According to Deadline, Fox has renewed its hit freshman medical drama Doc for second season with a rare full-season order of 22 episodes. Starring Molly Parker (Deadwood, The Road), the series has become a breakout success, making it the first Fox drama since The Resident in 2021 to receive an order of this size.
Doc originally premiered midseason with an initial run of 10 episodes and it is relatively uncommon for shows in this slot to secure such a large second-season pickup. Typically, midseason debuts get 13-episode renewals, with the possibility of extensions depending on ratings. However, Doc has outperformed expectations, joining the likes of CBS’s Tracker as one of the few shows of its kind to land a full second season upfront.
Evidently, the show’s strong ratings have been a driving factor. Its premiere episode has drawn over 16 million viewers across platforms, making it Fox’s most-watched series debut since 9-1-1: Lone Star’s launch in 2020. Notably, Doc has continued to grow its audience week-to-week, achieving a series high in the key adults 18-49 demographic with its most recent episode.
The renewal comes amid a resurgence in medical dramas following the recent conclusions of series like The Good Doctor and The Resident. Doc is one of four medical procedurals launching this midseason—alongside Max’s The Pitt, Netflix’s upcoming Pulse, and CBS’s Watson—with Doc and The Pitt already confirmed for new seasons.
Developed for American audiences by showrunner Barbie Kligman, Doc is adapted from the Italian series Doc — Nelle tue mani. It follows Dr. Amy Larsen, a former Chief of Internal and Family Medicine whose life is upended after a brain injury wipes out eight years of her memory. Mixing hospital drama with relationship dilemmas, the series co-stars Amirah Vann (Underground, How to Get Away with Murder), Jon Ecker (Queen of the South, Fearless Heart), Omar Metwally (The Affair, Big Sky) and Anya Banerjee (The Blacklist).
Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Fox Entertainment Studios, Doc has also been noted for its refreshing portrayal of its lead character, with Parker appearing makeup-free in the first two episodes.
Deadline writes that Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn praised the series’ impact, stating, “We are thrilled that audiences have embraced Doc. Barbie and Hank [Steinberg, executive producer] have delivered one of the most emotionally powerful shows on television. Renewing it was an easy decision.”
Katherine Pope, President of Sony Pictures Television Studios, added, “The response to Doc has been incredible. We’re grateful to Fox for their support and excited to continue this journey with such a talented cast and crew.”
Doc airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox, with next-day streaming on Hulu. Season 1 will conclude with its finale on March 18.