The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Dr. Odyssey an epic fail -- but also really funny

newsguy1 · October 15, 2024 2:23 pm

CTV has been playing the crap out of its promo on radio for the new medical TV "drama," "Dr. Odyssey," so I caved in and decided to watch.
Don't know whether to laugh or cry or check myself into the psych ward.
Don Johnson stars with Canadian Joshua Jackson about a medical team on a luxury cruise ship, "Odyssey."
What ensues is a supposed "drama" that makes the "Love Boat" seem like Shakespeare.
Absolutely ridiculous plots, wooden acting, and a small role for Johnson who just smiles and phones in a performance for money and a full time job as the ship's captain who still looks good in a uniform.
I won't go into detail, but the latest eye rolling episode involves the ship hosting a plastic surgery cruise in which an enhanced blond nearly dies from infected breast implants.
Each episode Johnson's captain has to dodge "older women" who keep trying to have sex with him which he rebuffs, cause of his dead wife.

DaCosta · October 15, 2024 2:29 pm

I watched the first episode just because of the Ryan Murphy connection. I thought there HAD to be something nefarious going on but nope, just a bunch of drivel.

RadioActive · October 15, 2024 2:59 pm

Funny you should note this. I actually wrote a review on this show for a website. Here's what it said.

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This is, without question, the single worst TV show I have ever seen. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much but this thing sank faster than the Andrea Doria and was a Titanic failure. It had some of the worst acting and most predictable plotting I've ever seen, and much of it was an insult to the intelligence of anyone who bothered to turn it on.

I simply could not believe what I was watching.

The guy who plays the male nurse had an accent I could not make out, the "instant attraction" between the male and female medicos was both predictable and unreal, the medical emergencies were absurd and I have to admit I wondered how they would come up with enough plots to keep this running for this season, let alone years.

They've already used the "Man Overboard" gimmick in the very first episode. Once they get over the Legionnaire's Disease and the woman forced to have a premature baby at sea, what's going to be left?

I only watched this because Ryan Murphy of 9-1-1 fame was attached to it. But it's beyond resuscitation. I hope this piece of ship falls like a stone, so the network can put something worthwhile in that time slot. Because as it stands now, this boat not only sinks - it stinks. And in the end, Doctor Odyssey is nothing that you oughta see.

Do not get onboard.

In Phase · October 15, 2024 3:13 pm

My wife insisted we watch the first episode

There won't be a second......

newsguy1 · October 15, 2024 3:43 pm

RA, all of your observations are right on.
I am sure this show will join such monumental failures as "Manimal" and "Man From Atlantis," not to mention, "AfterMash."
But, I sort of can't help wanting to see just how laughably bad this show will get.
It's the sort of thing that "Mad" magazine would have gloried in lampooning in its heyday.

RadioActive · October 15, 2024 3:52 pm

The bad news is, I think it's doing well in the ratings. What was that old saying about never underestimating the intelligence of the American public? After all, many of them are voting for Trump!

RadioActive · October 15, 2024 4:26 pm

Some fans have a theory about this show and what may really be going on. At least this ending would justify some of its over-the-top stupidity.

Doctor Odyssey Feels Like a Fever Dream Because It Is a Fever Dream — Here’s Our Not-At-All Crazy Theory

newsguy1 · October 15, 2024 4:46 pm

Ohhh,
I take it all back.
I do indeed think this is what's going on.
The problem is if people don't realize this, they will not watch the show, it will bomb in the ratings and be cancelled, and the producers will not be able to cash in on the secret.
But, boy, yes this explanation really fits.
In the third episode, Avery, the nurse, miraculously does expert surgery on the breast implant patient.
Surgery no nurse could ever do, all this while Dr. Max stands by, seemingly without input as the real doctor.
Also Don Johnson's character of the captain actually says the ship is supposed to be paradise, but it isn't. He adds that the real world exists outside the ship.
OK, because of this I really want to watch the fourth episode to see if there are more clues.
Thanks, RA I think you really have something there.

betaylored · October 15, 2024 6:23 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Funny you should note this. I actually wrote a review on this show for a website. Here's what it said.

