ABC’s new Scrubs revival has landed—and critics are sharply divided. The reboot reunites the original cast for the first time since the show ended in 2010, bringing J.D., Turk, Elliot, Carla and Dr. Cox back to Sacred Heart Hospital.
The revival picks up years later, with J.D. now working as a concierge doctor for wealthy clients before—inevitably—getting pulled back into the chaos of the hospital. The series also introduces a new generation of interns, keeping the structure close to the original while updating the setting.
Variety: A Nostalgic Return That Feels ‘Millennial Cringe‘
Variety’s Alison Herman delivered the sharpest pan so far, arguing the revival highlights how “millennial-coded” the original series was—and how out of step it feels in 2026. She writes that the show hasn’t meaningfully evolved its concept, instead installing J.D. “right back where we’re used to seeing him” with minimal updates, aside from jokes about Turk’s sciatica and sleeker high‑resolution sets that now appear flimsy.
“To be a millennial is to watch the cultural staples of one’s youth curdle into cringe,” she wrote.
Herman also draws comparisons to the abandoned Scrubs: Med School relaunch, noting this new version attempts even less reinvention.
While some new trainees join the cast under returning showrunner Aseem Batra, Herman argues the series remains stuck in its original tone—charming in memory, but creakier under modern scrutiny.
Rotten Tomatoes / RogerEbert.com: Warm, Nostalgic, and Surprisingly Effective
Other critics were far kinder.
“The 2026 version of Scrubs is a pretty solid piece of escapism, a return that feels almost like what the show would look like now if it never left the air,” wrote Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com.
Liz Shannon Miller at Consequence praised the revival for retaining the series’ emotional core: doctors navigating the messy realities of healthcare, propped up by each other. She notes, “it still has the ability to make a person cry.”
TV Insider: ‘Older, Somewhat Wiser, Still Silly and Sweet‘
Matt Roush at TV Insider described the revival as an affectionate throwback that hasn’t lost its blend of “irreverent shenanigans and unabashed pathos.”
He highlights the seamless chemistry between Zach Braff and Donald Faison, calling their return “as giddy as ever,” and praises new additions like Vanessa Bayer’s workplace‑sensitivity monitor as strong comedic elements.
TVLine: Capturing What Made ‘Scrubs’ Special Without Leaning on Nostalgia
Ryan Schwartz at TVLine argues the ABC revival recaptures the best parts of early seasons—emotional honesty and tonal pivots—while avoiding the pitfalls that plagued Season 9.
TVLine notes that the revival “taps into what made the early seasons special” without relying solely on nostalgia, highlighting how the new run recaptures the emotional tone and stylistic strengths of Scrubs’ early years.
“Yes, the original theme song is back. But more importantly, so is the heart,” he wrote.
CBR : Chemistry Carries the Revival
Both CBR and Collider credit the revival’s success almost entirely to the reunited cast.
“Whatever connects Braff and Faison, networks should trap that lightning in a bottle and peddle it on street corners to uninformed studio executives,” wrote Martin Carr for CBR.
Collider similarly says the revival “immediately puts right the wrongs of Season 9,” praising the cast’s seamless return but cautioning that moments of self‑aware 2026-era moralizing sometimes interrupt the comedic rhythm.
“But even with these moralizing sidebars, the heart of Scrubs beats strong in Season 10,” said Greer Riddell.
The Scrubs revival premieres on ABC on February 25 at 8 p.m. ET, with the episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.
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