(S06E21 / S06E22) Now that we know that Scrubs is going to be back for a seventh season -- though from what we've all heard, the seventh season was all but assured, even if it was on ABC instead of NBC -- the way this season concluded made a whole hell of a lot more sense. Since I don't want to spoil anything for people who haven't seen the episode yet, I'll save my thoughts on that until after the jump.You know what? I really shouldn't call this an "episode." Really, it was two episodes edited into one. You could just tell by the fact that the tried-and-true Scrubs structure was run through twice here. Oh, that and the two different names and episode numbers. Those were also a good indication. Anyway, my point is that if the pacing of the episode felt weird to you, that's the reason why.
So, here's how we're leaving the sixth season: back on the J.D.-and-Elliot love train. Or at least we're seeing it come down the tracks. The two of them are on a cot, holding hands, facing each other, and slowly advancing towards each other.
Heck, Elliot was wearing scrubs, using some lame excuse about how she didn't want to get her christening dress all wrinkly. It didn't take J.D. pointing it out for fans of the show to know the symbolism behind that; the previous times the two got together, they were young residents, whose only real concern was whether they were going to make it as doctors. Now, things have changed: Elliot is getting married to a devoted Keith, and J.D. and Kim are having a baby. So there's a hell of a lot more at stake here. But, as you'd expect, the two are still drawn with each other.
I find it interesting and troubling that the two of them are getting together at this point. Not as much with Elliot; breaking up an engagement, even a week before the wedding, is somewhat understandable. But J.D.... boy, he's just going to stay a man-child forever, isn't he? Yeah, it's funny when he's making out his godfather speech for Jennifer Dillon Cox in a journal with a unicorn on the cover. But he continues to make decisions that reek of immaturity. I thought he reached a level of maturity when he told Kim that there's no chance they could get back together. Even when he decided to give the two of them a shot, that was OK because he was thinking of his kid. But then he went way too fast and got in too deep, like he usually does. So now, he's in the position of really hurting the mother of his child in order to maybe go back with someone that he never seemed to work well with romantically. I guess season seven will finally put the two of them together for good... eventually. Maybe they'll wait until the last episode like Gilmore Girls did.
That little cliffhanger at the end of last week's episode got diffused pretty quickly, with Carla grabbing Elliot and J.D. constantly escaping. It's too bad he didn't actually have to face the music at that point in time. But it made for a funny opener with all of J.D.'s escapes. The only part I didn't like was the appearance of his rabbit-headed, jogging-suit wearing conscience. Oof, did that gag fall flat, every single time they tried it. But at least I had to mention it; the thing kinda creeped me out a little.
One thing we do know is that J.D. and Kim are going to have a son, and that it will likely be named Sam Perry Gilligan Dorian. I like how he said he's using "Perry" merely because he likes how it sounds. Uh huh. And, of course "Gilligan" was because he lost a bet with Turk.
The rest of the hour was a mixed bag. Elliot's bridezillaness was OK; I liked how she rewarded Keith for putting up with her craziness by giving him extra tongue. By the way, what is it this week with people romantically licking each other on the face? We had Lily lick Marshal on HIMYM, and now Elliot lick Keith here. But the B-stories of both ends of the hour didn't really pack much of a comedic punch. Even the reason why Elliot didn't want another woman with a man's name at her bachelorette party didn't do much for me. And the whole thing where the Janitor and the Braintrust try to make Keith into the perfect husband weren't all that funny (but Murphy's attempts to get back into the Braintrust were, a little).
Oh, and who does a christening at the hospital chapel? I tell ya, little J.D. (Cox's head almost exploded when Jordan called their daughter that) got gypped, since Jack got christened in a real church.
What did hit? Mostly anything involving Cox and J.D. We haven't seen a lot of Coxian (to use J.D.'s version, that combines "Cox" and "Dorian") interaction lately, so seeing it here was a welcome return to form. Kelso's defusing of Cox's list of things that he'd rather see than J.D. being his daughter's godfather -- "Yeah, yeah. A funny long list. We get it. You need a new thing, big guy. We've seen it before. Isn't time you got a new thing?" -- was pretty good, though "a sequel to Hope Floats" was a pretty good item to put on the list. Also, who knew that Cox was the type to actually enjoy The Wiggles in Concert... twice? I'm sure fathers everywhere (including TVS' Keith and Rich) said a silent "Yeah!" at that one.
