Doctor Odyssey Episode 17: Release date news, time, streaming details and more

Doctor Odyssey keeps winning over more and more hearts, carving out its place as one of the most beloved drama series of 2025. Now, all eyes are on the much-anticipated Episode 17, The Wave, which promises to raise the stakes and the emotions even higher.

Set to premiere on ABC on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the episode will also land on Hulu and Disney+ the very next day for those who prefer to catch up via streaming.

After the emotional whirlwind of the last episode, fans are eager and a little anxious to see how The Wave will raise the stakes even higher. With the season racing toward its finale, every decision, every glance, and every heartbeat aboard the Odyssey now feels heavier than ever. Viewers have grown deeply attached to these characters, making every twist of fate hit closer to home.

What is Doctor Odyssey

At its core, Doctor Odyssey is more than just a medical drama; it is a story about resilience, redemption, and connection. Created by David Shore (House M.D.), the series follows Dr. Max Bankman, played with aching sincerity by Joshua Jackson.

After watching his career and personal life slip through his fingers, Max ends up aboard a hospital ship that sails not just unpredictable seas but the even stormier waters of the human heart.

Life on the Odyssey is a constant balancing act, where life-and-death emergencies, political power plays, and buried personal battles collide without warning. It is a world where heartbreak and hope walk hand in hand, and every small victory feels like it has been fought for with everything they've got.

Main cast

Joshua Jackson as Dr. Max Bankman: a surgeon striving to rebuild both his career and his soul.

Phillipa Soo as Avery Morgan: the ship's brilliant chief nurse who anchors Max's wavering heart.

Sean Teale as Tristan Silva: the steadfast security officer with secrets of his own.

Don Johnson as Captain Robert Massey: the Odyssey's seasoned commander and a father figure to many onboard.

Episode 17 plot: The Wave

The Wave is set to deliver one of the season's most gripping hours yet. Reeling from his raw confession to Avery, Max decides to step away, but fate has other plans. An earthquake strikes just as he disembarks, and the resulting tsunami warning throws everything into chaos.

Cut off from the ship he calls home, Max must navigate a devastated landscape and race against nature itself to return. Meanwhile, Avery, Tristan, and Captain Massey are faced with impossible choices as they fight to keep their crew and patients safe.

Expect a perfect storm of suspense, heartbreak, and heroism as the Odyssey team is tested like never before.

How The Wave fits into the overall plot

Since its opening scenes, Doctor Odyssey has been a slow burn of emotional growth and self-discovery. Max's journey has never been just about healing others; it has been about learning to heal himself.

His vulnerable confession in Double-Booked was a seismic shift, and The Wave shows that real growth often comes at the most terrifying moments.

The looming tsunami is more than just a plot device; it is a symbol of the emotional tidal waves the characters must survive if they hope to emerge stronger on the other side.

Audience and critical reception

Doctor Odyssey hasn’t just captured viewers, it has built a loyal community that tunes in week after week. Averaging 4.2 million viewers according to Nielsen ratings, the series has quickly become a quiet powerhouse. Critics have also been swept away, giving it a strong 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Much of the praise centers around its deeply heartfelt storytelling, performances that hit with real emotional weight, and a rich, almost touchable atmosphere that brings every scene to life.

Joshua Jackson’s performance as Max has been a revelation, layered, vulnerable, and achingly real, bringing to life a man torn between the hope of redemption and the weight of old regrets. Behind it all, David Shore’s sure-handed direction keeps even the show’s most sweeping moments grounded in something raw, honest, and unmistakably human.

With The Wave, the show is poised to further cement its reputation as one of television's most emotionally resonant new series, and fans are hoping this journey doesn't end anytime soon.

What to expect next

With only two episodes left after The Wave, the Odyssey's future, and that of its beloved crew, hangs in a delicate balance. Every choice matters now, and survival will demand not just courage, but an openness to forgiveness, love, and change.

Mark your calendars for May 8, and don't miss The Wave, a night of television that promises to sweep you off your feet and straight into the heart of the storm.