Scrubs Needs To Say Goodbye To An OG Character Sooner Than Later

Published Oct 15, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

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SPOILERS AHEAD for season 2, episode 4 of the Scrubs revival.After 25 years, one of the most beloved Scrubs characters is at a pivotal crossroads. Viewers first met the Sacred Heart crew of John "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff), Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), and Chris Turk (Donald Faison) in 2001, and the trio of interns— alongside a hilarious group of fellow hospital staff— quickly became one of the most defining sitcom ensembles of the decade. Unsurprisingly, when ABC announced a reboot of the acclaimed medical comedy, certain names were non-negotiable for longtime fans. To an extent, the on-screen reunion of familiar faces alone helped make the Scrubs revival a streaming success.

Yet, as Scrubs season 2 approaches its halfway mark, it's clear that what was once its greatest strength is now threatening the longevity of the show. Beyond the main three, characters like Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), and "The" Todd Quinlan (Robert Maschio) returned with their own unfinished business, but the Scrubs reboot also had an entire troupe of new interns to contend with, meaning original characters had to fight to earn the spotlight. Conversely, in Scrubs season 2, episode 4, the sudden arrival of one fan-favorite character underscores the revival's most consequential shortcoming.

The Janitor’s Return In Scrubs Season 2, Episode 4 Is Disappointing

ABC

Without question, one of the best running bits in the original series was the incomprehensible feud between J.D. and the man simply known as The Janitor (Neil Flynn). As such, when Flynn reprised his role at the end of the Scrubs revival's first season to reveal The Janitor was the seemingly affable Maintenance Guy's (Darcy Michael) father, it felt like a fitting nod to an integral part of the show's legacy. Sadly, season 2, episode 4's attempt to bring The Janitor and The Maintenance Guy back into the fold falls flat.

As expected, their subplot is nothing short of ridiculous in all the right ways. Ironically, as a so-called "nepo" baby, Maintenance Guy fails to live up to the epic pranks from his father's heyday, and The Janitor vows to ruin J.D.'s life again simply in the name of father-son bonding. If it were a typical episode of the original series, nothing would be amiss. Nowadays, however, the side story actively detracts from the show's greater potential. Of course, the performances of Flynn and Michael are faultless, but the reboot only has so much screen time to offer.

In fact, Scrubs is already struggling to manage its cast of main and recurring characters, with promising young guns like Dashana (Amanda Morrow), Blake (David Gridley), and Amara (Layla Mohammadi) sporadically disappearing for weeks on end due to each episode's narrative constraints. Consequently, every subplot needs to feel fully warranted, and considering J.D.'s storyline in Scrubs season 2 is far more serious this year between Perry's treatment, Turk's mental health struggles, and exponentially growing career pressure, the usually amusing antics of The Janitor and Maintenance Guy unfortunately feel out of place.

The Scrubs Revival Can’t Keep Reverting To Its Old Ways

If the sitcom jumps through enough hoops, there's surely a way to justify The Janitor and Maintenance Guy's subplot, but the disconnect in "My Chief" is indicative of a larger issue. Since the reboot began, Scrubs' legacy characters have been a doubled-edged sword. A brief cameo is enough to appease original series fans, but relying on guest stars is a slippery slope for a show that ostensibly wants to succeed in a new era.

Granted, it's perfectly understandable that ABC doesn't want to repeat the sins of OG Scrubs season 9. Nevertheless, the best course of action to ensure the revival can stand on its own is to invest in the next generation of Sacred Heart doctors. Out of the fresh faces, only Samantha Tosh (Ava Bunn) has been promoted to the main cast, and not even she feels like a true protagonist yet. In some ways, it's a Catch-22: Scrubs can't ignore its past, but it also can't let nostalgia get in the way of its potential future.

Regardless, the revival has plenty of exciting prospects on the horizon if it can get all of its creative ducks in a row. Whether The Janitor seamlessly integrates himself into the story from now on or is never seen again until the reboot's series finale, he has already left an indelible mark on the Scrubs franchise— which may be a sign to let the character go.

Cast

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  Zach Braff

  John 'J.D.' Dorian

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  Donald Faison

  Christopher Turk