Joshua Jackson is back on a boat. If you grew up watching Dawson’s Creek, there is a weirdly specific sense of nostalgia seeing him navigate the high seas again, though this time the stakes involve ruptured appendixes and freak rogue waves instead of teenage angst in Capeside. Ryan Murphy’s medical procedural, Dr. Odyssey, has basically taken the "Blue Skies" aesthetic of the mid-2000s and injected it with a massive dose of high-octane maritime drama. But while the medical emergencies are flashy, the real engine of the show is the small, tight-knit crew. The cast of Dr. Odyssey isn't your typical sprawling ensemble; it’s a lean group of four primary leads who have to carry the weight of a massive luxury cruise ship—and the show’s ratings—on their shoulders.
It works. Mostly.
The premise is simple enough. Dr. Max Bankman, played by Jackson, is the new onboard physician for the The Odyssey, a floating city where the wealthy come to relax and, apparently, find inventive ways to almost die. He’s joined by a small medical team and a captain who seems to view the ship as a sacred temple. What makes the casting interesting isn't just the names on the call sheet, but how their vastly different acting backgrounds mesh together in this hyper-saturated, glossy world.
The Leading Man: Joshua Jackson as Max Bankman
Max Bankman is a survivor. Literally. Within the first episode, we learn he was "Patient Zero" for a major illness (a nod to real-world events without getting bogged down in them), and that brush with death has given him a "life is short, let’s drink the expensive wine" philosophy. Joshua Jackson plays this with a specific kind of rugged charm. It’s a departure from his role in Dr. Death, where he was chillingly sociopathic. Here, he’s the guy you want holding the scalpel when the ship is tilting at a forty-five-degree angle.
He has this way of delivering rapid-fire medical jargon that feels lived-in. You believe he knows what he’s doing, even when the script asks him to perform a procedure that seems borderline impossible in a moving infirmary. His chemistry with the rest of the crew is the "secret sauce." Without Jackson’s groundedness, the show might drift too far into the realm of the ridiculous. He keeps it anchored. Honestly, it’s just good to see him leading a broadcast hit again.
The Supporting Trio: Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale, and Don Johnson
The dynamic isn't just about Max. The medical team is rounded out by Nurse Avery Morgan and Nurse Tristan Silva.
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Phillipa Soo, who most people know as the original Eliza Hamilton from Hamilton, plays Avery. It’s a bit of a pivot for her. We’re used to her soulful, heartbreaking performances on Broadway, but here she’s sharp, professional, and clearly the most competent person in the room. Avery doesn’t initially trust Max. She’s seen doctors come and go, and she’s not interested in a "cowboy" messing up her system. Soo brings a level of gravitas to the role that elevates the material.
Then you have Sean Teale as Tristan. If Max is the veteran and Avery is the backbone, Tristan is the ego. Or at least, he starts that way. Teale, who many remember from The Gifted or Reign, plays the competitive tension with Max perfectly. There’s a "who’s the alpha" vibe that permeates the first few episodes. It’s not just about who’s better at medicine; it’s about who belongs on the ship. Tristan has a history with Avery, which adds that necessary layer of soap opera drama that Ryan Murphy shows are famous for.
The Captain in Charge
Don Johnson. That’s the tweet.
As Captain Robert Massey, Don Johnson is doing what Don Johnson does best: being effortlessly cool while wearing a crisp white uniform. He is the moral compass of the ship. He treats The Odyssey as a living thing. The relationship between the Captain and the Doctor is the most important one on the show. Massey needs Max to keep the "vibe" of the ship intact. If people are dying, the dream of the luxury cruise dies with them.
Johnson plays Massey with a mix of fatherly warmth and terrifying authority. When he tells you the ship comes first, you believe him. He isn’t just a guest star; he’s the foundation. Seeing him and Joshua Jackson trade lines is a masterclass in two different generations of TV leading men finding a middle ground.
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Why the Guest Stars Matter
One of the cleverest things about the cast of Dr. Odyssey is the rotating door of guest stars. Because the show takes place on a cruise ship, every week brings a new "crop" of patients. This allows the show to tap into high-profile cameos.
We’ve seen appearances from stars like Shania Twain, John Stamos, and Gina Gershon. This isn't just stunt casting. Well, it is stunt casting, but it serves a purpose. It mimics the actual experience of a high-end cruise where you never know who you might run into at the buffet or the ballroom. These guest stars often play heightened, slightly absurd versions of wealthy vacationers, providing a foil to the more serious, overworked medical staff.
It keeps the energy high. You don't get bored because the peripheral faces are always changing.
The Ryan Murphy Factor and Aesthetic
You can’t talk about this cast without talking about the world they inhabit. Everything is blue. Everything is gold. The lighting is so warm everyone looks like they’ve just had a three-week vacation in Cabo. This "gloss" affects the acting. The performances have to be a bit "bigger" to match the environment.
The show doesn't strive for the gritty realism of ER or the technical density of Grey's Anatomy. It’s "Procedural Pop." The actors seem to know exactly what kind of show they are in. There’s a wink to the camera, a sense that they are having fun with the absurdity of a medical emergency occurring during a "Singles Over 50" night.
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Navigating the Criticism
Some critics have argued the show is too light. They say the cast of Dr. Odyssey is underutilized in favor of "case of the week" theatrics. There is some truth to that. When you have a Tony nominee like Phillipa Soo, you want to see her do more than just hand over a syringe. However, as the season progresses, the writers have started digging into the backstories. We’re learning why Avery is so guarded. We’re seeing the cracks in the Captain’s stoic facade.
It’s a slow burn wrapped in a fast-paced show.
How to Follow the Cast and Show
If you’re trying to keep up with the show, it airs on ABC and streams on Hulu. The social media presence of the cast is actually worth following if you want behind-the-scenes looks at how they film those "ocean" scenes (spoiler: it involves a lot of blue screens and massive water tanks in Santa Clarita, not the actual middle of the Atlantic).
- Check the Weekly Call Sheets: Follow the official Dr. Odyssey Instagram. They often highlight the guest stars for the upcoming episode a few days before it airs.
- Look for "The Making of" Clips: ABC frequently releases shorts showing how Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson prepare for the more technical maritime scenes.
- Cross-Reference with Previous Work: To truly appreciate the range here, watch an episode of The Affair (Jackson) followed by Hamilton (Soo) and then Miami Vice (Johnson). It makes the chemistry on the ship even more impressive when you see where these actors started.
The show is a massive hit for a reason. It’s comfort food with a high production value. While the medical cases provide the "hook," it’s the four people in the infirmary that keep people coming back every week. They’ve managed to create a believable "work family" in an unbelievable setting.
Whether they are dealing with "Plastic Surgery Disasters" or "The Plague," the cast of Dr. Odyssey handles it with the kind of polished professionalism that makes you wish they were your real doctors. Just maybe on a ship that doesn't have such bad luck.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, pay attention to the subtle power shifts between the Captain and Max. It’s the most consistent source of drama on the boat. Also, keep an eye on the background extras—the show uses a recurring group of "crew members" that help make the ship feel like a real, inhabited community rather than just a set.
What to watch next
If you've finished the current episodes, look into the specific filmographies of the leads. Don Johnson’s recent work in Knives Out shows he’s still got the comedic timing that pops up in his role as Massey. Joshua Jackson’s turn in Fatal Attraction (the series) offers a much darker look at the leading man charm he uses so effectively on The Odyssey. Understanding these actors' ranges makes their work on this show feel less like a simple procedural and more like a deliberate choice by a group of seasoned pros having a blast.