Doctor Odyssey's finale might finally be the episode that confirms Max's purgatory theory. Since the beginning of Doctor Odyssey, the medical drama has teased the bizarre theory that Max has been in a coma since 2020 when he became patient 0 during the coronavirus pandemic. The theory has had several strong and weak moments, but it is highly likely that the finale will finally provide all the answers.

With no Doctor Odyssey's cancelation risk in combination with its increasingly dramatic episodes means the season finale will almost definitely announce Max's fate.

Doctor Odyssey's 2-Part Finale Incites Disaster For The Odyssey

The Finale Will Be The First Time Doctor Odyssey Features Natural Disasters

Doctor Odyssey's two-part season finale seems more dangerous than ever as natural disasters strike. As revealed by TV Insider, the final two episodes will be titled "The Wave" and "The Wave, Part 2," respectively. They will see Max leave The Odyssey only to be met with an earthquake and tsunami, which then leads Avery to search for him while Tristan deals with his own issues on board.

The first part of Doctor Odyssey's season finale airs on May 8 at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Like any Doctor Odyssey episode, the finale will include personal drama, but it will also specialize in featuring high-risk scenarios involving rescue missions and medical problems. In addition, since there is still no news about whether Doctor Odyssey will be canceled, the finale is set to be treated as a series finale, just in case there is no Doctor Odyssey renewal for season 2. This not only heightens the stakes for the season finale but also increases its intensity.

Max Going Missing In The Doctor Odyssey Finale Could Reveal His True State

Max's Disappearance Could Align With His Coma's Status

There could be a huge parallel between Max's life on the ship and his life in the hospital in the final episodes of the season. Doctor Odyssey's coma theory heavily revolves around the belief that The Odyssey represents purgatory if not heaven. Max leaving the ship and going missing in "The Wave" could then represent that he is close to leaving his coma. The further he gets from The Odyssey, the closer he is to waking up or even dying. It all depends on the direction of the episode and whether it goes positively or negatively.

Related
I've Changed My Mind, I No Longer Want Doctor Odyssey's Max Purgatory Theory To Come True

Some Doctor Odyssey viewers believe that Max is actually in purgatory instead of on the ship, but it would be a shame if that were true.

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Max leaving to see his family in episode 15, "Crew Week," already deviated from the purgatory theory, but it also may have strengthened it. Max seeing his family could have hinted that he is closer to waking up. He left The Odyssey on a positive note but eventually returned, meaning that he was not out of the woods yet. The intensity of the finale might then mean that Max's survival hangs in the balance of whether he can wake up at all.

What Max's Purgatory Confirmation Might Mean For Doctor Odyssey's Future

The Purgatory Confirmation Could Break Doctor Odyssey

If Doctor Odyssey confirms Max's purgatory theory, it could dramatically change the show. A large appeal has been in the uncertainty of whether Max is actually still in a coma. There have been overt hints that he is, but there have also been many things that do not add up. For example, Doctor Odyssey's crossover with 9-1-1, which saw Athena boarding the ship, does not align with the theory, but it does add intrigue to the show.

The intensity of the finale might then mean that Max's survival hangs in the balance of whether he can wake up at all.

Whether or not the purgatory theory comes true, Doctor Odyssey will be limited in its storytelling. The best bet is to determine the show's ending based on whether it will be renewed. If the show is canceled, it would be best to confirm the coma theory and see Max wake up or die peacefully in the finale. However, if Doctor Odyssey ends before a renewal or cancelation, it might be best to leave the show open-ended, so there is room to explore future stories.

Source: TV Insider

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Doctor Odyssey (2024)

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Doctor Odyssey
Release Date
September 26, 2024
Network
ABC
  • Headshot Of Joshua Jackson
    Joshua Jackson
    Dr. Max Bankman
  • Headshot Of Don Johnson
    Don Johnson
    Captain Robert Massey

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Creator(s)
Ryan Murphy