Every great performer — a movie star, an athlete or, in this case, a television series — hopes to end his career (or final season) on a high note of fame and glory.
Most fans were satisfied that "Scrubs" would go out on top at the end of last season, and for good reason. After seven tumultuous seasons on NBC, many with little promotion or support, ABC, which produces the show, picked it up for an eighth, and presumably final, season. The idea behind this move was to allow the show's creator Bill Lawrence to finish the medical sitcom as he envisioned.
The eighth season was widely praised as a return to form for the series, toning down J.D.'s (Zach Braff) silliness and letting all the characters develop into people the audience would feel at peace saying goodbye to. And the season finale, which viewers saw as a series finale, was about as perfect as one could imagine.
Then something unexpected happened: ABC ordered a ninth season with 13 more episodes. Confident in the "Scrubs" legacy and not wanting the show's crew to lose their jobs in a time of economic downturn, Lawrence agreed to the new order and began developing what he described as a brand new show, just with some old characters.
And now we have "Scrubs: Med School" (although nothing but the title card will refer to it as such). J.D. introduces the new format in a classic voiceover — the old characters now work on a medical school campus, and the doctors are now professors — and that's that. The show also wastes no time making the new locations unique and interesting, which helps ease the transition.
Because there is so much focus on the old cast, it's hard for this new show to completely differentiate itself from its original form. Braff is still the star for now (though he is only signed on for six episodes), and his voiceover narrations continue to be the guiding heart of the show. New med student Lucy (Kerry Bishé) is clearly being positioned to take over his role — she is sharing voiceover duties and is reminiscent of an early, unsure J.D. — but, so far, Lucy is hard to cheer for when J.D. is still right there beside her.
Old favorites Drs. Turk (Donald Faison) and Cox (John C. McGinley) are also still around and will anchor the show once Braff leaves. Dr. Cox shines in the show's new format as his sarcastic, cynical self — calling the new class of students a bunch of murderers and assassins sent to kill his patients. As with J.D. in the show's younger seasons, he finds the optimistic and panicky Lucy annoying. For the most part, viewers probably share this sentiment, though thankfully Lucy's character begins to tone down her neurosis in the second episode. Despite his curmudgeonly attitude, Cox takes a liking to second-time-around student Drew (Michael Mosley), admiring his age and outsider attitude.
Now a TA/mentor to the new class, Denise (Eliza Coupe, continuing her winning performance from last season), also takes a liking to Drew — albeit a more heated one than Dr. Cox's. It looks like their romance could be going in the right direction. The writers are already starting to expand Denise's character to show her more emotional side while keeping her tough-chick persona.
The new "Scrubs" is certainly not skimping on the comedy. J.D. and Turk are always good for some funny bromance, a new "douche" student, Cole (Dave Franco), has some zingers (though they could get old fast) and the fantasy sequences are spot-on. And of course, The Todd (Robert Maschio) pops up for his quintessential high-fives every now and then.
The one element that seems to be missing from "Scrubs" is the poignant drama that past seasons of the show masterfully mixed with its comedy. It's understandable that the first two episodes shy away from the dramatic, but it would be a shame if the series took away this element altogether.
While it is certainly strange not having Elliot (Sarah Chalke), the Janitor (Neil Flynn) or Carla (Judy Reyes has reportedly declined to appear in any episodes this season, even as a guest star), the mix of new and old seems to be working for now. The real test will be when J.D. leaves and the new cast has to fly solo. To really be a different show, "Scrubs" will have to make this transition a good one.
It may still be a little shaky, but judging by where the show is heading, viewers' fears about a disappointing farewell should fade as "Scrubs" enters its ninth season.