------------------------

This is, without question, the single worst TV show I have ever seen.

piece of ship

Quite the review and buoy, you've outpun yourself with the subtle "piece of ship" quip RA 👏⚓

Now I want to check out the show in case it's so bad it's really bad but still somehow seeworthy.

Sounds like someone watched a couple of episodes of Westworld and then in one fell sloop binged Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv and Leonard Nimoy in the brilliant sci fi show Fringe which is J.J. Abrams at the top of his game and came up with Dr. OddySea (sic and on porpoise)

Last edited by betaylored (October 15, 2024 6:43 pm)

dieter · October 15, 2024 9:14 pm

As mentioned here, the show is doing well in the ratings. But as anyone who's been on a cruise knows, a lot of things going on are totally far-fetched. One site had some funny comments from a doctor, a nurse and a veteran crew member. Among the most ludicrous bits -- all of the medical staff leaving the ship to party on the beach, and the nurse practitioner saying she has the same training as a doctor.

mace · October 16, 2024 9:00 am

Is it worse than Cop Rock?

RadioActive · October 16, 2024 9:20 am

I'm probably the only person on the planet who actually liked Cop Rock - what little we got to see of it.

Yes, it was dumb. But it was also very original and had the sheen of all the Steven Bochco shows. Even in the final episode, where Ronny Cox - playing the commander - was given this dialogue in the last scene: "I can't believe they cancelled us!"

And then the whole cast joined in a final song, "Happy Trails To You, Until We Meet Again," the old Roy Rogers theme. I thought it was the perfect way to go out.

DaCosta · October 16, 2024 11:12 am

The article makes much more Murphy-esque sense. Ryan Murphy always has some twist. I might continue to watch with this in mind.

mace · October 16, 2024 4:47 pm

RadioActive wrote:
I'm probably the only person on the planet who actually liked Cop Rock - what little we got to see of it.

Yes, it was dumb. But it was also very original and had the sheen of all the Steven Bochco shows. Even in the final episode, where Ronny Cox - playing the commander - was given this dialogue in the last scene: "I can't believe they cancelled us!"

And then the whole cast joined in a final song, "Happy Trails To You, Until We Meet Again," the old Roy Rogers theme. I thought it was the perfect way to go out.

A total of 11 episodes were broadcast.

RadioActive · October 16, 2024 4:54 pm

The entire series is available for free on YouTube.

RadioActive · October 23, 2024 7:09 am

Canadian TV critic Bill Brioux thinks this show is so bad, you can't help but tune it in.

"Doctor Odyssey is so stupid that I just had to watch another episode. It was essentially a repeat of episode one, just with different medical problems and a different theme."

Paging Doctor Odyssey! Series goes way way overboard!

RadioActive · October 28, 2024 7:23 pm

More evidence that the taste of North Americans is both bitter and bad.

Network TV is indeed doomed to endless mediocrity and stupidity - especially since one success like this always spawns more shows just like it. I may have to go back to reading books!

From the U.S. TV Guide, highlighted in the red triangle.

paterson1 · October 28, 2024 7:50 pm

Haven't watched the show yet, but maybe this Thursday. If the show has quirky humour, I will probably like it! Amazing how a program with only 3.9 million viewers can be the 15th most popular prime time show in the US. What is CTV pulling in maybe 300-400,000 people? Hopefully the advertisers are getting a lot of bonus spots on both networks.

newsguy1 · October 28, 2024 8:19 pm

As I said before, if it is true that Dr. Odyssey is really just a fantasy while the doctor is in a coma from COVID it makes sense.
Just watched the latest episode that takes place on a Halloween themed cruise.
Why is each episode based in a theme cruise?
Again impossible illnesses appear with the latest being a man who sweats pure blood.
The doctor and medical crew all wear Halloween costumes and the doc and his head nurse keep picking the same costume. (Captain Jack Sparrow and Aqua Man sea god).
Once again the medical crew have to deal with emergencies that could not be solved by anything less than Johns Hopkins hospital or the Mayo clinic, all aboard a cruise ship with only three medical staff.
If it is not a fantasy in someone's coma dream the point of the show is simply to see how far the audience is willing to accept complete absurdity.