earthquake/tsunami.
The captain would have been fired, but theOdyssey’s crew bands togetherin the season finale to save his job. Massey tearfully expressed his gratitude, but there was no telling if he was truly out of the woods.Doctor Odysseyseason 2 would have revealed if Massey’s position was under fire or if the ship’s bureaucrats turned the other cheek.
3Will Tristan Beat His Alcoholism?
The Serious Subplot Was Introduced Late In Doctor Odyssey
Doctor Odysseywasted Tristan’s characterby constantly tying him into Avery and Max’s drama, but the medical drama occasionally gave the nurse his own storylines. Unfortunately, most of Tristan’s independent plots went unresolved, like his dying mother, who was introduced during Plastic Surgery Week and then never revisited.
In the closing episodes of the season,Doctor Odysseyintroduced Tristan’s struggles with alcoholism.
Rather than give Tristan closure for existing storylines,Doctor Odysseyintroduced an entirely new conflict at the last second. In the closing episodes of the season,Doctor Odysseyintroduced Tristan’s struggles with alcoholism. After revealing the somber plot, Tristan’s sobriety was sidelined and only brought up to add higher stakes to other conflicts like the love triangle.
Tristan relapsed in theDoctor Odysseyseason finale, but sobriety is a long and arduous journey.Doctor Odysseyseason 2 could have given the storyline the sincerity it deserves and allowed it time to progress beyond an eleventh-hour plot. Without a romance to distract him, Tristan could have even sought out professional help for his addiction.
2Will Captain Massey Reconnect With Heather?
Shania Twain’s Character Left A Big Impression
There were many celebrity guest stars throughoutDoctor Odysseyseason 1, but none were as important to the overarching plot as Shania Twain’s Heather. Originally just another passenger, Heather was a widow who caught the attention of Captain Massey. The two have a brief, but romantic connection before Heather exits the ship.
Surprisingly, Heather returns in the second half ofDoctor Odysseyto rekindle their flame. Captain Massey is immediately elated to see her, but his feelings grow more complicated whenHeather reveals she is pregnant with the captain’s child. Sadly,Heather’s pregnancy inDoctor Odysseywas only temporary, as Massey later reveals she had a miscarriage.
After losing the baby, Heather cuts off all contact with Massey, but the captain continuously attempts to reach her nonetheless. Whether Heather was too distraught to see him again or simply needed time alone to grieve,Doctor Odysseyseason 2 could have given Heather and Massey a less tragic ending.
1Was Everything In The Odyssey Just A Purgatory Vision?
The Theory Would Always Be On The Backburner
Following the series premiere ofDoctor Odyssey, a theory spread like wildfire that suggested the titular cruise ship was actually an allegory for purgatory. Given Max’s backstory from his near-death experience with COVID-19, many believed the events of the medical drama were nothing more than a coma dream.
Theending ofDoctor Odysseyseason 1didn’t confirm the bizarre purgatory theory, but the ridiculous soap opera-adjacent plots and wacky medical emergencies maintain a level of otherworldly absurdity. If Max had dreamed up the entireOdyssey, the dramatic twists and turns would be rendered inconsequential, potentially ret-conningDoctor Odysseyin its entirety.
Still,Doctor Odysseyseason 2 may have refrained from giving a definitive answer either way regarding the theory. It’s possible the procedural would have kept the potential purgatory twist on reserve, waiting to commit or discard the idea until the very end. Unfortunately,Doctor Odysseywill never have the opportunity to offer clarity now that ABC has confirmed its cancelation.
