Doctor Odyssey Season 1 Episode 16 Review: Double Booked
Joshua Jackson still has it. The most thrilling part of Doctor Odyssey Season 1 Episode 16, Double Booked,” is Max’s declaration of love to Avery. He doesn’t want just sex because he loves her.
This isn’t a revelation because his feelings for her have been obvious to anyone paying even slight attention to the series. However, Jackson’s declaration reminds us of how he thrives in romance. The Avery and Max pairing has not been my cup of tea.
It felt so boring and standard. Additionally, I prefer Sean Teale and Phillipa Soo’s chemistry to Jackson and Soo’s chemistry. However, Doctor Odyssey has always been leading to a Max and Avery romantic ending.
I have always accepted that outcome, but wasn’t invested in it.
In “Double Booked,” Max can change my mind in one swoop. His love confession makes me want to see Avery and Max end up together. Full credit goes to Jackson for reminding us of his swoon-worthy ways, even 20+ years later.
Additionally, the series has been very inconsistent with Tristan. He defaults back to his carefree, slutty ways. This is unfortunate because he has been having decent character development that has made his character more fascinating and layered.
However, choosing to begin a just sexual relationship with Avery shows a regression. He, like Max, should have rejected this proposal. He loves her too much to accept casual intimacy.
Yet, no Tristan is down to pound. I want better for Tristan than Doctor Odyssey.
Overall, “Double Booked” feels like a step backward for the series. It relies on predictable outcomes instead of capitalizing on some of its progress.
In particular, Robert and Heather losing their baby feels predictable and disappointing. The series could have been revolutionary with a baby story for characters over 50. Instead, it takes the safe route of a miscarriage.
Not to say by any means that this is a safe route, and anything other than a devastating storyline. However, Heather isn’t on the show to showcase the weight of the loss. Robert is, but he’s barely on it enough to understand this hurt.
Doctor Odyssey could have approached such a sensitive and heartbreaking storyline with a little more care. It feels more like a plot device than something that deserves a deeper and more tender approach.
The series has a few more episodes left in the first season, so it may explore this topic further, but it could have been done better so far. The show also didn’t need two baby storylines if they were both going to be heartbreaking and lead to no baby.
“Double Booked,” the main theme of a traditional wife versus a sex positive guru, is an interesting concept. These are two very hot-button topics. The drama uses them to showcase one of the series’ strengths: it doesn’t judge.
It highlights some problems and perks with each lifestyle choice. There is even a moment where they reach commonality. The series presents both topics and allows the viewers to judge and form their own opinions.
It may be too simplistic for some, but this is an ABC TV show that’s overall ridiculous. Therefore, you can’t really expect too much in terms of these complex topics.
“Double Booked” has a fascinating theme, a charming declaration of love, but feels a bit like a misstep when the show began to build an upward trajectory.
What did you think of this episode of Doctor Odyssey? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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Doctor Odyssey airs Thursdays at 10/9 C on ABC.
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