As Halloween week unfolds on board The Odyssey, the intricacies of the show's episode structure become immediately apparent to guests upon stepping onto the vessel. From the outset, Tristan and Dr. Bankman engage in a fiery contest over Halloween costumes, with Bankman finally relenting to the whimsical excess of the recurring themed weeks. However, Halloween marks Tristan's moment to shine as a fiercely competitive costumer, driven to outdo himself.
As Tristan toils over his intricate costumes, his cabin transforms into a haunted haven adorned with remnants from the recent Broadway cruise production of Sweeney Todd. Skulls, chains, and vintage lanterns (seriously, allowed in cruise cabins?!) adorn his space, while he wields his glue gun with masterful precision. Yet, as the episode progresses, a sinister turn takes hold of him. Competitors' faces swirl in his mind, his vision blurs, and his speech becomes disjointed. Avery and Dr. Bankman's concerns peak when they realize the source of Tristan's distress: carbon monoxide poisoning from the lanterns' open flames (honestly, what did he expect in a cruise cabin?).
Elsewhere on deck, a Wolverine-clad gent engages in an intimate encounter with a Playboy Bunny atop the ship. Suddenly, he begins to bleed and collapses, prompting a rush to the infirmary. Despite their thorough examination, Avery and Bankman find no visible wound. Avery's realization dawns that there is no wound; instead, the man is sweating blood. Bankman, after calming the patient, explains that our body's fear and sensual responses can mimic each other, and the thrill of the hookup triggered his body's fight-or-flight response. We never revisit the topic of sweating blood or Mr. Wolverine again.
Meanwhile, two couples board the ship with an exhaustive itinerary planned by the wives, their partners visibly worn out from their recent African safari vacation. Lo and behold, these couples have seamlessly transitioned from the wilds of Africa to the opulence of a cruise ship. Their hurried journey hints at a certain naivety. The husbands, consumed by an insatiable need for sleep, retreat to their cabins, leaving the women to carry on with their meticulously planned escapades.
Regrettably, they soon exhibit eerie signs of zombie-like behavior. The men wander aimlessly in their sleep, display aggressive tendencies, and, astonishingly, in a few instances, even bite their spouses. Just typical Halloween fare, one might say, filled with chills and thrills! The medical team is utterly baffled by these "zombunds," particularly after concluding that their condition is not contagious. Fortunately for the passengers on The Odyssey, they are spared the ordeal of quarantine. COVID-19 is mentioned anew, prompting Dr. Bankman (and the global population at large) to recount the pandemic, yet this tangent is swiftly abandoned.
Later, an endearing duo, propelled by a feverish pursuit of treasure, embarked on an expedition into a series of caves that were repeatedly demarcated as forbidden grounds, their warnings echoing in vain. Alas, defying the dictates of prudence, they descended into these cavernous depths, where fate took a sinister turn. One of them, amidst the thrill of uncovering an ancient gold coin, found her arm engulfed by a collapsing boulder. As the tides surged inexorably within the confines of the cave, the looming specter of a grim destiny, reminiscent of the harrowing tale in "127 Hours," began to unfold. Yet, Avery, with swift and unerring precision, stepped into the fray, ultimately rescuing her at the cost of a shattered elbow—a solitary sacrifice that spared her from a harrowing demise and the axe of amputation.
While the couple shares a tender kiss on the sandy shore, the other begins to scratch her leg, plagued by flea bites acquired during their hunt. This triggers Avery's mind to race at breakneck speed. Through astute deduction, it is uncovered that the previous zombunds were infected through the bite of an African fly. With this diagnosis, the couple recovers and their spouses hastily resume their adventurous plans. It seems The Odyssey has a peculiar penchant for welcoming the fearless—or perhaps, the foolish—as patients.
