Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Doctor Odyssey season 1, episodes 1-7.While Doctor Odyssey has taken a quirky approach to medical drama, it's ignoring the female lead's potential for a musical-centered episode. Ryan Murphy's latest ABC title has already given viewers incredibly memorable moments, from a woman getting frostbite on her breast implants to a couple overdosing on sweet potato. The ship (the eponymous "Odyssey") hosts themed weeks that add an extra layer of amusement: Wellness Week, Plastic Surgery Week, and even Gay Week, all complete with esoteric guest stars and outlandish medical emergencies undercut by surprisingly tender moments of vulnerability.

However, though the show has made a name for itself among contemporaries like Grey's Anatomy and 9-1-1, Doctor Odyssey refuses to fully commit to its camp factor. Doctor Odyssey's premiere 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 deeply serious or realistically repetitive, the show needs to sharpen what some think of as a dull job with humor, heart, and humanity. What's missing? Harmony (literally and figuratively).

Doctor Odyssey Needs To Do A Musical For Phillipa Soo's Avery

The Broadway Star And Her Character Both Deserve To Perform

Joshua Jackson (Dr. Max Bankman) may be the headliner of Doctor Odyssey's illustrious cast, but Nurse Practitioner Avery is played by a well-known name in theater spaces. Phillipa Soo skyrocketed to fame following her portrayal of Eliza in Hamilton, but Soo's stage career is equal parts extensive and impressive, including principal roles in Into the Woods, Camelot, and Amélie: the Musical. Aside from simply showcasing Soo's talent, a musical episode could clear up inconsistencies in Avery. Her characterization thus far has been fickle at best, with mixed signals sent to Tristan (Sean Teale), Max, and herself.

A musical episode isn't just a possibility; it's what the show owes Avery.

Avery's character fluctuates from ambitious to stubborn, flirtatious to possessive, and ive to judgmental — but she never seems to have fun. She's either undergoing potentially fatal surgery, taking a stand against the patriarchy, or wading in her uncertainty: uncertainty about her career, her relationships, and what she wants out of life. While Max and Tristan have their fair share of silly subplots, like the Halloween Week costume contest, Avery stays rooted in drama. But Avery canonically went to theater camp, and performing is on her bucket list. A musical episode isn't just a possibility; it's what the show owes Avery.

Ryan Murphy Has A Proven Musical Track Record

This Makes It Easier For Doctor Odyssey To Do A Musical Week

Adding some well-timed needle drops isn't anything foreign for Ryan Murphy. Though he's created many iconic shows throughout his career, few have risen to as much acclaim as Glee. Every episode had multiple musical numbers sung by cast to reflect their character's feelings, interpersonal relationships, or inner conflicts. Though the jukebox comedy ended in 2015, certain performances stay popular and debates over whether the "Glee version" is better than the original still rage on.

A standalone episode with a few cast-recorded tracks wouldn't be terribly out of place for Doctor Odyssey, either. Despite only being halfway through its first season, certain plot points have been ridiculous enough for viewers to concoct a theory that everything in Doctor Odyssey is a fever dream. Even for more skeptical viewers, there are ways to make a musical work. The show doesn't need to suspend disbelief for Avery to burst into song; it can be karaoke or a cabaret show on the ship. Regardless of how it's integrated, Soo and Avery both deserve their time to vocally shine.

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