There’s a moment near the end ofScrubsseason 3 that goes against everything sitcom romance stories stand for, despite teasing the coming together of two characters since the show’s very first episode.All nine seasons ofScrubsare filled with romantic arcs for various characters. Although several storylines suggest a will they/won’t they dynamic,there’s only one speculativeScrubscouple that stands outas the pairing that stands the chance of making it into a lasting relationship. One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to them going the distance arrives inScrubsseason 3’s penultimate installment.
Notevery Doctor inScrubsgets a happy ending, and the same is true of some of the nonmedical characters. Then again, the journeys of certain characters don’t necessarily make finding love a priority. With aScrubsrevival on the horizon, the sitcom looks primed to revisit the relationship status of many of the original characters, which could be very telling. Hopefully, all those who coupled off before the show ended in 2010 are still together. One relationship took so long to solidify that it would be a huge shame if it’s now fallen apart. However, that’s perhaps very unlikely.
JD Telling Elliot “I Don’t Love You” Is A Depressing Spin On The Will They/Won’t They Trope
Scrubs season 3 could have been when JD and Elliot ended up together
The final scene ofScrubsseason 3, episode 21, “My Self-Examination,” shows JD telling Elliot he doesn’t love her. The moment is a huge downer for a number of reasons. First of all,JD and Elliot had been framed as the main love story ofScrubsto that point. So, it looked as though their romantic arc was finally fulfilling itself when they got back together at the end of the previous episode. Secondly, it makes Zach Braff’s character really unlikable.
Elliot ends her relationship with Sean to be with JD after he confesses his love for her, only for JD to realize he was wanting what he couldn’t have at the time.
Elliot ends her relationship with Sean to be with JD after he confesses his love for her, only for JD to realize he was wanting what he couldn’t have at the time. Thirdly, the fact JD confesses to his lack of love for Elliot in such a public environment highlights what’s already so upsetting about the moment in question. Finally, it’s obvious throughout the episode thatJD is struggling with the decision of whether to simply stay with Elliotbecause he asked so much of her to get them to that point.
I’m Happy We’re Getting Scrubs Season 10, But I’d Have Loved To See Where Med School Was Headed
Scrubs: Med School was a bold new direction for the long-established sitcom, but I think it could have thrived under different circumstances.
The entire situation seems doomed to fail and incredibly depressing - which is the opposite of what a will they/won’t they trope should do. That being said,Scrubsfound a brilliant way to breathe new life into a sitcom trendthat the genre had been running into the ground for decades. To have JD and Elliot pair off for good at the end ofScrubsseason 3 would have drastically limited the potential for both characters going forward. It seems impossible to come back from, which leaves the audience gloriously adrift.
JD & Elliot Didn’t Have A Proper “I Love You” Moment Until Scrubs Season 8
Scrubs waited 5 more seasons to give JD & Elliot this scene
Many fans viewScrubsseason 8 as the show’s final outing. AlthoughScrubsseason 9 happened, it was so different that it felt like a very different project.Scrubsseason 8’s illusion of finality means JD and Elliot’s long-awaited “I Love You” moment falls at the perfect time. For the couple to finally settle in for the long haul after eight years of indecision is a little more consistent with sitcom romance trends, but the incredibly bumpy ride they took to get there is one of the best in the genre’s storied history.
Even when JD finally does make a genuine confession of love to his future wife, his dialogue is riddled with the show’s signature blend of heartfelt emotion and lighthearted comedy. After a short but tear-jerking monologue, he punctuates the declaration with,“Elliot, I love you more than Turk.“Playing even part of such a huge moment for laughs could arguably be said to undercut the scene, but it would be even weirder ifScrubsdidn’t try and get a giggle out of the situation too. The exchange also works so well because it waits until the “final” season to manifest.
Were JD & Elliot Right For Each Other?
Scrubs' eight-season will they/won’t they arc for these characters was essential for them to be well-suited
Despite hooking up several times and clearly having feelings for each other,Scrubsregularly made it beautifully unclear whether JD and Elliot were a good pairing. The two had similarities, but they were also very different in many ways. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing when it comes to romance, but it can stand out as a negative factor in the context of a sitcom. They were both visibly uncertain about whether they should end up together throughout the show, which made their eventual decision to tie the knot even more rewarding.
They weren’t properly ready for each other untilScrubsseason 8. Then, JD and Elliot were a match made in heaven.
JD and Elliot both enjoyed relationships with other characters throughoutScrubswhile staying friends - for the most part. There were times when it seemed as though they’d each found alternative soulmates. For instance, JD had several love interests during the show’s run, and girlfriends like Kylie and Julie could easily have become his spouse in other timelines. Similarly, Elliot and Sean were another brilliant pairing, but it ultimately ended due to JD’s wrongly interpreted affection for Elliot. They weren’t properly ready for each other untilScrubsseason 8. Then, JD and Elliot were a match made in heaven.
Scrubs Season 10 Will Struggle To Find A Better Love Story Than JD & Elliot
Scrubs' coming revival needs to find a love story to rival JD & Elliot’s
With showrunnerBill Lawrence declaring that he’s “Definitely going to” bring backScrubs, the state of JD and Elliot’s marriage will finally be revealed after more than 15 years. Hopefully, they’re still together and have been happily raising their children. If so,Scrubsseason 10 will be severely lacking the romantic tension that Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke both brought to the showas JD and Elliot. Without a will they/won’t they story, theScrubsrevival would be missing a vital sitcom trope, and it could suffer as a result. Therefore, a new budding romance will need to materialize.
Scrubs' Revival Must Overcome 1 Behind-The-Scenes Problem That Hurt Season 9
Showrunner Bill Lawrence’s promise of a Scrubs comeback needs to navigate a problem that’s arisen since the sitcom’s original ended in 2010.
If and whenScrubsreturns, there’s no guarantee about how many seasons it will run for.JD and Elliot’s story was so effective because it unfolded so gradually. If the revival is just one or two seasons long, it will be difficult to replicate the same level of interest. Furthermore, because the original cast is all paired off, the will they/won’t they trope would likely need to be applied to new characters. Worryingly, ifScrubsseason 9 is anything to go by, fresh faces aren’t something the show’s fans are all that interested in.
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.
