Warning: SPOILERS forDoctor Odysseyseason 1, episode 18, “The Wave, Part 2.”
There have been countless ups and downs leading up to theDoctor Odysseyseason 1 finale, but the crew of The Odyssey leaves the story in a good place while awaiting renewal. TheDoctor Odysseycastrate among the series’ primary selling points for many fans, but the real star of the show is the off-the-wall story that unfolds across the episodes. From a lovestruck throuple to a routine orca attack, the series has covered ground that most other medical dramas would leave firmly untrodden.
It remains to be seen whether the show gets renewed, but it seems likely the story will get even zanier inDoctor Odysseyseason 2. Until then,theDoctor Odysseyseason 1 finale ends optimistically enough to double as a series finale if needed. And it seems likely that the series will earn a sophomore season, considering thatDoctor Odyssey’s ratingshave topped even those of ABC’s long-running hit dramaGrey’s Anatomy. If the show does get another season, it will be entertaining to see how they keep up the momentum after a few major story beats in the finale.
Avery’s Game-Changing Decision Explained
Ever since the three-way tryst between Max, Avery, and Tristan in episode 6,Doctor Odyssey’s love trianglehas been one of the core features of the show. But Max threw that out the window when he confessed that he was in love with Avery. Despite getting to explore exciting new challenges like running her own impromptu emergency wing and assisting a surgery performed with a power drill,Avery spent both halves of the finale struggling to decide whether she secretly shared Max’s feelings. By the end of the season, she arrives at an answer.
Avery’s main problem with entering a real partnership with Max is that she doesn’t think she can manage a long-distance relationship while trying to pass med school at the same time. But after initially deciding to put her career first,Avery concludes in the final moments that she loves Max enough to juggle career and romance at the same time. This is a great season closer, but it does raise the question of how to bring Avery back for a second season. Hopefully, the show’s possible renewal won’t mean Avery’s education has to fail in order to justify her return.
Doctor Odyssey Season 1 Ends With Both Max & Massey Staying
Dr. Max Bankman and Captain Robert Massey don’t interact much in theDoctor Odysseyseason 1 finale, but they do both take part in a particularly touching scene toward the end. One of the mainunanswered questions after theDoctor Odysseyseason 1 finaleis whether the show will come back at all, butthere was a period during which it seemed as if the finale would write off either Max or Massey. This likely would have been a temporary exit meant to help the season 1 finale double as a series closer in case the series didn’t get renewed.
But whether their exits would have been undone inDoctor Odysseyseason 2 or become permanent, both were avoided. Although he couldn’t picture life on the ship without Avery after she leaves for school,Max embraces the Odyssey as a fascinating adventure set somewhere between Heaven and Hell. And while Massey was nearly fired after defying orders to help the tsunami survivors, the crew changes corporate’s minds by threatening to quit in unity if Massey doesn’t keep his job. The ship would feel wrong without Robert or Max, so keeping both makes a stronger case for renewal.
Tristan Proves Himself As A Capable Medical Worker
His Dedication To The Job Was Nearly In Question
Although he’s more than qualified by most real-world standards, Tristan hasn’t been given a chance to prove himself as a medical professional to the same extent as Max and Avery. He’s had his moments, butAvery tends to be in the right when she and Tristan disagree on how to proceed with a patient. On top of that, Avery has to remove Tristan from a procedure in theDoctor Odysseyseason 1 finale because he’s too hungover from the night before to be reliable.
This obviously raises the question of whether Tristan’s apparent relapse will continue or even worsen inDoctor Odysseyseason 2, since he was already fairly new to recovery. However,Tristan makes the most of his time flying solo by delivering a baby without help from Avery or Max, utilizing only the assistance of a Spanish-speaking midwife onboard the ship. Although his temporary assistant does a lot of the heavy lifting, this hopefully sets Tristan up to pursue more big firsts as a medical professional if the series continues.
How Doctor Odyssey Season 1 Finale Sets Up Season 2
Is The Series’ Throuple Finished For Good?
Prior to the crew reaffirming his faith in himself as a captain, Massey had been going through an existential crisis following the loss of his baby with Shania Twain that made it seem as if he might step away from the ship. Now that he seems happy with his place, he’ll need a new throughline inDoctor Odysseyseason 2.First Officer Monroe is set up to play an even more important role in the next season as well, especially after his brief stint as acting captain in the finale.
Assuming she doesn’t come back from med school on bad terms, The Odyssey may additionally require at least a temporary replacement for Avery at the start of next season. Meanwhile,Tristan’s AA group could demand a more substantial role if he’s to keep developing his skills as a nurse without further complications. But if there’s one thing Avery and Tristan share, it’s that they’re both going to have to start exploring their love lives from a new perspective now that their throuple seems to have dissolved into something more platonic in the wake of Avery and Max’s relationship.
What To Expect From Doctor Odyssey Season 2
Max’s Coma Theory Likely Won’t Gain Much Ground
Given theDoctor Odysseyseason 1 finale’s rather grounded ending, it seems unlikely to expect much from theDoctor Odysseycoma theory, althoughcertain lines from the finale will inevitably still have some fans convinced that The Odyssey is a dream Max is living in Purgatory. If the series does continue, they’ll likely either resolve that theory or add some fun bait to keep the theory’s supporters on the edges of their seats. But the main thing to expect fromDoctor Odysseyseason 2 is a deeper dive into the relationships developed over the first season.
Max and Avery haven’t spent one full day on The Odyssey as a traditional couple, so their relationship might hit some bumpy waves as they attempt to navigate it. Tristan will also likely find a new romance, having seemingly forgotten about Vivian in all but one episode ofDoctor Odysseyseason 1’s latter half. And while the crew navigate new relationships and professional goals, the outlandish theme weeks should get nuttier than ever while future two-parters raise the stakes enough to rival tsunamis and orca attacks, all of which equates to a smashingly fun season if the series returns.
Doctor Odyssey
WHERE TO WATCH
Doctor Odyssey is set aboard a luxury cruise ship where Max, the new on-board doctor, and a small, resourceful medical team confront unique medical crises and interpersonal dynamics while isolated miles from shore.
