Michael Suarez
Scrubs ended its original run on March 17, 2010. 16 years later, it has returned with most of the original cast. I adored Scrubs, including the uneven seventh and ninth seasons, so when I heard that the show was returning, I was excited. However, there were some reservations. After all, there have been a lot of revivals of TV shows and movies over the past several years, and not many of them captured the magic of the original runs. Would Scrubs be one of those rare exceptions?
This was a show that was very much of its time, which means it included elements that wouldn’t fly anymore. I thought about The Todd and whether that character would be the same. This was a character whose main attribute was sexually harassing pretty much everyone. And of course, there was Dr. Cox, who would most certainly have the same issues, particularly his treatment of J.D. (One of the running jokes of the show’s original run was Dr. Cox calling J.D. a girl.)
Even J.D. and Turk’s friendship relied on the idea that people could perceive their behavior with one another as being “gay.” How would the show address that now? Would it necessarily have to change? Would The Todd be The Todd, and would Dr. Cox still be Dr. Cox? Would it even matter as long as the characters were interesting and the show was funny?
Even so, there’s something I’ve noticed in the vast majority of revivals, which is that the new additions to the cast are presented as being better than the originals at pretty much everything, to the extent that it simply becomes annoying. I welcome fresh, new faces. I mean, new interns showed up every season in the original run, so it would make sense, but I was worried that these new faces would overshadow the original cast and be placed in positions that showed just how out of touch and old the original cast is now. Just what the heck would this new season of the show be?
16 years after its series finale, I’m happy to report that Scrubs is back. It feels like the same show I loved all those years ago. It’s funny, moving, and yes, very much a revival. Dr. Cox gets in trouble for his patented behavior towards, well, pretty much everybody, and the interns have more of a presence than I remember them having this side of Keith. No biggie. I wasn’t even bothered that J.D. and Elliot are recently divorced. It makes sense. Let’s take the journey towards their inevitable reconciliation. I hope it doesn’t take too long. Then again, I’ll be enjoying the show so much I doubt I’ll care.
The first episode, “My Return,” finds J.D. returning to Sacred Heart when a patient of his is admitted. We catch up with most of the original cast, sans the Janitor and Bob Kelso (R.I.P., Ken Jenkins). The jokes come fast, and I must admit I felt a weight lift, knowing that I was in good hands. Creator and showrunner Bill Lawrence, and Aseem Batra, who seems to be the one holding the reins this season, have my attention.
Frankly, the first episode feels like an episode of Scrubs, which I feel like is the entire point of doing a revival of a series that’s been gone for over a decade and a half. J.D. narrates and has the occasional fantasy, and with the laughs come plenty of emotions. At the same time, it’s nice that there has been some seeming progression for the characters. Sure, I’m a bit annoyed that the powers that be broke up J.D. and Elliot again, but that’s business as usual. Turns out, Dr. Cox is still Dr. Cox, and The Todd is still The Todd, even as both grapple with a new landscape that doesn’t much care for abuse and harassment.
I loved the opening of the series, which finds J.D. fantasizing about living in a very Pitt-esque world where high drama exists in an emergency room. It was a nice comment on where medical shows are now, and it showed me that the writers wanted to waste no time getting right back in the world of Scrubs. J.D. ends up at Sacred Heart within a few minutes, and his narration keeps things moving. By the end of the first episode, it’s not as if things have reset to where they were when the show ended. It’s a promise that has been made to fans of the original run.
Our setting is clearly Sacred Heart, and the characters we love are here. (Shout out to the return of Hooch, who is somehow even crazier now.) Not to mention that Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, John C. McGinley, and Judy Reyes are just perfect in their roles as they ever were. Even the interns are interesting, and seeing Vanessa Bayer is always a delight.
I am very much looking forward to where the series goes over the next eight episodes. Even if it doesn’t stick the landing, I’m thankful for the premiere. It reminded me that it’s perfectly okay to see my characters age and grow, because that’s what happens in life. At the same time, if something ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The return of Scrubs didn’t need to fix anything, and because it didn’t attempt to, it’s as good as it’s ever been. The magic is still there.
If you were a fan of the original run of Scrubs, I highly recommend the new season.
