Nostalgic reboots mining the glory days of yesteryear have become more commonplace on television these days than the original shows audiences clamor for. That said, I’m sure plenty of “Scrubs” fans rolled their eyes at ABC’s decision to resurrect the beloved 2000s sitcom more than a decade after its nine-season run — especially given how its misguided final season stripped away much of what made the show special in the first place (i.e., the core ensemble we loved).
Still, the revived show deserves a fair shot. Once again centered on the staff of Sacred Heart Hospital, this latest season of “Scrubs” feels like a true return to form, even with a few modern tweaks.
Fans will be delighted to see that the bromance between Zach Braff’s J.D. and Donald Faison’s Turk is still alive and well, as the “Scrubs” revival tries to pick up where things left off. But after all these years, things at Sacred Heart have naturally changed.
For one, the teaching hospital now boasts a fresh crop of wide-eyed interns — Ava Bunn, Jacob Dudman, David Gridley, Layla Mohammadi and Amanda Morrow — who bring a dose of Gen Z energy (and TikTok sensibilities) to the show. Meanwhile, a now-divorced J.D. hasn’t worked at the hospital in years, which sets up the reason for the revival that, in its first four episodes, feels more or less like the heartwarming show we all remember.
Much of the original cast, now in their 50s, is back just as we remember them, including Sarah Chalke as J.D.’s former love (and now ex-wife) Dr. Elliot, Judy Reyes as no-nonsense nurse Carla, Robert Maschio as sex-obsessed surgeon Dr. Todd (aka “The Todd”), Phill Lewis as the still unhinged Dr. Hooch, and John C. McGinley recurring as the soon-to-retire chief of medicine Dr. Perry.
At the same time, the feel-good sitcom is as sweet and silly as ever, just now peppered with more Gen X vs. Gen Z humor that tries to reel in a younger audience, even if a bit cringey at times.
Still, this modern-day version of “Scrubs” slides right back into old times, from J.D. and Turk’s signature “Eagle” move (which funnily doesn’t hit the same now that they’re older) to the former’s iconic narration and dream sequences to the series’ medically accurate storylines that showed us hospital workers’ day-to-day long before “The Pitt” came along.
What keeps the sitcom fresh, though, is how we reunite with old characters who seem to have grown in their own ways since we last saw them — like Turk embracing being a girl dad of four, and Dr. Perry passing the baton to J.D. as mentor of the new interns.
On the other hand, there are more new faces who keep the series interesting, too, like Joel Kim Booster as J.D.’s adversary Dr. Eric Park; Vanessa Bayer’s Sibby, the hospital’s very vigilant HR and wellness manager; and comedic star X Mayo as the hilarious and gossipy charge nurse Pippa Raymond. It’s these little ways that the “Scrubs” revival pushes the sitcom along without losing its identity, which old fans will probably appreciate.
Too often, revivals drown in their own nostalgia to the point that they feel redundant, out of step and quite unnecessary to restore for a new generation. One could argue that “Scrubs” hasn’t evolved much conceptually in its long absence either. And yet, sticking to its tried-and-true format is precisely what makes this latest chapter work.
Rather than attempt another overhaul (as that infamous ninth season did), the series maintains the same camaraderie, slapstick comedy and heart that made it a TV classic, with its OG ensemble rightfully steering the ship. Honestly, writing “Scrubs” as a continuation of what’s familiar was probably the best approach in bringing the show back anyway.
For a snappy comfort show like this, sometimes that’s all you need. Hopefully, this nostalgic homecoming won’t be short-lived.
New episodes of “Scrubs” air on ABC on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET and stream on Hulu the next day.
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