Doctor Odyssey Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Singles Week
The crew of The Odyssey begins by trying to make it through rough waters. However, the second outing shows potential for smooth sailing ahead. Doctor Odyssey Season 1 Episode 2, “Singles Week,” proves that the show may have the potential for a fun dramedy.
The second episode is far from perfection but it takes some turns in a less cheesy, more structured manner. The adding layers to the characters presents the series with its biggest improvement.
We learn a lot (maybe too much) about Max on Doctor Odyssey Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot.” “Singles Week” allows us to start to get a more intimate and deeper connection with Avery and Captain Robert. Captain Robert’s storyline is the most fascinating part of the episode.
He reacts dangerously to trying to move on from his deceased wife. His whole plot gives him a sweet demeanor and presents a charming story about finding love again, but it also helps him continue to mourn the love of his life.
Doctor Odyssey has an obsession with sexiness, but Robert’s storyline highlights the beauty of love, especially the pure and selfless kind.
The new ABC series will likely have plenty of love stories during its run, so we’ll see plenty like Robert’s romantic woes. However, “Singles Week” reminds us that the TV show needs that one good love story to grab us and keep us tuning in each week to see it play out. Doctor Odyssey cannot survive on just a bunch of hookup tales.
Nevertheless, this dramedy has started the groundwork for Max and Avery to become the show’s main pair, but that doesn’t feel like the right direction. The series should embrace the polyamory lifestyle and just go full throuple with Max, Avery, and Tristan.
Tristan and Max have a bit of chemistry that could also work if they stop competing for Avery and look toward each other. As a Ryan Murphy show, this could happen.
For those rooting for Avery and Tristan (only), that romance takes a major step forward with a kiss. However, it doesn’t seem more than just a kiss because he then kisses someone else, right in front of her.
That choice may surprise viewers because it seems like Avery and Tristan were taking the path of becoming the first paring of the love triangle, aka likely not the end game couple. The fact that may not happen gives Doctor Odyssey some potential to surprise.
It might not follow all the TV cliches and predictability.
We see a lot more displays of love in “Singles Week,” but sex still dominates the series. Chord Overstreet makes a fun guest appearance as a sex addict, man whore.
His appearance doesn’t give us much because he just pops up randomly as comic relief, but it’s a playful reminder that this ABC show loves sex and sexuality.
It’s a sign of the changing times that a network television show can so boldly embrace sex in prime time. It is also progressive because this character has a queer identity, as he sleeps with men and women.
This is why we might not want to rule out the throuple route for Avery, Max, and Tristan. The show is clearly progressive and all three have chemistry.
Doctor Odyssey’s “Singles Week” improves on some of the pilot’s initial issues, like too much explaining, cheesiness, and shock value medical cases. It’s calming itself down into a more interesting dramedy with sex and love as the main focus and goal.
It’s still a show that needs a lot of improvement but could find its way into a really fun show worthy of weekly viewing.
What did you think of this episode of Doctor Odyssey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Doctor Odyssey airs Thursdays at 9/8 CT on ABC.
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