‘Scrubs’ Revival’s Season 9 Retcon Makes “My Finale” Very Depressing

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Despite the recent news that Season 9 introduces a complex multiverse storyline, most of the original Scrubs story remains unchanged. However, even events from before the controversial Med School season have been subtly revised. One episode frequently cited as a fan favorite has been particularly impacted – not by changes to what happens in the episode, but by how the revival series now presents it, effectively recontextualizing it after choosing to move past Season 9.

Originally intended as a continuation of Scrubs, Scrubs: Med School wasn’t well-received by fans. While some shows gain a following over time, even for parts fans initially disliked, that didn’t happen with Med School. Many fans still consider Season 8 to be the true end of Scrubs, and that will technically be true in 2026… until the new revival premieres on February 25th. Interestingly, the show’s return might actually make some viewers miss aspects of the now-canceled Season 9.

How the ‘Scrubs’ Revival’s ‘Med School’ Retcon Transforms Season 8’s “My Finale”


ABC

The two-part finale, “My Finale,” is widely considered one of the greatest sitcom endings ever. It’s so well done that the choice to create the spin-off Med School seems even stranger. The final dream sequence, featuring Zach Braff as JD, shows us what he imagines for his future. Amidst all the heartfelt possibilities, JD envisions a marriage and a child with Elliot (Sarah Chalke), and continuing the strong friendships he’s made over eight seasons at Sacred Heart.

As a huge Scrubs fan, I think this episode isn’t about what will happen to JD, but more about what he wants as he says goodbye to the hospital that shaped him. Even though Med School had its issues, it did give JD some of what he dreamed of. But honestly, that whole storyline isn’t part of the real Scrubs timeline anymore – it’s like a ‘what if’ that didn’t actually happen. And now, learning that JD and Elliot aren’t even together in the revival is a real shock, and it’s sad to see his friendship with Turk has drifted because of the distance between them.

Before the show changed its story, viewers could interpret a certain sequence in two ways. You could either pretend the episode “Med School” didn’t matter and believe JD achieved his goals, or you could watch “Med School” and see that he mostly succeeded. Those interpretations are still valid, but the recent story change makes it hard to ignore the fact that moving to St. Vincent’s actually hindered JD’s dreams more than he realized.

Looking back at the series finale, “My Finale,” two of JD’s biggest fears actually make a lot of sense. He worried about his relationship with Elliot and whether they’d stay together, and he wondered if he could maintain his close friendship with Turk even after leaving Sacred Heart. The fact that both of those fears came true makes JD’s final walk down the hospital corridor incredibly sad, especially considering how hopeful that scene initially felt.

The ‘Scrubs’ Revival Must Repair the Damage Caused by the Season 9 Retcon


NBC/ABC

Removing the storyline about JD attending medical school after the original series ended has mostly been a positive change for the upcoming revival, but altering his happy ending still feels significant, especially with the new timeline. The revival begins with JD returning to Sacred Heart after a long absence, and seeing him reconnect with familiar faces will serve a similar purpose for viewers as the original series did. It will be fascinating – and funny – to see what’s changed, or stayed the same, since the finale. And knowing Scrubs, it’s sure to be emotionally impactful as well.

It’s still unclear how long the show’s return will last. While a second season hasn’t been officially announced, Zach Braff has hinted at possible future episodes beyond the first. A key focus of this revival seems to be giving the characters a satisfying emotional journey. However, ABC might cancel the show if the first season doesn’t perform well. If that happens, changing JD’s previously happy ending could seem like a mistake. Let’s hope the revival is successful!

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If the new season isn’t well-received, fans might feel like they’re starting over, but with nine extra episodes to skip after the original finale. Reviving popular shows is always a gamble, and while it’s natural for Scrubs to want to redeem itself after Med School didn’t succeed, sometimes it’s best to let things remain as they are. Hopefully, this comeback will show that the original eight seasons weren’t just a lucky streak, and even if they were, the revival can recapture that special feeling.

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2026-01-28 22:24