If this really is the end for Doctor Odyssey, Ryan Murphy is going down like the captain of the Titanic and having the orchestra play him out.

**Spoilers ahead for Doctor Odyssey Episode 17**

The Odyssey frequently features renowned guest stars, yet it’s still surprising how comfortably Annie Mumolo, Jonathan Bennett, Jim O’Heir, Christopher Gorham, and Natalia Cigliuti appeared in the next-to-last episode. Given that this is a show under the production of Murphy, who has a history withGlee and is no stranger to potential cancellation risks, it’s a bit more understandable that he might have called in a few favors.

Along with more guest stars, the drama intensifies too. In this episode titled “The Wave,” Dr. Max (played by Joshua Jackson), Avery (Phillipa Soo), Tristan (Sean Teale), and Captain Robert (Don Johnson) find themselves facing not one, but two natural crises — one occurring on land, the other at sea. While stationed in Mexico, the crew and guests of The Odyssey disembark for a day of relaxation by the coast, only to have their day disrupted by a sudden earthquake, which then leads to a tsunami alert. During the chaos, a passenger falls off a cliff, injuring his knee, which forces Max and Barry (O’Heir) — a chatty coroner aboard with his fiance — to help him back. In an urgent decision for safety, before Max and the others can return, the ship departs to protect everyone from potential danger.

Turning to emotional turmoil, following Max’s confession of love to Avery in Episode 16, “Double-Booked,” their relationship is anything but straightforward. The episode kicks off with Avery criticizing Max for his self-serving declaration, knowing full well it further complicates things as she is preparing to depart for medical school soon. Still, thoughts of Avery are what motivate Max as he, Barry, and the injured guest race to reach safer ground in anticipation of the impending tsunami.

Back on board, Tristan and Avery are in charge of the infirmary after a series of waves rock the ship and leave a bevy of passengers with injuries ranging from superficial to severe. The two nurses are so out of their depth that they even have to recruit random passengers with varying degrees of medical knowledge — from psychologist to teacher — to help out with injuries. One of those injured passengers is Marcus (Gorham) who was searching for his stepdaughter’s missing book when a chandelier fell and sent a glass shard into his heart.

Of course, for every passenger taking the situation seriously, there’s one like Blair (Mumolo), who is lying out on the pool deck as the sirens sound to take cover. She even fusses as Tristan tells her that the ship is harboring locals who could otherwise be injured if they stayed on land, leading her to make a pointed comment about “helping immigrants.” Yes, in their own country, she called them the immigrants.

The pressure of the situation combined with an awkward confrontation over his “no strings attached” sexual relationship with Avery causes Tristan to relapse, drinking what looks like half a bottle of liquor and passing out half-naked in his cabin. It immediately comes back to bite him in the ass, however, as he wakes up with a raging hangover and a frustrated best friend waiting on him to help try and treat Marcus, whose condition is worsening.

After avoiding the wave and providing first aid to people on dry land, Max and Barry head down closer to the beach where they find a gravely injured vendor who they met the day before. The pair are able to pull him to a small church and try to make him comfortable, but Max heartbreakingly shares that his injuries are too grave to survive, even if they were in a hospital. In a last-ditch attempt to comfort him, Barry goes out and finds the vendor’s dog, who lies with him as he dies, making for a surprisingly emotional scene that I did not see coming.

Just before the episode unfairly comes to an end (darn you, two-part finale!) Avery and Tristan are finally able to make contact with Max on land and explain Marcus’ worsening condition. As Max tells Avery that she is going to have to open him up and perform a complicated procedure she’s never done before — yeah, totally, that makes sense — his transmission cuts out as another earthquake hits and causes the steeple to collapse on top of Max.

The episode ultimately ends with Captain Robert telling the crew to ignore corporate orders and head back to shore as he does not intend to leave a man behind. But is there even a man, i.e. Max, that can be saved? We’ll have to wait and see.

The first 17 episodes of Doctor Odyssey are currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The second part of the season finale will air Thursday, May 15 on ABC and stream the next day.