After weeks of speculation,the sexy boatwillnot return for a second season on ABCas it sinks to the bottom of the Situationship Seas. The splashy cruise ship medical dramaDoctor Odyssey, fromRyan Murphy, has beencancelled by default —yes you read that right — as cast contracts are set to expirethis Mondayandwill not be renewed, according to multiple sources. The show’s crew has also moved on, many transitioning to other Murphy productions.
While the show has not beenformally cancelledby ABC, insiders told Deadline that the decision not to exercise cast options effectively ends the series as we know it. If the show were to continue — either back on ABC or possibly on Hulu, where it performed better in streaming —entirely new cast deals would have to be negotiated. As of now, no such discussions are in motion.
“I really loveDoctor Odyssey, I think it’s a wildly inventive show, and we’re doing everything we can to support it,” saidDisney TV Studios chief Eric Schrierlast month. “That decision ultimately lies with Ryan Murphy, whether Ryan wants to continue to do it, and he feels like there’s stories to tell that he feels confident in.” So far, Murphy has not commented on the cancellation or whether he intends to resurrect the series elsewhere.Doctor Odysseywas one ofABC’s most ambitious launches of the year, billing itself as aGrey’s Anatomy-at-sea hybrid. With its A-list cast — led byJoshua Jackson,Don Johnson,Phillipa Soo, andSean Teale— and a lush, expensive cruise ship setting, the series seemed tailor-made for network prestige.
And it worked — at first. The premiere drew7.59 million live+3 viewers, making it ABC’sbiggest drama debut in four years, and ballooned to13.6 millionwith cross-platform viewing. But subsequent episodes saw a steep decline, dipping to3.5 million viewers, even with a promotional bump fromAngela Bassett’sguest appearance. With rising costs and slipping viewership, the network’s hesitation grew.
Why Was Doctor Odyssey Cancelled?
Reportedly,Doctor Odysseywasone of ABC’s most expensive scripted series, with high production demands tied to its unique cruise ship setting, and a cast that didn’t come cheap. That cost-to-return ratio played a significant role in the decision not to pick up cast options for Season 2. Despite its short run,Doctor Odysseyfound fans who appreciated its commitment to “sexy network television,” includingCollider’sMaggie Lovitt.
“With its pilot episode,Doctor Odysseygives an excellent sampling of what’s on the bill and promises to be one hell of a ride—even if Captain Massey swears the cruise ship is the furthest from hell you can get. Sexy network television is back, and, boy, we’ve missed it.”
Though ABC has docked the series, it’s worth noting thatDoctor Odysseyperformedbetter on Hulu, and Murphy has a long history of migrating his shows between platforms. Sources toldDeadlinehe’s currentlyweighing creative optionsand hasn’t ruled out a revival — albeit under new contracts and potentially a different format.
Doctor Odysseyis still available to stream onHulu.
Doctor Odyssey
Source:Deadline