What else... Donald Faison with hair. Just can't get used to it. He had peach-fuzz before, but not a full growth like he does now. It was even more grown in when he went on Conan the other night. How 'bout Elliot telling Carla that she looked like George Lopez when she was pregnant? I liked Turk and J.D. finishing each others' sentences. Also, the negotiation between J.D. and Cox to trade in the godfather title was good; too bad Johnny didn't take the deal, since Jordan was able to make her own deal. And who can resist little Jack saying, "Yeah, up yours, Bobbo."
(UPDATE: I forgot to mention the Travelocity product placement, or at least that's what it looked like. You think 
Travelocity bought that flashback, or was it put there on purpose to make fun of product placement?)
For all that went on, story-development-wise, the humor of the episode(s) was as surprisingly flat as the rabbit-head gag. Definitely a down note to what had been an increasingly entertaining second half to the season. It wasn't as awkward as episodes from the first half, but it definitely wasn't as funny as a lot of the episodes we've seen lately. Let's hope season 7 is better. Because of the J.D. / Elliot thing, I'm giving it a 5.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-18-2007 @ 12:31AM
Aileen said...
I'm personally sick of the whole will they-won't they JD and Elliot nonsense. I wish the writers would have had them kiss at the end instead of the eternally lame lean-in. And it just seemed totally innapropriate that the future father and future bride lay together in the tiny cot talking about their lives. They were just asking for trouble.
BTW: Why is JD so sure that he's the father of the baby? She seemed kinda trampy...
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5-18-2007 @ 12:33AM
Kevin Little said...
Faison's hari was the star of the show. I just could not look away.
http://www.ebizmba.com
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5-18-2007 @ 12:43AM
Bill said...
I thought the braintrust was hilarious. "Is that what you're going to say when she looks at you with those big blue eyes and says 'lmtkpkplts'?"
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5-18-2007 @ 1:18AM
malren said...
Joel, "gypped" is literally no better than "jewed." It's a racist comment based on the stereotype that all gypsies are crooked and will cheat you.
Just thought you might like to know.
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5-18-2007 @ 1:47AM
chakalicious said...
At least he didn't describe someone or something as "niggardly".
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5-18-2007 @ 1:48AM
James said...
Malren,
I honestly didn't know that gypped was refering to gypsies. I'm sure Joel didn't either.
How about "honkied?" Or "crackered?" Isn't that more apropos?
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5-18-2007 @ 2:06AM
Diego M said...
WTF? how can they just try to kiss, im sure there won't be any JElliot. they'll just think it through. i kinda felt for kim, sittin there and gettin that glass of wine. a lil sad, how low did cox stoop to get J.D. out of the godfather, that sux. i hoped that he would at least make her godmother but nooooooooooooooo
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5-18-2007 @ 2:13AM
Justin said...
I actually don't mind revisiting the Elliott/JD dynamic again. I hate Keith--he just doesn't belong on this show. His arrival marked the downslide of Scrubs. He's Ted McGinley Jr.
I thought Ted's Elliott impersonation was hilarious as was Turk and JD acting like stereotypical women-as-gossips.
Sure, the cliffhanger was cheesy and I won't be dying to know what becomes of it unlike last season's pregnancy but Elliott and JD are truly copasetic and if that's what it takes for a mature JD to be birthed (which I figure will finally happen during next season) and it gives Bill Lawrence his chance to have a happy ending on one of his sitcoms, then so be it.
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5-18-2007 @ 7:37AM
Randy said...
Speaking of the braintrust, what happened to Troy and Margo?
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5-18-2007 @ 6:52AM
jordancda said...
I don't think they're getting together. I think its a hoax. Gets everyone talking over the offseason. I don't know...just a gut feeling. But you are right...J.D.'s just starting to piss me off sometimes with his inability to motivate himself to do the right thing. Needless to say, I enjoyed the first episode more than the second tonight. Except for Ted's "Blonde doctor" impression...SO FUNNY!
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5-18-2007 @ 6:53AM
jordancda said...
I don't think they're getting together. I think its a hoax. Gets everyone talking over the offseason. I don't know...just a gut feeling. But you are right...J.D.'s just starting to piss me off sometimes with his inability to motivate himself to do the right thing. Needless to say, I enjoyed the first episode more than the second tonight. Except for Ted's "Blonde doctor" impression...SO FUNNY!
