Every time I think Doctor Odyssey cannot get any crazier, a geriatric pregnancy-sized bomb (or something of the like) comes out of nowhere.
Doctor Odyssey Episode 12 (“Sophisticated Ladies”) is all about women of a certain age finding moments of happiness on The Odyssey with younger men onboard. Don’t call it “Cougar Week,” though. Even though there is an ice sculpture of a cougar on the ship, it’s a sore subject.
Each week of the Ryan Murphy-produced dramedy brings guest stars aplenty, but this week might just take the cake as TV royalty in the form of Charlie’s Angels alum Jaclyn Smith and Knots Landing star Donna Mills board for a week of laid-back cruising. Emphasis on “laid.”
Also on board The Odyssey this week is returning guest, Heather (Shania Twain), who hooked up with Captain Robert Massey (Don Johnson) back in Episode 2, “Singles Week.” This time, she is not-so-single as she has brought another passenger along with her. If you haven’t connected the pieces yet, I do indeed mean that she, like Avery (Phillipa Soo), is experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. Because, why not, right?
The pregnancy bombshell from Heather — who thought she was going through menopause, by the way, prior to her positive test and blood panel — is certainly not the only cause for drama on this week’s episode. The show, which kicked off with Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson) explaining that he took the job on The Odyssey after nearly losing his life to COVID-19, tackles its first coronavirus case and reinfects Max, who is still terrified from his first go around.
Max takes virus protection so seriously that the episode begins with him offering everyone in the weekly Odyssey poker game a newly-arrived booster and then lambasting anyone who chooses to forego the shot. He also is more than willing to risk a lawsuit from Olivia (Mills), who is confined to her quarters after testing positive, as he refuses to watch bodies pile up again from the virus. It’s essentially Max’s version of the PTSD flashbacks Dr. Robby in The Pitt is experiencing week after week.
Elsewhere, Delia (Smith) is taking the cruise with her much younger beau, whom she has deceived into thinking that her cancer has gone away. She relies on Tristan (Sean Teale) to keep her medications and treatments under wraps until an allergic reaction causes her to come clean to her lover and caretaker. It’s a heartbreaking moment as she admits that she doesn’t want him wasting the youngest years of his life watching over her, which he immediately rebukes. It’s exactly the kind of May-December romance we can get behind.
Meanwhile, Max starts to experience COVID-19 symptoms and tests positive, requiring him to quarantine with the combative passenger who got him sick. The two do everything they can to pass the time, even talking about their lives outside of the cruise, which is when Max opens up about losing his mother at the beginning of the pandemic, pre his own coma. As the two are chatting on the open pool deck, Olivia experiences a medical emergency, causing Max to rush her to the hospital suite for care as she battles myocarditis, a.k.a. an inflammation of the heart. No worries, she quickly recovers and is reminded to take care of herself and her health.
Meanwhile, Heather experiences spotting while chatting with Captain Robert and the two rush her to see Avery, who confirms via ultrasound that the pregnancy is still viable and in tact. Avery also shares her own baby news with Heather as a way to connect and the two share a sweet moment as expectant moms who have no idea what to expect.
The episode ends with a clean bill of health for Max and an uneasy moment of uncertainty for Avery, who is still very much unsure of whether to pursue a relationship with Tristan or Max. The love-triangle will just have to unfold on next week’s episode, “Spring Break,” which will surely bring even more drama.
Watch the first 12 episodes of Doctor Odyssey on Hulu now.
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