To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this show. I will definitely watch anything with Joshua Jackson since he has been one of my favorites forever. And seeing that Don Johnson was also going to be a part of it kept me intrigued. But I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a show able to keep my focus. Then I watched this episode and quickly realized I shouldn’t have worried. There was more than enough going on to keep me hooked the entire time. And wanting more when it was over. A dance off, multiple medical emergencies, some mystery, and a jump on romance. That’s a whole lot of all the good things for a first episode. And it has definitely left me wanting more! So keep reading for my Doctor Odyssey 1×01 review!
From Creek to Ocean
You know there was no way I was going to write this review without mentioning how incredible Joshua Jackson is at least once. He’s simultaneously aging like a fine wine and not aging at all. His acting skills continue to mesmerize and leave me wildly impressed. I never know what to expect from him but I know it’s going to be amazing. You also should’ve known I was going to at least make one pun about Dawson’s Creek. Come on! That was a staple of my younger years (team Pacey forever)! I love the full circle moment of going from a rebel with a heart of gold at the creek to a seriously talented doctor on the ocean. I’m here for that. His character Max has been through a lot. And Avery was absolutely correct when she said he was overqualified. But that just leaves me wanting to know more.
I appreciate the knowledge and experience Max has. But I think he also has a lot of hope. When the young girl, Rhea’s (we see you, Rachel Stubington!) boyfriend went overboard, he didn’t give up the hope. While he used his medical knowledge and past experiences to figure out if them man could possibly be alive, he held out hope even though the odds weren’t in his favor. Plus, that epic dive into the water to save the guy? Yeah, we definitely have a badass over here. Did I expect the romance to blossom that quickly between Max and Avery? Heck no! But I was definitely here for it. I appreciated that they didn’t end up actually doing anything except bonding and genuinely speaking with one another. Also, I don’t believe Avery for a second when she said it won’t happen again. It is definitely happening again.
Work Like A Captain, Play Like A Pirate
I really liked that saying when Tristan said it. And I think it suits the vibe of the series as well. Because Tristan made a lot of interesting point during his spiel to Max. As staff, the ship is their home, it’s so much more than a week away or a vacation. For them, it’s their way of life. So it isn’t a fantasy for them. It’s their reality. But I also am not sure how I feel about Tristan. I can get on board with a character who challenges authority. But it seems like more than that with him.
And I can appreciate him being upset about Max moving in on Avery right after he admitted to having feelings for her. But he also seems like he is just kind of a dick. Calling Max Judas? Really? Come on, man. He seems a little full of himself, but that could come from feeling confident in his abilities and the time spent on the ship. He seems like a playboy who also thinks he should be able to be with Avery. Come on, man. You don’t understand why she doesn’t see you as a potential romantic partner and yet you are hitting on women and clearly sleeping with them. But then he turns around and was pretty friendly to Max at the end of the episode. Make up your mind, man!
Work and Play
There is definitely a strange line between work and play with this show. But I like it. It makes things very unpredictable. One moment, they are going to a black tie event on the ship and the next they are running to medical to solve a crisis. There is no way of knowing when or how there is going to be a medical emergency on a cruise ship. Something I never thought about until now. So thanks for that.
But it does make for an interesting roller coaster as there are no set shifts for anything. The crew seems to get a break and are able to have some time to themselves when the passengers are on one of the islands for the day. But when they are all on board, there is no telling what is going to happen or when it is going to happen. It’s going to be interesting learning about the different ailments that are typical on a ship, like seal’s disease. And the ones that are not so typical.
Charming or Suspicious
The captain is giving me strange vibes. He seems chill and extremely charismatic. But that last part is expected since I don’t feel Don Johnson’s characters can be anything but wildly charismatic. It comes naturally to him. Though there is something strange about him. When he was talking to Max about keeping the fantasy alive, I felt there was so much more being said under the surface. Or maybe that’s just me being suspicious because of so many of the other shows I’m watching now. Either way, it definitely left me very curious about this character. And I feel like I didn’t get to learn nearly enough about him in this first episode. So hopefully there will be more focus on him as the season goes on. At least enough to see what the man is about and how he came to be the captain of the Odyssey.
What did you think of Doctor Odyssey 1×01? Have you decided to add this one to your watchlist? Are you excited to see what the rest of the season will hold? Do you have any predictions for where the season will go? Or what kinds of different medical crisis will pop up? What did you think of how quickly the relationships were forming and changing? Did you love it? Where do you see the relationships going as the season progresses? What did you think of Captain Robert Massey? Do you think there is more than meets the eye when it comes to him? Find and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads to discuss all things Doctor Odyssey 1×01! Be sure to also check out our site for more articles, quizzes, podcasts and more on all things Disney and beyond!
