Doctor Odyssey, the latest show in the endless assembly line of Ryan Murphy productions, feels like network TV catnip. The ABC drama focuses on the medical crew of a luxury cruise ship, who are tasked with looking after the many eccentric vacationers and their unique medical emergencies onboard. It’s a frothy soap with plenty of melodrama and weird medical showcases. If you ever wanted a cross between Royal Pains, The Love Boat, and the grosser moments in 9-1-1: Lone Star then this is the show for you.
Anchoring this drama is Max Bankman, the easy-going and charismatic doctor who leads the crew on their many voyages. He’s played by Joshua Jackson, a man who was practically tailor-made for this kind of character. Jackson has a laid-back but authoritative presence and manages to walk the fine tight-rope between drama, humor, and absolute nonsense that Doctor Odyssey revels in.
It's hard to imagine anyone else pulling this off, especially as the show seems perennially on the edge of total nonsense (and has already inspired some fan theories that the entire thing is a metaphor for purgatory!) It’s early days so the series could go anywhere, but whatever happens, it’s just a delight to have Jackson front and center on a show. It's a reminder that he is and has long been one of our great TV heartthrobs.
