The verdict is in on the new Scrubs reboot, with reviews so far praising the return of JD, Turk et al. The new season of the medical comedy marks the first episodes in 16 years, with Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes and John C McGinley all back in the fold.
However, this time “medicine has changed, interns have changed”, though JD and Turk’s “bromance has stood the test of time”, with the new episodes seeing “characters new and old navigate the waters of Sacred Heart with laughter, heart and some surprises along the way”.
Ahead of its premiere on ABC next week, critics have shared their praise for the new Scrubs. The reboot has earned an 87% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes from 15 reviews, at the time of writing.
Mama’s Geekly called it “a genuine, heart-warming continuation that feels like home” and a “perfect gift for the fans”.
“This isn’t a shallow retread; it’s a genuine, earned continuation of a story that still has so much heart left to give,” they added.
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TheWrap similarly said that the revival “hits the right combination of nostalgia and update, standing among the few reboots that do justice to their originals without marring their legacy”.
“This is a revival with real purpose – and, for the most part, the one fans have been hoping for ever since Lazlo Bane’s Superman last kicked off an episode of Scrubs,” wrote TVLine. “Yes, the original theme song is back. But more importantly, so is the heart.”
Collider added that creator Bill Lawrence “doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel with Season 10”, and instead “leans into what made Scrubs so enduring – the absurdity, heart, and friendships that keep it alive”.
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However, not all critics loved it, with Variety writing in their verdict: “In the warm glow of nostalgia, Scrubs is inoffensive. In the harsh light of the present, its age begins to show.”
Two characters fans shouldn’t expect to see in the reboot are Dr Kelso (Ken Jenkins) and the Janitor (Neil Flynn), though Braff has expressed hope of them appearing in the future if the show is renewed for another season.
A first-look teaser trailer for the new Scrubs season arrived last November, ahead of a longer preview landing recently.
Scrubs season 10 premieres on Hulu and ABC on 25 February.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Â Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.