(S07E02) Despite what I knew about this episode going in -- that it would be the one where J.D. and Kim finally have their baby -- I didn't expect it to be so warm-hearted and almost gimmick-free.We've been hearing rumblings from Bill Lawrence, Zach Braff and company that the final season of Scrubs was going to be more reminiscent of the show's earlier seasons, where there were flights of fancy but J.D. was a more realistic character and the fantasies weren't quite as outlandish. While last week's season premiere didn't quite reach those standards, this episode did. In fact, this felt more like one of those first half-dozen first-season episodes that were slower-paced and relatively restrained, and it was quite refreshing to see.
To be honest, the episode wasn't as side-splittingly funny as a decent Scrubs episode usually is, but it didn't need to be. What we saw tonight was how parents go to great lengths to protect their kids, how other parents need some "me" and "us" time to keep them sane, and how still others are determined to make things work even if conditions aren't ideal.
We knew that J.D. and Kim were doomed, but I didn't really expect her to figure it out as she was in labor awaiting an epidural (and a pill to numb her up before her epidural). I give J.D. credit for wanting to stick it out; he's a child of divorce and he knew what that did to him and his brother Dan. But we also knew that to set up the final season, both J.D. and Elliot were going to have to be unencumbered from their romantic entanglements. Elliot is still dealing with Keith's burning hatred towards her ("That's disgusting!" he yells as she walks towards him), and we knew J.D. was going to be next. But it'll be interesting to see if we're going to witness J.D. as a father or if little Sammy is going to disappear along with his mother into the sitcom ether somewhere.
(Is this the last we see of Elizabeth Banks, by the way? I'm ambivalent about seeing her return; she is cute as a button, as Kim said she heard about herself, but just kind of seemed like a forced-in character.)
For the first time in a while, Dr. Cox was in a story that allowed him to do some minor ranting while showing how much the character has grown over the years. He seems to really care for his little daughter Jennifer Dillon ("I'm going to call her J.D. forever," says J.D.) to the point where he doesn't want to give her a shot for her rash even though he could; he doesn't want her to associate her dad with pain. He seems to care about it even more than Jordan, who is very good at falling asleep instantly. Bringing in "Dr. No Shot" was a bit unnecessary, but it gave us a chance to see Elliot's days as "Dr. Never Says 'Terminal'." (By the way, nice touch with the Elliot flashback... in it, she was wearing her Sacred Heart staff lab coat, as opposed to her private practice lab coat with the frilly pink "Dr. Reid" name tag).
I think we need to see the Turkletons a little more. Even though the Turk/Carla/video game storyline was a bit slight, it had some nice moments, including those with the Janitor (who needed motivation to shoot aliens, then paid tribute to his fallen victims) to Kelso drunkenly consoling his son Harrison about yet another thieving boyfriend. Oh, and Janitor's "we're friends at night" line about him and Kelso was pretty good. It does seem that they're squeezing Janitor and Kelso in sometimes, but this week it worked.
Other fun stuff:
- "Thank you Perry much."
- The lame-but-not-lame triple jump hug.
- Turk looking forward to being little Sam's bluncle ("black uncle").
- The very familiar-looking OB nurse (if you don't want to know who it is then don't click here).
- Not sure how I feel about Fun Size (not Bite Size, like I said last week) Intern. Her voice is funny and annoying, but it's also an easy target for folks like Cox.
So this week the warm fuzzies, and the shocking lack of fantasies -- outside J.D.'s vision of Colin Hay popping out of Kim's bajingo, that is -- and other shtick we've come to expect from Scrubs, overruled the general lack of hilarity. If more season seven episodes are like this, with just a little bit more of the funny, the show will have a very satisfying conclusion.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-02-2007 @ 8:04AM
Dave said...
Oh, please. When that "mysterious" nurse opened her mouth all mystery was gone.
Speaking of JD's brother Dan, is JD going to call him and tell him he's an uncle? (A real uncle, not a 'bluncle')
Please keep Kim around. Forget JD and Elliot, I want to see JD man up and settle down with Kim and raise their family together. Elliot can get together with the Janitor.
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11-02-2007 @ 8:35AM
Eric said...
I agree, Elliot sucks, she has been a nuisance for the last three seasons.
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11-02-2007 @ 8:41AM
edd said...
Elliot has been anoying from season 3 onwards, and was 'ok' before that.
