The New 'Scrubs' Season Is Fun, but It Comes With an Unexpected Side of Existential Dread

On February 25, ABC premiered the tenth season of Scrubs – the sitcom that taught us not to fear death, to laugh at the absurdity of life, and to find reasons to smile even on the darkest days.

Sixteen years have passed since the finale of Season 9, which fans unanimously decided not to count. Now, J.D., Turk, Elliot, and Dr. Cox are back at Sacred Heart.

However, the first few episodes leave a strange aftertaste – the faces, jokes, and hospital are the same, yet it feels like meeting an old friend who has aged and is no longer the same person you remember.

What Is 'Scrubs' Season 10 About?

J.D. has worked as a private practitioner for wealthy clients for many years, but he misses real medicine. One day, a patient collapses in the street, so J.D. brings her to Sacred Heart.

Turk is now chief of surgery, Carla is in charge of the nurses, and Elliot still works at the clinic, although he and J.D. are divorced and not on the best of terms. Dr. Cox still has his sardonic side.

After spending a day at the hospital, J.D. realizes he's drawn to real work. He accepts Cox's offer to become the new chief of medicine and teach young specialists.

'Scrubs' Season 10 Is Making Us Sad – And It's Not What We Expected

Scrubs used to be a show about young, hopeful doctors just starting out. Now, J.D. and Turk appear tired and seemingly happy, but there's a persistent sadness in their eyes.

It's not just their looks – they've really aged, and that's okay. However, the plot stubbornly reminds us of this: Turk can no longer carry Cox on his back, Cox is forbidden from swearing, and J.D. refuses to give him a nickname because it's unethical.

Jokes about aging and a lack of understanding of modern times drive the comedy of the first few episodes, which makes for a slightly depressing experience.

'Scrubs' Season 10 Is More Drama Than Comedy

The original series struck a balance between buffoonery and tragedy. We remember "My Fault" bringing tears to our eyes and "My Old Lady" changing our attitudes toward death. But back then, there were also hilarious episodes that kept the series from becoming completely dark.

Season 10 is woefully short on humor – most of the jokes revolve around the characters' ages and inability to understand the modern world.

However, the dramatic elements are excellent. Issues such as high drug costs, the speed of patient care, and administrative routines are all portrayed with poignancy.

The New Characters in Season 10 Seem Out of Place (But They're Not as Bad as in Season 9)

Realizing that nostalgic content alone wouldn't suffice, the writers introduced a new generation of interns. The talented but withdrawn Blake, the blogger Tosh, and the ambitious yet timid Dashana all currently exist in some kind of airless space.

Their characters are drawn in broad strokes, and scenes without the older cast feel artificially interrupted. The problem is that we've already been through this in Season 9, which fans unanimously hated.

To be fair, though, at least the new characters aren't so annoying that you'd want to turn off the TV. Perhaps with time, they'll be given more screen time and depth.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Scrubs' Season 10?

• Scrubs Season 10 has 90% from critics and 96% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

Where to Watch 'Scrubs' Season 10?

Scrubs Season 10 is available to stream on Hulu.