Doctor Odyssey: 5 Ways to Save This Sinking Ship in a Potential Season 2

The odds aren’t looking good for a Doctor Odyssey renewal, but we’re here to throw Ryan Murphy’s seafaring soap a life preserver.

The ABC sudser wrapped its freshman run back in May, and has yet to be renewed by the network for a Season 2 — and we worry it won’t be given the luxury of a second chance. To start, Season 1 averaged only 4.8 million weekly viewers (with delayed playback). And, out of the six dramas that ABC aired this TV season, Doctor Odyssey outdrew only Grey’s Anatomy in total viewers. Secondly, Season 1 ended with an episode that felt a whole lot like a series finale. (Read our recap.) It would make perfect sense for the series to be cancelled, or simply be lost at sea forever without any official word on its status.

Despite all signs indicating that this ship is sinking, I’m not giving up hope on this glitzy guilty pleasure. That being said, I do have some constructive feedback. Below, I’m breaking down five ways to steer the Odyssey in the right direction so that the series can cruise through a successful sophomore run.

Commit to TVLine’s Fever Dream Theory

Photo : Courtesy of ABC (inset: ABC screenshot)

I simply will not — no, cannot — let the Fever Dream Theory die. And it’s not only because I strive to be 100% correct on all things at all times. I truly do believe that the series needs some depth, and the Fever Dream Theory would be the perfect antidote. Yes, it’s fun to watch a frothy little show about hot doctors rescuing people at sea, but, surprisingly enough, even hot people can get stale. What’s keeping us invested in our crew? In our passengers? In the ship herself? We need a stronger foundation — something bigger than Avery’s non-pregnancy pregnancy — to keep us watching and keep us wondering what might happen next. The show needs to confirm our theory, so we can continue to debate the intricacies and easter eggs that arise in life-and-death limbo. By confirming at least some aspect of our theory is real, the show has plenty of opportunity to play with the specifics: Is this ship purgatory proper? Or is it heaven? Is it hell? Are we dead, alive or barely breathing?! The possibilities are as vast as the ocean on which the Odyssey cruises.

Bring Bobby on Board and Expand Our Crew

Photo : Courtesy of ABC (3)

The demise of 9-1-1′s Bobby Nash (played by Peter Krause) was one of the most shocking TV deaths of the year! But if Doctor Odyssey would just commit to the Fever Dream Theory, the character doesn’t have to be gone forever. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Bring Bobby on board! The man may have exited the Earthly realm, but his soul might still be searching for his final resting place. With Bobby on board, the ship can welcome him into their crew, creating more opportunities for dynamic conflict, romance and friendship! Plus, Krause’s star power and top-notch acting could do wonders in keeping this thing afloat.

And I wouldn’t stop there. The group dynamic needs to be more complex; we can’t keep beating the throuple horse. Why not bring on Adrianne Palicki as a series regular? (She was, after all, one of the best Season 1 guest stars!) During her short time on board, Palicki’s Brooke forged independent relationships with both Avery and Max. Should she come on full-time, her friendship with Avery could offer some much-needed emotional high points, while her flirtatious dynamic with Max could raise the stakes among this romantically woeful group. The series could even bring on some of the other supporting characters as series regulars: Heather (Shania Twain) and Lenore (Gina Gershon) are just a couple of possibilities.

Give Avery a Personality

Photo : Courtesy of ABC

If I have to hear Miss Avery (Phillipa Soo) announce she wants to go to med school one more time, I’ll throw myself overboard. Beyond her desire to become a doctor, what do we know about this woman? What are her imperfections? Her unique neuroses? What does she like about Tristan and Max? What is she looking for in a romantic partner? Avery’s entire Season 1 personality revolved around her male counterparts’ perception of her, and her pregnancy. (A pregnancy that, by the way, ended up being a false alarm.) Avery repeatedly demanded time and space to think over her future, but her actual feelings or opinions about a possible pregnancy, a possible relationship and or her possible career remained a mystery. Let’s give this girl the opportunity to go a little deeper so that we can identify with her a little more.

Conjure Up More Medical Chaos

Photo : Courtesy of ABC

The series started on such a strong note: Iodine poisoning from shrimp? Silly! A fractured penis? Outrageous! Give us more of that! The sea-mergencies lost their luster the longer Season 1 went on. Incorporating more chaos on board could go one of two ways: The Doctor Odyssey creative team could set out to tell the absolute strangest medical mysteries that have ever actually existed, or they could completely make up emergencies that probably would never actually happen but would make for thrilling TV. I’m talking innie belly buttons so deep that they leak all over the pool deck, or passengers getting dragged behind the ship after tripping over a rope. (And they survive!) Let’s consult Saturday Night Live’s Sarah Sherman to up the ick factor so we can get this ship rockin’ and rollin’ a la the Triangle of Sadness vomit scene.

Give Us the Musical Episode We Deserve

Photo : Courtesy of ABC

How Doctor Odyssey could air an entire season without tapping into the vocal talents of Broadway star Phillipa Soo is nothing short of criminal. Did you see her at the Tonys during Hamilton’s 10th anniversary performance? The woman is an acclaimed vocalist! A star! How could that be ignored? For Doctor Odyssey — a show that strives to deliver a high-octane, campy, glitzy hour of television each week — a musical episode just makes sense. Even if Soo wasn’t a part of the equation, I’d demand it. The fact that it might actually be good is just an added bonus.