As SCRUBS pushes forward with Season Nine, we have witnessed several of the former regular cast members get a final send off, which makes one wonder, is Season Nine just one long extended Season Eight finale? That question becomes especially valid once it is clear the new characters just aren’t getting that much traction in restarting SCRUBS anew. The best moments still occur with the familiar old cast. The best lines are delivered by members of the old cast. And in what may be the most difficult hurdle to overcome, the sentimental value of the show rests solely on the shoulders of the old guard, leaving little room for the new cast to make any headway.
It’s tough to follow up a show like SCRUBS, especially when it’s the same premise being retold with new characters. “Our Histories” revolved around the new interns learning how to work together as a unit to survive, something we saw J.D., Turk (Donald Faison), and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) do eight years ago. Granted, the new cast means a new angle on which to reflect these stories off of, but the underlying message is the same as it was during SCRUBS early season, making investing in these characters all the more difficult. There’s also the final battle between Ted Buckland (Sam Lloyd) and Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins). Ted and his girlfriend, The Gooch (Kate Micucci) are leaving for good to embark on a fifty state tour of the US. Ted wants some respect during his goodbye dinner, but Kelso treats Ted the way he always has, as a doormat. Ted, however, finally gets the applauding goodbye he deserves in a touching, if brief, finale scene.