I’m no Superman: Why ‘Scrubs’ was my top stream of the week
I’m no Superman: Why ‘Scrubs’ was my top stream of the week
When I’m really going through something, I go back to one of my very first TV obsessions.
Readers, I’m going to level with all of you — it has been a week. Without getting into specifics, it was a hard one for yours truly, and when I need to come down from a long day the first thing I think to do is to pick one of my favorite TV shows and escape a little bit. I took that opportunity this week to revisit an old favorite: the 2001 medical comedy series “Scrubs.”
Yes, it’s incredibly painful in its own way to remember that “Scrubs” is now nearly 25 years old. But once I get past that pain and dive back into the show, the feeling of a warm sweater sliding over my shoulders is immediate. Read on for my passionate ode to the series, which was my favorite stream of the week.
“Scrubs” follows the doctors and nurses at Sacred Heart Hospital, an overburdened, understaffed healing center that contains passionate people who never forget their first duty: to help people. The series centers on J.D. (Zach Braff), an intern at the beginning of the series who is finding his way at his first real job in the medical profession alongside his best friend, surgical intern Chris Turk (Donald Faison). Along with fellow intern Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), the three find a quick ally in head nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes) and try to avoid the easily stirred wrath of Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) or Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins).
Bill Lawrence created “Scrubs,” and there are some things that Lawrence brings to each and every show that make him one of my favorite creators in Hollywood. Sincere, emotional characters and a desire to never shy away from difficult stories to tell are just some elements of why Lawrence’s writing resonates so well with me — not to mention the comedy that he’s so well known for.
The relationships between the characters are what drive “Scrubs,” and when I watch the show, I see the kinds of relationships I want to hold onto in my own life. A friendship as pure and supportive as J.D. and Turk. A mentor like Dr. Cox who continually pushes me to be better — though I could probably do without the constant ridicule along the way.
At no point does “Scrubs” try to turn its characters into paragons of healing or virtue. They’re messy people who make mistakes, both at work and in their personal lives. And when they mess up with a patient — rare, but not impossible even for these doctors — it’s not something that can be fixed with the pressing of a backspace button or the liberal application of whiteout.
The humor of “Scrubs” still manages to make the series fantastic escapism, despite its propensity to deal with real-world issues. It’s an oft-cited fact that “Scrubs” is one of the most medically accurate shows in its genre on TV, and while the series isn’t afraid to literally delve into fantasy worlds, it always feels more grounded and realistic than a show like “Grey's Anatomy.” That’s not to say there’s no place for “Grey’s” in the medical genre; they’re just very different titles.
If you’re looking to laugh and cry along with a new series that will make you fall inexorably in love with its characters, and you haven’t given “Scrubs” a chance yet, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s one of my favorite TV series of all time, and starting it again came up big for me in a week where I needed a little nostalgia. You can stream all seasons of “Scrubs” on Hulu, starting at $12 per month for an ad-supported subscription.
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