Fans Name This Scrubs Episode With 9.7 on IMDb the Greatest Story About Grief Ever Told
The episode's brilliant performances and gut-punch finale leave viewers shattered, cementing its place as Scrubs' most tragic moment.
24 years ago, in 2001, Scrubs premiered – a cult medical sitcom about the funny, difficult and sometimes extremely sad everyday life of doctors.
Oddly enough, the comedy series is associated not only with a bunch of hilarious memories, but also with gut-wrenching episodes about accepting death, rivalry, and friendship.
Scrubs Fans Picked the Saddest Episode of the Show
The most dramatic and heartbreaking of all? Scrubs fans have chosen the one episode that leaves them devastated and in tears every time. And no, it's not My Lunch, it's My Screw Up. Redditor unitedfan6191 said:
“I think it's the greatest portrayal of grief in TV history, and I can't get over how deeply it affected me. [...] This episode is a must-see for anyone who's ever experienced loss.”
My Screw Up is brilliant not only because of its deep exploration of grief, but also because it features a plot twist in the spirit of Night M. Shyamalan.
The following text contains spoilers for the episode My Screw Up, so if you haven't seen it yet, watch it and come back.
What Is My Screw Up About?
In the 14th episode of Season 3, Ben – Jordan's older brother and Dr. Cox's best friend (cameo by Brendan Fraser ) – appears and follows Perry around the entire episode as everyone prepares for Jack's birthday: they invite musicians, dress Jack up as SpongeBob, and so on.
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In the finale, the children's party becomes Ben's funeral, and the episode becomes a psychotherapeutic session for accepting guilt.
It turns out that Ben was dead all along. Since he was diagnosed with leukemia, he has not seen a doctor or even tried to get treatment: Perry blames himself for his death.
My Screw Up Is a Poignant Exploration of Grief and Acceptance
Either the guest star's magic is so strong that it's hard to let go of this sweet character, or the finale, which hits us like a truck, is truly touching.
Of course, it's doubly important that this time Scrubs doesn't limit itself to abstract morals about the need for humility – it talks directly about how much you need people next to you in moments like this.
The final shot at the funeral, with Jordan and J.D. sitting next to Cox, deserves a place among the most memorable scenes of not only the season, but the entire series.
