The Scrubs revival is finally here, and it did not take it easy on our feelings. After nearly 16 years away from Sacred Heart, the beloved medical comedy returned on February 25, 2026, with a two-episode premiere on ABC. But instead of giving fans the happy ending they imagined, the show dropped two major bombshells right out of the gate. J.D. and Elliot are divorced, and Dr. Cox is walking away from the job. In exclusive interviews, creator Bill Lawrence and the cast sat down with Deadline and other outlets to explain the thinking behind these shocking decisions. They opened up about why the couple didn’t make it, what Dr. Cox’s retirement really means, and how the new dynamic sets the stage for a very different Sacred Heart.
The revival picks up as if the original series ended with the emotional Season 8 finale—completely ignoring the divisive ninth season. That means we rejoin the characters roughly 16 years later. Zach Braff (J.D.), Sarah Chalke (Elliot), and Donald Faison (Turk) are back as series regulars. Judy Reyes (Carla) appears in four episodes, while John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox) is in three due to their busy schedules on other shows . Neil Flynn (the Janitor) and Christa Miller (Jordan) also make guest appearances .
The Big Shock: Why J.D. and Elliot Didn’t Make It
The very first episode delivers the news that hits hardest: J.D. and Elliot are no longer together. They share two children and are learning to co-parent, but the marriage is over. For fans who waited years to see this couple finally get their happy ending, it felt like a gut punch. However, the people who created and starred in the show say it was the only way to make the revival feel real.
Bill Lawrence explained that the idea came from a very personal place. He admitted he was resistant to the idea at first, but his showrunner, Aseem Batra, helped him see the bigger picture. “I’m a huge believer in writing what you know and what you see,” Lawrence told Deadline. “Our showrunner — she said I was allowed to talk about this — is someone that, when I left Scrubs, was married and was having a young child, and now is a single parent, co-raising that child with somebody” . He emphasized that not every marriage works out, and pretending otherwise would have felt dishonest to the lives people actually live.
Lawrence also pointed to the history of the characters themselves. “If you watch the 9,000 episodes of Scrubs, you would say, Turk and Carla are going to make it. And then you would go, I don’t think J.D. and Elliot have had more than an episode and a half, they seemed like a functioning couple” . He called the split a “good storytelling device” that reflects real adult challenges, but he left the door open for the future, saying “it doesn’t mean that their story is over.”
Sarah Chalke was fully on board with the decision. She told reporters she was not disappointed at all. “I thought it was great,” she said. “I thought it was the best way in because obviously, there’s so much more opportunity for comedy and drama when you have two people that are not just fine and happily married and getting along” . She also reminded fans that the “will they-won’t they” tension was a huge part of the original show’s magic. Playing that dynamic again, but from the perspective of divorced co-parents, opens up new and interesting territory.
Zach Braff agreed, adding that the change makes the story more grounded. “And also to make it real,” he explained. “What J.D. sees projected on the sheet at the end of Season 8 is what he hopes and dreams will happen. But that doesn’t necessarily come true, especially when you’re 50 years old. Things that you didn’t want to happen, happen” . He highlighted the contrast with Turk and Carla, who are still happily married with four kids. This contrast shows the different paths midlife can take.
The Supply Closet Returns: Could They Get Back Together?
Despite the divorce, the premiere features a moment fans instantly recognized. Elliot finds herself alone with J.D. in the infamous supply closet—the site of so many of their intimate moments in the original series. It sparks immediate questions about whether a reunion is in the cards.
Zach Braff is keeping an open mind. “Who knows? We are hoping the fans love it and we get to do more seasons,” he said. “I, as a viewer, would of course love it if they eventually hook up again because that would be fun TV” . Donald Faison chimed in with a laugh, noting that would “definitely make it way more complicated.”
Bill Lawrence offered a more measured perspective, drawing on his experience with Ted Lasso. He noted that in the old days of television, if you had a single man and a single woman on screen, the network would push for them to get together. “I think that what’s cool now is that even if people are reading into or seeing that, I don’t think there’s any inherent obligation for them to end up together, probably just go wherever the story is taken” . So for now, it is a waiting game.
Dr. Cox’s Next Move: A Surprising Retirement
The other major shakeup involves Dr. Perry Cox. At the end of the first episode, after convincing J.D. to return to Sacred Heart, Dr. Cox drops a bomb: he is retiring. He tells his former protégé, “I feel like this particular time has passed me by,” and essentially hands him the reins .
Bill Lawrence explained that this move was essential to the theme of the revival. The idea was to show the original interns becoming the teachers. “J.D. had to step in the mantle of, you need to be for these kids what I was to you, the dynamic between J.D. and Dr. Cox is such a big one,” Lawrence said . But he was quick to reassure fans that this is not the last we see of Dr. Cox. “Dr. Cox is a huge character on the show,” he confirmed, adding that the character “comes back at the end of the year and will continue on next year” .
John C. McGinley hinted that his character’s departure from the full-time chief role doesn’t mean he is gone for good. “I’ll come back to the hospital in a profoundly different capacity,” he teased . This suggests Dr. Cox will still be around to offer his signature sarcastic wisdom, just from a new angle.
The New Dynamic: Awkwardness with the Group
The divorce doesn’t just affect J.D. and Elliot. It throws a wrench into the entire group’s friendship, especially for Turk. He is stuck in the middle, being best friends with J.D. while his wife, Carla, remains close with Elliot.
Donald Faison explained how real this situation feels. “That’s a lot like real life,” he said. “Zach, myself and my wife, we hang out a lot. And if something were to happen, Zach and I are so stubborn that we wouldn’t talk to each other, so we would need that somebody in the middle to make it happen” . He praised the writing for having Elliot be the one to bravely address the awkwardness head-on, which helps keep the group from falling apart.
Sarah Chalke added that this storyline tackles a very common issue in breakups: loyalty. “She actually ends up losing, Turk was one of her best friends, so I love how that was addressed,” she said . For Elliot, navigating life after divorce means redefining her place not just with J.D., but with everyone she loves.
Facing the Future: Elliot Dating Again
With the divorce fresh, the show also explores where the characters stand romantically. Sarah Chalke revealed that Elliot is dipping her toes back into the dating pool, though she is not exactly ready. In the premiere, she eyes a handsome young doctor, setting up potential new storylines.
“I think for Elliot, we got to dip our toes into that a little bit in the first nine, and it’s a fun area to play in,” Chalke said. She noted that J.D. and Elliot are at “different levels of readiness” for dating, which creates natural conflict. “I think in divorce, there are certain expectations about how people are going to handle things, and when is the time, and when are you ready?” . She is excited to explore Elliot’s romantic life through her characteristic neuroses, especially since she is now so confident in her career as a doctor running the sim lab.
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Where to Watch the Scrubs Revival
The Scrubs revival premiered with two back-to-back episodes on ABC on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 . For those who missed it, the episodes are available for streaming the next day on Hulu in the United States. International fans can catch the show on Disney+ in many regions, including the UK, where the double-bill launched on February 26 . The revival consists of nine episodes, with new installments airing weekly.
The return to Sacred Heart brings the original theme song, “Superman” by Lazlo Bane, but with a modern update. The iconic X-ray is now a digital iPad, showing how the world has changed while the heart of the show remains the same .
The revival is off to a strong start with critics, holding a “Fresh” rating of over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes . With the core cast back and bold story choices in place, the show proves it still has plenty to say about friendship, growing up, and navigating life’s unexpected twists.
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