Doctor Odyssey is wasting Avery by not doing a Ryan Murphy tribute episode

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Doctor Odyssey season 1, episodes 1-7.While Doctor Odyssey took a peculiar approach to medical drama, is to ignore the potential of the female lead for a music-centric episode. Ryan Murphy’s latest ABC title has already provided viewers with incredibly memorable moments, from a woman getting frostbite from her breast implants to a couple who overdosed on sweet potatoes. The ship (the namesake “Odyssey”) hosts themed weeks that add an extra layer of fun: Wellness Week, Plastic Surgery Week, and even Gay Week, all complete with esoteric guest stars and bizarre medical emergencies, undercut by surprisingly tender moments of vulnerability.

However, although the program stood out among contemporaries as Grey’s Anatomy and 9-1-1, Doctor Odyssey refuses to fully commit to its camp factor. Doctor OdysseyHis debut was criticized as unrealistic, but that’s exactly what it should be. Instead of trying to approach the lives of medical personnel on a cruise ship as something deeply serious or realistically repetitive, the show needs to enhance what some consider dull work with humor, heart, and humanity. What is missing? Harmony (literally and figuratively).

Doctor Odyssey needs to make a musical for Phillipa Soo’s Avery

The Broadway star and his character deserve to act

Joshua Jackson (Dr. Max Bankman) could be the main attraction at the Doctor OdysseyIllustrious cast, but Nurse Avery is played by a well-known name in theater spaces. Phillipa Soo shot to fame after playing Eliza in Hamiltonbut Soo’s stage career is equally extensive and impressive, including leading roles in To the forest, Camelot, and Amélie: the Musical. In addition to simply showcasing Soo’s talent, a musical episode could clear up inconsistencies in Avery. Her characterization thus far has been inconsistent at best, with mixed signals sent to Tristan (Sean Teale), Max and herself.

Avery’s character ranges from ambitious to stubborn, from flirtatious to possessive, and from supportive to critical – but she never seems to have fun. She’s undergoing potentially fatal surgery, taking a stand against the patriarchy, or wading through her uncertainty: uncertainty about her career, her relationships, and what she wants in life. Although Max and Tristan have their fair share of silly subplots, like the Halloween Week costume contest, Avery remains rooted in the drama. But Avery canonically went to drama campand acting is on her bucket list. A musical episode isn’t just a possibility; that’s what the show owes Avery.

Ryan Murphy has a proven musical track record

This makes it easier for Doctor Odyssey to make a musical week

Adding a few drops of needle at the right time is no stranger to Ryan Murphy. Although he has created many iconic shows throughout his career, few have been as acclaimed as Happiness. Each episode had several musical numbers sung by the cast members to reflect their characters’ feelings, interpersonal relationships, or internal conflicts. Although the jukebox comedy ended in 2015, certain performances remain popular and debates over whether the “Happiness version“It’s better than the original and still remains.

A standalone episode with some tracks recorded by the cast wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate for Doctor Odysseyany. Despite only being halfway through the first season, certain plot points were ridiculous enough for viewers to come up with a theory that everything in Doctor Odyssey It’s a fever dream. Even for the most skeptical viewers, there are ways to make a musical work. The show doesn’t need to suspend disbelief for Avery to start singing; it could be karaoke or a cabaret show on the ship. Regardless of how it’s integrated, Soo and Avery deserve their time to shine vocally.

Doctor Odyssey will return on Thursday, March 6, 2025, on ABC.