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5-18-2007 @ 7:20AM
RSL said...
Seriously, I don't want Scrubs to get my Grey's on. I will stop watching the show the minute JD and Elliot get back together. Please, writers... Resist the urge to Ross and Rachel us to death. They're an insipidly horrible couple. I can except them kissing, even having sex. But for them both to move so far backwards in their relationship not only with each other but with themselves... I just can't accept that a show as funny-smart as Scrubs would allow that. Consider the shark jumped at that point.
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5-18-2007 @ 7:29AM
RSL said...
Oh, and I don't _ever_ not do I ever intend to get my Grey's on.
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5-18-2007 @ 7:54AM
BoomFoxx said...
When they first planted the seed a few episodes back that JD and Elliot might be getting back together, I was completely against the way they were doing it. I still don't think they should get together, but I feel that the way they're playing with the idea now is better. The two of them getting close isn't about some sort of undying love for one another (i.e the two weren't destined to be together), it's about their fear of commitment to other people. It's a character flaw in both of them and they're bonding over it. I don't think that's a bond to build a relationship on, but I don't mind the show examining it deeper.
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5-18-2007 @ 8:12AM
Dave said...
Anyone else get the feeling that the first half-hour could have been originally written as a series finale? The group of folks I was watching with last night agreed that it ended on everyone growing up (the theme of the show being everyone lack thereof). Turk and Cox as the proud parents, Eliot giving in and being ok with Keith taking her off into the sunset and J.D. facing the music and being an adult...
...then they find out there's going to be another season and revisit the fact that JD/Eliot really aren't all that mature and that they only reason they can together is because they are afraid of commitment.
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5-18-2007 @ 8:36AM
Bash said...
Let's face it: JD had great chemistry with that psych doctor who moved away (forgot her name on the show). Too bad they had to replace her with a lookalike who does not "click" that much on screen with JD. If that other actress would be there to play JDs pregnant ex I'd really feel enraged about JD hanging on to something that's been ridden to death more than once. Breaking up with Elliot during Carla's and Turk's wedding was it - there's no going back on something like that, the trust is gone - period. And like you pointed out - JD is still a manchild and he hasn't changed a bit since then. What would make Elliot think he'd changed so that - in case they got back together - he would then AGAIN find out that he just wanted what somebody else had and once he got it drop it again immediately like a child?
Again: that other actress would've been better in the role of the pregnant ex.
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5-18-2007 @ 9:46AM
Pranav said...
Err, Joel forgot the unicorn notebook reference.
This was the notebook Matthew Perry's dad gave him in an episode from Season 4 (?) - the guy who needed a kidney and JD hunts down Chandler, his son to donate it.
Btw, just as the episode seemed fractured, so did your review. Felt like someone was transcribing what you were talking/thinking, as opposed as a structured written review. Just some (hopefully) constructive criticism.
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5-18-2007 @ 10:21AM
agentmichaelscarn said...
To Bash,
Heather Graham, the Psychiatrist was played by Heather Graham.
-----------------------------------------
At this point, I think the concept has been done to death, but I can't help but think that the producers know this and will back out of it. They have to know that the viewers don't want to see this in the future (again... and again.... and again). If this happens, I won't leave the show, but I will consider the show to have "Jumped the Shark".
This final season better not be like the final season of so many sitcoms, just trying to get to the finish line, no matter how painful it might be.
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5-18-2007 @ 11:37AM
Nathan said...
2 things could happen next season.
1. Kim has a kid and JD finds out it's not his. I mean really, she got pregnant without banging him. Sounds like a soap opera to me. This will also move the ball on JD and Ellot. As JD will come crying to her, and they will hook up.
2. Kim has the kid at Ellot's wedding, thus Ellot doesn't get married, and JD is back in the door.
Either way JD and Ellot are getting back together.
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5-18-2007 @ 11:43AM
Alex K. said...
The scrubs scene was classic. Being in the dimly lit room, wearing scrubs, the protagonists in a way left the show's linearity and transcended the scene to a meta moment of past, present and future. One of those moments, when you ask yourself where you are in life, where you have been and where you want to be. It was a fabulous roundup of the whole show and its emotional "philosophy" before the final chapter.
http://thenthecountry.blogspot.com
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