5. My Toast (Season 5 Episode 4)
What happens in the episodes? J.D. has to give a speech for Dr. Kelso at an important event. But Dr. Cox shows J.D. what kind of person Dr. Kelso is. He refuses to let a patient into a drug trial because it’s financially unviable and doesn’t want to rehire Elliot.
What makes this episode so good? In the early seasons, Dr. Kelso is portrayed as a malicious, cold villain, but this episode reveals new facets. It becomes clear that Kelso’s job forces him to be this way. Sometimes he cannot help one patient to be able to help others.
Big praise also goes to Kelso’s actor, Ken Jenkins, who manages to convey a certain remorse and vulnerability without it being explained in words. J.D. perfectly summarizes Kelso’s character at the end of the episode:
As for Bob Kelso, he sometimes does the right things for the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t want to have to make any of the decisions he needs to make.
4. My Finale – Part 1 and 2 (Season 8 Episode 18/19)
What happens in the episode? Both episodes signal the end of the series (if you ignore season 9) and cover many aspects that have been present since the beginning of the series. The relationship between Cox and J.D. or all the patients that J.D. has lost. But jokes are not neglected either.
What makes the episode so good? Few series manage to write a satisfying ending, but Scrubs does. The episode reminds viewers of many supporting characters and emotional moments without wasting too much time. The relationships of the characters are presented once more, and Dr. Cox finally receives acknowledgment.
Especially beautiful is the end of the episode, where J.D. envisions how his future will be. Zach Braff performs beautifully, underscored by the song Book of Love
by Peter Gabriel, this moment brings a tear to every Scrubs fan’s eye.
3. My Best Idea (Season 8 Episode 2)
What happens in the episode? J.D. and Turk want to celebrate their annual steak night. But at the same time, the intern Denise has a difficult patient who will soon die. Turk and J.D. decide to stay with the patient.
What makes the episode so good? In Scrubs, death is often a theme. Despite the silly jokes and daydreams, the series deals with it relatively respectfully. This is especially evident in My Best Idea.
The episode addresses death, acceptance, and also denial. At the same time, J.D. and Turk show that they, too, as doctors, are afraid of death. Ultimately, the episode wants to show that one should enjoy the little things, even an ice-cold beer.
Additionally, you can wonderfully see the chemistry between the actors of Turk and J.D. outside of silly scenes. Their friendship is subtly presented on an emotional level.
