TheScrubsrevival had been made to seem inevitable by members of the original cast and crew, but writing one of the characters back into the sitcom after so many years is sure to be a humorous challenge. With showrunnerBill Lawrence promising he’s “Definitely going to” makeScrubsseason 10happen, I can’t wait to see what the reunion will look like. However, there’s one character in particular who will be difficult to bring back into the fold authentically, but I’m sure it will be great.
The character in question is one of my favorites from the original cast, and while they were present inall nine seasons ofScrubs, their role was drastically reduced in the sitcom’s final batch of episodes. Although theScrubsrevival hasn’t yet been officially greenlit, it certainly seems like just a matter of time until Zach Braff and the rest of the show’s stars are back on our screens.I loveScrubs' focus on characters of varying levels of prominence, but one in particular is sure to make a massive entrance this time around.
The Janitor’s Scrubs Return Will Be Hilarious
Neil Flynn’s Scrubs character is sure to make a big entrance in season 10
Not all the cast fromScrubsseasons 1-8 returned for the softly rebootedMed Schoolepisodes. Some actors remained as part of the new regime alongside a fresh crop of characters, but others, like Janitor actor Neil Flynn, opted not to come back forScrubsseason 9. However,Flynn did shoot a brief flashback cameo for the season 9 pilot, explaining his absence.I remember the Janitor for telling lies so absurdand complex that they could almost be true, so I’m very excited to see what he’s been doing since his abrupt season 9 exit.
I wouldn’t be that surprised if the Janitor had since found where JD works and continued to toy with him there instead.
I remember the Janitor’s final scene not providing a clear reason why the character didn’t want to be at Sacred Heart anymore. The moment strongly impliedthe Janitor saw no need to be around if JD was no longer there to torture. If so, I wouldn’t be that surprised if the Janitor had since found where JD works and continued to toy with him there instead. Alternatively, the Janitor may have quietly developed an affinity for JD and felt betrayed by being abandoned.
Turk confirms to JD inScrubsseason 9, episode 1, “Our First Day of School,” that, “No one ever saw [the Janitor] again.”
While I don’t buy into the latter theory quite as strongly, it would still be funny to see the Janitor try to invent a lie to explain why he felt the need to return for the coming revival without admitting he missed JD. The Janitor is rarely emotionally available, and he often ups the ante on his hijinks to mask the fact he’s struggling with something. As a result of this trait,I can definitely see the Janitor making an entrance by playing a prolific prank on JD.
1 Other Scrubs Character Will Affect The Janitor’s Post-Season 9 Story
The Janitor’s wife will have influenced the life of Neil Flynn’s character since the show ended
What I find so intriguing about the Janitor going off-grid is that there’s only one person he couldn’t easily cut ties with and vanish. In fact, the character in question is probably the only person the Janitor wouldn’t want to leave behind. After debuting inScrubsseason 7, episode 1, “My Own Worst Enemy,” Kit Pongetti’s Ladiana “Lady” Williams went on to marry the Janitor in season 8.The Janitor ending up happily married was something I never expected, butScrubsfound a way to make it feel right.
I don’t believe the Janitor would have left Lady in the time betweenScrubsseasons 9 and 10.
Although I don’t believe the Janitor would have left Lady in the time betweenScrubsseasons 9 and 10, I’m also not convinced that the couple would have just been living in wedded bliss with no notable occurrences. Such a story for the Janitor would be incredibly boring and very out of character - even if it is offscreen. So, althoughI’m anticipating the Janitor and Lady to come back as a pair, I really hope they have some tall tales to tell.
Scrubs Season 10 Won’t Be The Same If The Janitor Doesn’t Come Back
Neil Flynn’s character offers something unique to the medical sitcom
Of course, with nothing set in stone for theScrubsrevival, it’s still possible that Neil Flynn will opt not to return at all. With the lateSam Lloyd already unable to reprise the role of Ted, and Ken Jenkins' semi-retirement suggesting Dr. Kelso won’t be present, the Janitor also not coming back toScrubswould make the sitcom’s revival pretty underwhelming for me. I would still enjoy catching up with the other characters I’ve not seen for 15 years, butthe Janitor’s unpredictable and hilarious antics were always what made me laugh the hardest.
8 Challenges Scrubs Season 10 Faces After The Sitcom’s Disappointing Ending
Scrubs season 10 needs to hit the ground running after the divisive Med School run, but it won’t be an easy task for the cast and crew to achieve.
It wouldn’t be entirely out of character for the Janitor’s entrance to be delayed if and when theScrubsrevival happens. While he may not initially appear to be part of the reunion,it could be that Neil Flynn’s character makes a surprise entrance further down the line. I’d be okay with that, even if I had to endure being tricked into feeling disappointed for a while at first. What I wouldn’t be able to get over is the Janitor’s ongoing absence inScrubsseason 10.
Scrubs
Cast
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
