Threesomes, purgatory theories, medical mysteries: 'Doctor Odyssey' may be the most bonkers show on TV. Joshua Jackson wouldn't have it any other way.

There’s no shortage of new medical TV shows out now. The Pitt is all the rage for its intense real-time format. St. Denis Medical shows the comedic side of hospital employment.

Doctor Odyssey is making waves in its own way, though. It’s an over-the-top drama about the fictional Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson) and his two nurses on board a cruise ship, which may or may not be a metaphor for purgatory. They navigate medical mysteries from STD outbreaks to shrimp-induced iodine poisoning.

Each episode of Ryan Murphy’s latest series follows a different-themed week on the cruise, complete with its own buzzy guest stars. Halfway through its first season, the only three members of the ship’s medical staff (Jackson, Sean Teale and Phillipa Soo) have already had a threesome.

Yahoo Entertainment spoke with Jackson, Teale and Don Johnson (who plays the Odyssey’s captain) about the chaos and fun of the Ryan Murphy series ahead of its midseason return.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

When I’m telling people about Doctor Odyssey, I always lead with the fact that there’s a threesome among coworkers within the first half of the first season. Why do you think the show was so quick to take the love triangle to the extreme?

Joshua Jackson: Ryan Murphy. I don’t think Ryan has the ability to dial things down to even 10. He wanted to do a love triangle, and he was like, well, the natural conclusion of that love triangle is that they’re all having sex at the same time. So we get to that as quickly as possible.

Sean Teale: I think being on the ship also — in those confined spaces — amplifies and compounds all the things you’re going through anyway. Maybe if we were on land and had other places to go to not be around each other, it would have taken a few seasons for us to all sleep together. Also, the boat —

Don Johnson: The ship.

Teale: The ship — sorry, captain — the ship is a fantasy land, and I suppose for some people, that is a fantasy.

Jackson: Oh, really?

Teale: I’m not sure who.

The show is also known for its steady rotation of guest stars, who appear for certain theme weeks and then move along. Who would be your dream guest star?

Teale: Steve Martin would be hilarious.

Jackson: I’ll go with George Clooney.

Johnson: That’s an interesting choice. Want me to call him? Gosh, this is a tough question because I don’t want to piss off the other 855,000 actors out there.

Teale: That are all your friends, apparently?

Johnson: Yeah, I’ve worked with all of them. You know who would be fun to have on the show? Oprah.

Teale: Steve Martin, George Clooney and Oprah walk onto a boat.

Johnson: Maybe together!

Jackson: That’s the next threesome on the show.

Do people ever tell you that the show impacted their desire to go on a cruise, positively or negatively?

Teale: Yes! I was at an event, and someone kindly said that they liked the show. Their partner, who was a producer, was like, I am never going on a cruise like that! The boat seems way too intense —

Johnson: The ship.

Teale: Captain, I’m sorry. We’ve wrapped, you see. But yeah, a few people have told me it seems really stressful.

Jackson: I have not had that experience because I don’t talk to people. I just go home and sleep in my cryopod and then come straight back to work.

I know you’ve all heard the fan theories that the ship is actually purgatory, or that [Jackson’s character] Max is in a COVID-induced coma and dreaming about his experience here.

Jackson: All of those things are true.

Do you encourage people to keep developing fan theories, or to calm down and enjoy the ride?

Jackson: Lean all the way into it.

Johnson: There’s some theories going on out there that, I mean — I don’t know if they’re conspiracy theories — but if they’re true, I’m really proud to be a part of this thing.

Teale: We lean into them, so they should too. They’re going to find out some things in the second half of the season that are going to be really interesting

I promise my next question is more normal.

Jackson: You’re assuming we’re normal?

You got me. The trailer shows there’s a new doctor coming on board soon. What can you tell us about her?

Teale: The wonderful Adrianne Palicki joins us.

Jackson: A wonderful addition, both on camera and off, right? A nice new playmate for us here, and on camera, we have another doctor. So now the dramatic tension inside of that space is not just that Max is the voice of authority — now there's somebody else to make him accountable inside of that space, which I think is very good.

Teale: I think you need to be kept in check.

Jackson: I think so too.

Teale: And I am, in the hierarchy of medical professionals, at the bottom, so I don't get to do it. And I've been dying for someone to put him in his place.

Jackson: I’m sick of myself!

I also saw that Shania Twain would be coming back soon. Don, she was a love interest for your character — what does that mean for him?

Johnson: I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about it.

Jackson: The lightning bolt will strike.

Johnson: I loved working with Shania. I’ve been a fan. I’ve had a crush on her forever. And I told her! She took it very well, actually. She’s got a wonderful husband — Fred? Is that his name?

Teale: I really hope so, man.

(Jackson jokingly storms out of the interview but quickly returns.)

Welcome back! In a sea of doctor shows, why does Doctor Odyssey stand out?

Jackson: Because it's in the sea.

No —

Jackson: I'm just saying it back to you! OK, it floats above the competition. What’s the scale we’re using here? From “these people could actually do medical procedures on you” to “you’re dead”?

Yeah, let’s use that one.

Jackson: I feel like Grey’s Anatomy — those people could do medical procedures on you.

Teale: It’s definitely very medical-y, isn’t it?

Jackson: And Scrubs would be the opposite end of the spectrum. You’re dead if you enter that hospital. I think our needle points toward Grey’s Anatomy.

Teale: We get some serious medical stuff in the second half of the season that really ramps up. The surgeries we filmed are intense — really proper. I didn’t expect to be pulling back — yeah. It was wild. The prosthetics are amazing.

Jackson: Turns out human bodies are disgusting. They’re nice when they’re all in one piece, but when they’re down to their component pieces — that’s not as nice.

This show has me wanting to go on a cruise but not have a body.

Jackson: Ah, an AI cruise.

Teale: Or maybe the ship is heaven, and you’re already deceased and in the great hereafter.

Jackson: Sorry you had to learn about your death that way!

Doctor Odyssey airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.