No one likes to admit that they’re wrong. However, I’m happy to admit that I may have judged Season 1 of the Scrubs revival too harshly last year. My review was a positive one for the most part (the "Fresh" option was selected on Rotten Tomatoes), but, as a fan of the show for over two decades, my disappointment with the handling of JD and Elliot’s marriage made it hard to forgive flaws that were perhaps always part of Scrubs and its undeniable charm. The first four episodes critics received last year were by no means perfect and, at times, were clearly struggling to figure out what this new take would be. The lack of familiar faces hurt the show, but as the season progressed, the new characters made their mark, and those who did return were as great as ever. The series as a whole was a revival done right. Scrubs-lite? Maybe in some ways, but in the ways that mattered, Season 1 delivered.
That brings us to Season 2. Two episodes were provided in advance this time, and the quality Scrubs found in the latter half of Season 1 remains consistent here. With JD navigating a new romance, and Turk and Elliot on their own journeys at this stage in their careers as doctors, the core trio remains the beating heart of the show and the main reason to come back each week. However, with Dr. Cox still battling an incurable autoimmune disease, the stakes now feel that much higher, and this remains a show that knows how to tug on the viewer’s heartstrings without ever feeling manipulative or disingenuous.
Perhaps the biggest change is a greater focus on Dr. Tosh, with Ava Bunn’s hugely likeable trainee doctor the only Season 1 intern to be upped to series regular status in Season 2. Putting the spotlight on Tosh pays off massively for the series. While the other interns still get time to shine, Tosh is a clear standout and someone it feels worth getting invested in as her story continues (Bunn and Sarah Chalke have tons of chemistry, and the dynamic between Tosh and Elliot looks set to go to some fascinating places this year).
Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Chalke are all as superb as ever, though Braff remains the standout as JD. As he continues fighting to save his mentor in these opening two episodes, JD must find a way to balance his personal feelings for one patient with achieving the greater good as Chief of Medicine. John C. McGinley, meanwhile, continues to steal every scene he’s in, while Chalke’s moments with Bunn point to Elliot finally figuring out what she wants from her post-divorce life as a doctor. Right now, I'd like to see something more substantial from Turk, but with eight episodes left, there’s still time. More Janitor—there’s no sign of Neil Flynn in the two-part premiere—is similarly essential.
Scrubs would still benefit from spending a little more time outside of Sacred Heart, as the revival sorely misses the apartment and bar-set scenes from the original show that ensured we got to know these characters outside of the hospital as well. It’s also a little disappointing that we’re no closer to meeting JD and Elliot or Turk and Carla’s kids, and whatever happened to Cox’s children, for that matter? With him in the hospital, now would be a great time for us to see what became of Jack and "JD."
Scrubs largely feels like it’s in good hands with showrunner Aseem Batra, but its somewhat singular focus on the hospital could be a detriment to the series in the long run. The series also needs a little more consistency from episode to episode, as it no longer has the excuse of finding its footing that the first season did. Fortunately, there's less jumping from story to story in this season so far, and the decision to focus more on Tosh rather than every intern is helping. There’s a little more goofiness in the humour and fantasy sequences now, though, so Season 2 will hopefully allow the series to continue to expand, embrace its roots, and flourish for many more years to come.
Scrubs remains a series that makes it amazingly easy to switch off from a really crappy world. Even with people’s lives at stake, there’s something comforting about being back in Sacred Heart with these amazing characters. Hardcore fans may still have some nitpicks, and the show could do with finding a better balance of respecting and embracing the past while forging ahead as a new entity. A little more fan service never hurt anyone, but at a time when there’s so much cynicism surrounding streaming, it’s a relief to have such a feel-good weekly series to watch again.
Scrubs is back and better than ever with a Season 2 that’s just what the doctor ordered. Ava Bunn rises to the occasion, and Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison are all on top form in this must-see revival. ⭐⭐⭐⭐