The cast ofDoctor Odysseyhas answered a major question regarding the upcoming crossover with9-1-1. ABC is home to both9-1-1andDoctor Odyssey, two hit procedural series fromcreator Ryan Murphy. His latest medical drama will see9-1-1’s Sergeant Athena Grant-Nash (Angela Bassett) joining Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson) and his team on boardThe Odysseyto investigate a potential heist of the luxury ship’s vault during Casino Week. The ABC crossover event will air March 26, and feature Jackson and Bassett alongside Sean Teale, Don Johnson, and Philipa Soo.
In an interview withScreenRant’s Rachel Foertsch,theDoctor Odysseycast discussed how the crossover will address Athena’s return to a cruise ship, considering her harrowing experience in9-1-1’s season 7, where she and her husband Bobby narrowly survived a sinking cruise liner. Read what they had to say below:
Joshua Jackson:Athena is definitely not pleased to be back on a cruise ship.
Jackson:She makes that very clear.
Sean Teale:Yes, we do refer to it.
Jackson:She does not want to be here.
Johnson:But we also do some things that I think will be really exciting for her fans, as well, because we do a lot of nice things about dolling her up, bringing her to the party. And she’s amazing. I loved working with her. It just fits.
Teale:And that episode is written slightly differently. We have different ways of filming it too. So the whole thing is its own event, actually. It’s really fun. The ship feels different. It’s an event of its own kind. It’s good. It’s really fun.
What This Means For The Doctor Odyssey & 9-1-1 Crossover
Doctor Odyssey Will Not Overlook Athena’s History
Athena’s return to a cruise ship in theDoctor Odysseycrossover is a significant moment for her9-1-1character. In season 7 of9-1-1, she and Bobby found themselves in a life-or-death situation when their honeymoon cruise was taken over by pirates and ultimately capsized. Thecast ofDoctor Odysseyconfirms thatthe crossover event will not ignore Athena’s maritime trauma, making her return a meaningful—and well-dressed—display of resilience rather than a glaring continuity issue.
5 Things To Remember Before Doctor Odyssey Returns In 2025
Doctor Odyssey’s pilot season made a splash with its first eight episodes, but Ryan Murphy’s medical drama is nearly done with its midpoint hiatus.
The crossover is a major step inconnectingDoctor Odysseyto the larger Murphyverse, which has experienced some sizable changes as of late.9-1-1: Lone Starwrapped up its final chapter in February, and the next spinoff,9-1-1: Nashville,is gearing up for its debut later this year. IfAthena’s appearance inDoctor Odysseyproves as successful asGrey’s AnatomyandStation 19’sfrequent collaborations in the Shondaland universe, this event could pave the way for deeper narrative ties between9-1-1andDoctor Odyssey—or even more ABC character crossovers in the future.
Our Take On Athena In Doctor Odyssey
A Crossover To Bring New Energy To Both Shows
Addressing Athena’s traumatic past with cruise ships is sure to be one of the most intriguing parts of the upcoming crossover event.The Odysseycrew could help the field sergeant regain confidence before returning to9-1-1season 8. Don Johnson assured Athena will be treated well on board, even noting she’ll be “dolled up” in a setting unlike anything9-1-1fans have seen before. It’s an exciting new dimension to the Murphyverse, givingDoctor Odysseya chance to spice up the latter half of its premiere season while revealing a different side to the long-beloved character Athena.
Doctor Odyssey
Cast
Doctor Odyssey is set aboard a luxury cruise ship where Max, the new on-board doctor, and a small, resourceful medical team confront unique medical crises and interpersonal dynamics while isolated miles from shore.
9-1-1
9-1-1 is a television series that explores the intense experiences of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. Premiered in 2018, it follows these emergency responders as they navigate high-pressure situations and attempt to balance their demanding work with personal challenges in their own lives.
