‘Doctor Odyssey’ Officially Canceled at ABC: Fans React
ABC has sunk fans’ hopes for Doctor Odyssey Season 2, having canceled the medical drama after one season.
Doctor Odyssey’s demise was all but guaranteed yesterday, Friday, June 27, as Deadline reported that ABC was letting the cast’s options expire, freeing those actors to pursue other projects. Now, however, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed the show’s cancellation, and fans are reacting to the news on social media.
“I’m very disappointed,” @josephcollins54 wrote on X. “I was really starting to like this show.”
@midnightbakerNZ said, “Well, f***. Why can’t we have nice things? A show that’s beautiful, nicely written, [featuring a] charismatic cast, and filled with kindness and compassion. ABC, we need good shows like this. What a pity.”
Tina Thorpe/Disney
That cast included Joshua Jackson as Max Bankman, a doctor working aboard a luxury cruise ship; Phillipa Soo and Sean Teale as Max’s coworkers (and occasional bed partners), Avery Morgan and Tristan Silva; and Don Johnson as Robert Massey, captain of the Odyssey. Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken created and executive-produced the series.
Doctor Odyssey certainly had people talking during its one and only season. Buzzy moments included a 9-1-1 crossover, a threesome between its lead characters, and a season-finale tsunami.
But the Doctor Odyssey hype didn’t translate into ratings success. The show’s total viewership dropped from 4.2 million to 2.5 million as Season 1 aired, and the 18-to-49 rating dipped from 0.40 to 0.19, according to TV Series Finale.
The show also hit unscripted drama, however, when three former crew members sued 20th Television and Disney over alleged sexual harassment on set.
Since April, Doctor Odyssey had been the only scripted ABC series still awaiting a renew-versus-cancel decision, per Variety. And at a Motion Picture & Television Fund event on Sunday, June 22, Jackson fielded a question about the show’s fate. “They haven’t told us yet,” he replied.
For the show’s fans, no news was bad news.
“The silence made me think it was coming, but it still hurts,” @just_zutara wrote on X.
“It was a great show. So disappointed!” @EsseGi567 said.
And @CharCubed said, “Sigh. Network TV execs still aren’t ready to allow a groundbreaking [polyamory] slow burn flourish.”
Conversation11 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
R
Not necessarily a good show, but an entertaining one. Don Johnson was easily the star of this series!
5
-
G
This was a fun show. Shame it got cancelled but not surprised, sadly. The question, as always, is WHAT'S going to replace it? Will it be a legit, scripted show or some garbage can "reality" show? God help us if it is and you know WHY network TV is failing.
5
-
P
I think they are pushing us to purchase streaming services. Guess I won’t be watching much regular tv.
1
-
C
I think you are right. Guess I won't be watching much TV period.
-
-
G
ABC USED TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE TV STATIONS TO WATCH, BUT SOME IDIOT CANCELLED THE SHOW CAUSE ITS NOT MAKING 10 MILLION DOLLARS. OMG HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE FOR REAL, DONT THEY GET LIKE 1 OR 2 MILLION FOR A 30 SECOND COMMERCIAL. LOVED THE CHARACTERS AND STORY LINE. WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF ABC SHOULD BE FIRED. YA AND HAVE SOME RICH PERSON BUY ABC PUT THE SHOW BACK ON THE AIR AND INSTRUCT THE WRITERS TO MAKE IT GOOD AGAIN.
-
C
All these channels are screwing the public. Taking decent shows off for game shows reality and nothing good like we used to have. No wonder they lose audiences. Maybe they should fire more bosses to be able to pay the actors. CEO and high up get way too much money too much middle management.. if someone can afford million dollar houses multiple places. Multiple cars and be able to eat unlike many these days They need a lesson from low class citizens.
-
G
Don’t watch ANY new ABC shows . They cancel many after one seaon . You will always be disappointed . .
-
G
The people have spoken. The trajectory was down, down, down.
1
-
R
Of all the good shows that have been cancelled, they finally chose one that deserved to be publicly hanged!
3 7
-
G
Agree totally
1 1
-
-
G
Good. That show was an embarrassment. The only thing it had going for it was the handsome lead resembled Harvey
1 6
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services