The fate of Doctor Odyssey hinges on one man, Ryan Murphy, and that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Despite the show's strong ratings and intriguing setup, ABC has made it clear that Doctor Odyssey season 2 will not happen without Murphy's green light. That's a surprising amount of pressure to place on a single creator, especially when broadcast TV is usually all about long-term potential.

Doctor Odyssey isn't just another midseason filler; as another Ryan Murphy TV show, it was a high-profile launch with a straight-to-series order and a big-name cast. The series managed to pull in over 13 million viewers across platforms in its first week, proving that audiences are here for high-stakes, ocean-bound medical drama. Yet even with that success, its future remains unclear, not because the network lacks confidence, but because Ryan Murphy might not feel like coming back.

Ryan Murphy Is Apparently The Only Person Who Will Decide Doctor Odyssey's Future

ABC Execs Say It's Murphy's Call, Even With Strong Ratings

While most broadcast shows live or die by ratings and network strategy, Doctor Odyssey is taking a more unusual route. Despite its successful launch and large audience, ABC is deferring entirely to Ryan Murphy to decide whether the show sails into a second season. That's a rare level of creative control, especially for a network drama.

Disney Television execs Craig Erwich and Eric Schrier have both confirmed that the ball is firmly in Murphy's court. Their comments suggest that ABC is ready to renew Doctor Odyssey, but Murphy's crowded calendar is the holdup. With his slate already packed with 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, and All's Fair, he may not prioritize a return to the high seas.

This setup leaves Doctor Odyssey in an unusual holding pattern, not because it failed to perform, but because its future depends on whether its creator wants to keep going. In the world of network television, where data and scheduling needs often drive decisions, that's a surprising (and potentially risky) departure from the norm.

Why Murphy Deciding That Doctor Odyssey Is Only Good For 1 Season Doesn't Make Sense

A One-and-Done Plan Doesn't Match Broadcast TV Logic Or Viewer Demand

It's strange to think that Ryan Murphy, a broadcast and streaming TV veteran, would create Doctor Odyssey with just one season in mind. As someone who knows the rhythms and expectations of network television, he would be well aware that broadcast shows are typically built for longevity. That makes the idea of a one-and-done concept feel completely out of step with industry norms.

ABC clearly believed in Doctor Odyssey's potential, giving it a rare straight-to-series order and skipping the traditional pilot process. On top of that, its debut drew a whopping 13.6 million cross-platform viewers in the first week, numbers most new shows dream of. With that kind of strong start, limiting it to just one season feels like an unnecessary waste of momentum.

Doctor Odyssey Being a Long-Running Series Is Difficult But Not Impossible

The Cruise Ship Concept Has Legs, If the Writing Stays Creative

There's no denying that Doctor Odyssey's setting, a medical team aboard a luxury cruise ship, poses unique storytelling challenges. The ship's confined environment and mobile nature make it harder to maintain the procedural rhythm of more traditional hospital dramas. However, those very constraints also give the show a distinct identity that sets it apart in a crowded genre.

The first season already proved the concept can stretch farther than expected, incorporating large-scale emergencies like a tsunami and juicy romantic drama to keep things fresh. Guest stars, exotic ports of call, and evolving character relationships helped give each episode a sense of novelty. With the right writers' room and some smart narrative pivots, there's no reason the show couldn't chart multiple seasons of compelling content.

Ultimately, whether or not viewers get more Doctor Odyssey comes down to Ryan Murphy's interest, but the case for renewal practically makes itself. The ratings are strong, the premise is unlike anything else on network TV, and the first season laid solid groundwork for more. All that's missing is Murphy's willingness to steer the ship a little farther.

SOURCE: Decider