I stoppoed watching two seasons ago, due partly because I felt the show was losig it's essence/was running out of ideas, althouh mainly because the joy that was Arrested Development stole my funny bone and won't give it back, but the fact you've said this episode has gone back to it's roots has made me grabbed the torrent - I might report back later but I'd love this show to win me over again, even if it's just to muster a couple of grins throughout.
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11-02-2007 @ 9:51AM
R.L. said...
To give a breath of fresh air from all the criticism...
I think, without a doubt, that J.D. and Elliot are going to end up together at the end of this season. They've thrown in little hints in each episode to get the ball rolling so far; enough that I can't see any other scenario playing out.
In the first episode of this season, it was J.D. and Turk talking about how none of J.D.'s girlfriends have been right for him, except for "Mole Butt", who we all know is Elliot.
This week's "moment" (I'd almost compare it to vintage Jim and Pam moments, but I don't think Scrubs is capable of being as subtle as The Office), was when J.D. told Elliot that him, Turk, and Carla decided the celebratory jump hug was lame. Elliot responded that he "probably loved it and just didn't want to admit it". J.D. thinks to himself, "god, she knows me".
This is something that would've gone without notice before this season; any character could've said that without it being an issue (or without requiring a response), but the fact that they used it to show how compatible J.D. and Elliot are is just foreshadowing the inevitable conclusion. And honestly.. I might be alone in this, but I can't say I'm not looking forward to it.
I'd count on more of these moments in the future.
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11-02-2007 @ 10:57AM
Brian said...
I agree totally, this felt a lot more like season 1 Scrubs. JD and Elliot being together was hinted at again this episode. BL is the man, keep it going in this direction and S7 will be the best!
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11-02-2007 @ 12:13PM
r.r.r. said...
i thought this episode was better than last week's. i don't know if kim is right for JD, but i would HATE to see elliot and JD together. i feel like elliot has grown up in some ways that JD hasn't yet. it would also be too predictable. can't wait for next week! :)
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11-02-2007 @ 12:31PM
justelise said...
As long as Kim goes away I'll be happy. JD really is a good guy (too good) to get to the point where he can even stay in a room with Kim without wanting to poke her eyes out. It's also nice of him to want to do good by the kid and it was probably one of the most grown-up and manly things he's ever done. Whomever thinks that he's not mature enough to be with Elliott obviously hasn't watched the past few episodes. Stepping up to take responsibility after the psycho mother of your child runs away and hides the pregnancy.. that's just huge. Elliott wasn't mature enough to stop the wedding juggernaut until right before it was supposed to happen because she was desperate to get married and who she married didn't matter. Puh-lease. Show me how she's more mature than JD, really..
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11-02-2007 @ 1:14PM
nicolewright1 said...
Does anyone know the name of the song and who sing's it that played at the very end of the show when J.D asked if he could hold the baby?
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11-02-2007 @ 1:31PM
las6 said...
...and where have you been living for the past few years?
The track is a cover of "Heartbeats", performed by José Gonzáles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w
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11-02-2007 @ 1:39PM
kevjohn said...
Elliot has been annoying. But damn she's fine! :)
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11-02-2007 @ 1:44PM
nicolewright1 said...
Thank you so much for the info on the song. I had never heard it before, but I thought it was beautiful!
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11-02-2007 @ 9:44PM
Jim Nelson said...
I hope Kim marries Chuck from Happy Days.
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11-03-2007 @ 9:56AM
Drew said...
Does anyone else think that when Elliot says that JD loved the jump but just didn't want to admit it, the same went for Kim? Maybe he loves her and just doesn't want to admit it
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11-04-2007 @ 5:41PM
A Viewer said...
This episode was pretty funny. The part with the Janitor needing to be motivated to kill the video-game aliens and paying tribute to their fallen was probably the best part of the episode, but I think the entire labor part was very well-handled. I hope than JD and Elliot do not end up together, although I'm not sure if I would like JD with Kim either.
Either way, I want to see more Dr. Cox storylines like this one!
Also, with regards to the poll, I would say that the show will not continue on as though JD and Kim never had the baby, but I don't expect every episode to be centered around JD's relationship with Kim and the baby.
Here's hoping that the last 16 episodes of "Scrubs" will be all that they can be!
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11-07-2007 @ 1:21AM
leftybigguns said...
Best line: "What do you mean he stole your fillings?"
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