Scrubs: Season Six

It takes a lot to keep a television series fresh year after year. It is the mixed blessing of success. The writers have to tread the very fine line between keeping the aspects that made the show a hit in the first place and avoid the pitfall of rehashing the same situations over and over. This is even worse for a sit-com; the jokes are bound to become repetitive. One series that has managed to keep its standards over the years is ‘Scrubs’. Most medical series on the tube are hour long comedies. Re-inventing the formula to a half hour comedy was a bold move for the network that fortunately paid off. Buena Vista releases the sixth season to DVD and like the other box sets it is well worth having. To be honest the series is losing some steam and most likely will end in season seven making this one the penultimate year. Mirroring regular life the relationships built up over the last years have changed. Antagonism has become friendship, love interests connect and disconnect and their professional lives start to move on. This is a season of flux leading up to the final resolutions. Because of this you have to view this season with that in mind. It is the beginning of the final act and much of what happens here is left unresolved, for now. There are even a couple of episodes presented here that will remain as some of the best the entire series has to offer.

As the sixth season begins the group of doctors at Sacred Heart Hospital is almost done with their last stages of training. Doctor John 'J.D.' Dorian (Zach Braff) has become and excellent doctor whose biggest asset is his ability to actually care about his patients. He has also just discovered that is girl friend, Dr. Kim Briggs ( Elizabeth Banks). Much of this season revolves around her relationship with J.D. including deciding whether to keep the bay or not. Kim is extremely career oriented even to the point of worrying about how a procedure’s out come would affect her success rate. She takes a job in Tacoma, Washington but meets up with J.D., still pregnant, a few months later in a medical conference. Even though he has worked up to the position of Chief Resident and is now a staff internist he still has to contend with the constant jokes of the Chief Attending, Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley). By the point of this season J.D. and Cox are friends with J.D. even becoming he godfather for Cox’s daughter with Jordan (Christa Miller).

Though all the years J.D.’s best friend has remained Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison). Turk shares an often child-like view of the world with J.D. but like his buddy is able to put things aside when it comes to his abilities in surgery. Turk is married to the head nurse, Carla (Judy Reyes) and they have their second child in this season. Carla is still the voice of reason in most situations especially those concerned with her husband and J.D. The war between J.D. and the Janitor (Neil Flynn) still goes on although the Janitor has gained some degree of respect for J.D. over the years. The most difficult relationship for J.D. remains the one he has with Elliott Reid (Sarah Chalke). Over the years they have been colleagues, roommates, lovers and friends with benefits. Now Elliot has a finance Keith (Travis Schuldt), a resident at the hospital. In this season Elliot takes a job in private practice that comes with over twice her salary at the hospital.

While the main story lines continue here there are many episodes of special note in this sixth season set. In ‘His Story IV’ the episode is narrated by the Chief of Medicine, Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins). He has always been portrayed as more of the up tight administrator than an actual doctor. In this episode the audience gets a more intimate view of Kelso. When a seriously wounded solider from Iraq comes in a debate ensues about the war. Kelso keeps his mind on what is really important and saves the solider. In ‘Friends with Money’ there is juxtaposition between Elliot’s apparent happiness with her newly increased income and Carla’s post partum depression. Both actresses give incredible performances. One of the most imaginative episodes ever is ‘My Musical’. Guest star Tony Award Nominee' Stephanie D'Abruzzo plays a young woman who hears life as a Broadway musical. The whole cast does most of the lines in song and dance. It turns out that she has a brain tumor that has to be removed to save her life. Once the tumor is gone the singing stop. The patient is glad her life has been saved but misses the music.

This series has remained fresh by constantly finding new twist for the familiar. The narration by J.D. gives a reassuring feel even after all these seasons. There is also the ‘His Story’, ‘Her Story’ and now a ‘Their Story’ where the narration is handed over to other cast members. The last six years have built a bond between the characters and the fans. We have become emotionally invested in what happens to them. This is due in large part to the consistently good writing and the great cast. It is also a good thing that just as the freshness begins to wear off their have decided to wrap it up with just one more season. This season is the set up for that finale and while the series will be missed it is still has something to offer.

Zach Braff has a great every day kind of guy appeal. He is not the usual television doctor, he is a nerd and proud of it. He gives J.D. a combination of joy for life and friends as well as a love for his career. With six seasons under their belts the cast has reached the point of knowing each other well which makes for great comic timing. Braff is able to play off his co-stars with a little glance, movement or reaction that is priceless. Sarah Chalke has been given a chance to let her character grow up over time. She is still the bookish young woman but now Chalke is able to let the audience see more of the personal side of Elliot. Even though his role was originally more of an antagonist John C. McGinley has taken Dr. Cox to a place that few comedies like this are able. He makes Cox into a real, fully formed man not just a foil for the lead. Cox has a problem with alcohol, is uncertain of his abilities and is in a love-hate relationship with Jordan.

Disney/Buena Vista has done their usual excellent with releasing this season set to DVD. The anamorphic 1.78:1 video is well balanced and perfect. The Dolby 5.1 audio is also excellent which considering how new the source material is should be no surprise. This set has a featurette showing the behind the scenes preparation for the ‘My Musical’ episode. They went all out for this episode including bringing in some of the top talent from Broadway to help out. It is Judy Reyes’ turn to take center stage for a featurette all her own. She goes into the inspiration for Carla and the challenge of having a role for a long time on television. There are also deleted scenes and some alternate takes for certain lines just to kept he fun going. This is a great series and this set would be a welcomed addition at home.

Posted 10/20/07