The Return of ‘Scrubs’ Has Been a Welcome Prescription

I’m not ashamed to admit that, for someone who doesn’t watch a lot of television, the return of Scrubs was something I actually paid attention to. After all, it was one of the few shows I watched, always enjoyed, and was curious to see more of. Sure, I’m hopeful that Ted Lasso will return this summer in a pleasing manner, but that feels risky. The stakes felt lower with Scrubs, which is why this new season/return has been such a welcome comedy prescription. It truly feels like the show never went off the air. With the season finale airing tonight, it feels like a nice moment to give the medical comedy its flowers.

Scrubs ran for eight seasons on NBC, before a ninth season played on ABC. The first eight focused on Zach Braff‘s Dr. John Dorian at Sacred Heart Hospital, a fictional teaching hospital. Along with Donald Faison‘s Christopher Turk and Sarah Chalke‘s Elliot Reid, they went from newbies to season doctors, with John C. McGinley‘s Perry Cox chastising and guiding them. The mix of comedy and light drama, as well as ace musical moments, made it a unique sitcom, one that helped make Braff a star.

The ninth season switched the internal monologue from Braff’s JD to one of the students at the medical school where it was now set. JD was there, as were Elliot and Turk, but the focus was on Lucy Bennett (Kerry Bishé), as well as other newcomers like Dave Franco. It just didn’t feel right, despite the talented new additions, so after only one season on ABC, it got canceled.

Now, Scrubs is back and it feels like it never left. Not only are our three heroes back in central roles, which wasn’t the case with the misguided ninth season, but the new doctors under their tutelage are just as interesting. Last time around, they went all in on them without investing us, so despite Bishé and Franco being strong actors, we never connected. Now, mixing them in as co-stars, it all feels like one big successful mix.

Hopefully Scrubs continues, since it has a pleasing place in the television landscape. If this is just a one and done season, however, it was a welcome prescription for some easy yet satisfying sitcom viewing. I for one am glad it’s back. Fingers crossed that this new one isn’t a short one…

The Scrubs season finale airs tonight on ABC