Doctor Odyssey

So.... I'm in the UK and this show wasn't heavily marketed. I was of the belief this was a serious drama, but I watched the first couple of episodes, stuck to the screen as I couldn't believe how absolutely awful this show was.

The scripts, storyline and characters are all ludicrous and I couldn't believe the show had made it to screen.

But... by episode 3 the penny dropped. This is a Ryan Murphy wet dream. It's supposed to be this bad. It's a bit of fantasy full of beautiful people doing silly things. Once I understood that, I actually started to enjoy it.

It really isn't much more ridiculous than the Love Boat was back in the 70s and 80s. If you're able to suspend belief for an hour, you can relish in a bit of fun TV.

The show clearly has a decent budget. It looks rich on screen and the replica cruise ship they've built is fairly convincing.

I'll keep on watching.

So I'm rooting for this show because I adore Joshua Jackson. Mighty Ducks, Dawson's Creek, Fringe. I've been a fan for awhile. With that said, this show has potential, but it needs some major work. I like that Dr. Bankman seems teachable and is quick to humble himself. His backstory however, just lazy. Seriously, that's what they came up with. The whole patient zero thing, earned an eye roll. The situation with, Avery was cringey and forced. I'm glad of how it went but did the first episode really need it. Then the supposed tension with Tristian, again was forced and unnecessary. For this to be a major network show, the writing seems amateur.

As far as the technical stuff, I've never been on a cruise so I just take it for what it is. However, the whole 3 hours from land, but no medevac helicopter, has me questioning what the writers really thinks of their intended audience. I may not know much about ships, helicopters and medicine, but even that seemed far fetched.

I'm really hoping this gets better fast. Otherwise, it won't last.

Don't expect a serious medical drama here or a laugh out loud comedy.

It's light-hearted. A balancing act with the cruise theme with related-medical situation(s) of the week and the dynamics of the different characters.

The characters are all fairly likeable and with enough diversity for a 30+ audience demographics.

As another reviewer wrote Joshua Jackson in the lead does his best "Clooney" and is charming. With Jackson and Johnson, they got the Baby Boomer, and Gen X covered. The new faces Soo, and Teale covers Millennials and Gen Z.

The ultimate question is given the demographic coverage, can the characters make meaning connections to the audience based on the story and their performance to keep the show going.

I personally enjoy it as a nice distraction from reality shows, and serialized drama that takes themselves too seriously.

The Bacchanalia were Roman festivals of Bacchus, the Greco-Roman god of wine, freedom, intoxication and ecstasy. With this series, that's what to expect.

I like the setting and the cast. The guest stars are awesome. The production is excellent. The handful of episodes I've seen so far... they've been interesting enough. A few good stories. The views are pretty (although the outside of the ship is pretty "meh" in the long shots).

But honestly - there's just too much debauchery and too many intimately contracted diseases being dealt with (eeew, right?). The stories could be played out without so many icky symptoms among the guests. I'll keep watching but I hope this series can find a way to tell fun stories without the ick factor.

Don't you hire a doctor and nurse to help you with the medical issues - it looks like you are making them up!!!

Cardiac Catheterization at sea - I don't think so!! A heart monitor showing flatline they are calling V-tach!!! No!!!

Please hire a doctor who knows ships doctor's protocols and a nurse who understands nursing!!!

Also a doctor on a ship - who is the only doctor would never be drinking!!!!

How about real beds with linen for our patients who just coded!!

I'm sorry - is this the future? Did I miss that part of the story?

I hate to say it but Bernie Kopell from the Live Boat was more realistic!!