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Scrubs: My Fallen Idol
(S05E21) I (and the rest of you, I
think) often judge whether an episode of Scrubs is good or not by how outrageous the comedy is. The show has
definitely built a reputation for being wacky and surreal and that's the yardstick that's used to decide whether or not
that episode succeeded and is firing on all eight cylinders. In a way that's unfair. There are a lot of extremely
talented actors on the show and they rarely get a chance to stretch in a dramatic direction. This was an episode where, were we to judge on comedy stylings, it would be a failure. There was very little in the way of the outrageous comedy that is the show's hallmark. We pick up shortly after the last episode left off, with Dr. Cox reeling from the death of three patients after they got organs from a woman who died after being infected by rabies. (Don't get me started on this - my TV barely survived the viewing.) Cox has turned to drinking to dull the pain and has cut himself off from the rest of the staff and his friends and even came to work drunk.
Carla devises a plan to have everyone spend some time with Cox, consoling him and trying to bring him back into the
world. Dr. Kelso is also covering for him with the board. The entire crew takes turns sitting with Cox while he
silently drinks. Carla gets all emotional, Elliot is ... well ... Elliot. She even brings Keith along with her and that
doesn't turn out well for him, since Cox just stares at him and he winds up being left in the bathroom by Elliot. Kelso
comes over, too. He starts out berating Cox but, as he keeps talking, admits that the two of them balance each other
out at the hospital.
Turk also takes a turn, but most of his screen-time is devoted to his dealing with his
new orthopedic surgical resident. The guy is all touchy-feely about everything and that's not Turk's style. J.D. labels
him a "Sensey" just like him. After Turk says some stuff to offend the resident, J.D. tries to help him get
back in his good graces. Ultimately, though, Turk decides he's alright with not being all super-sensitive and that the
help J.D. is offering has more to do with his disappointment over Cox's behavior than anything. See J.D. had ducked out
of his turn watching over Cox earlier.
When he finally does go over he admits to Cox that he was scared to
come and see him. Cox has been his idol for so long and this was just too disappointing. When J.D. pours himself a
scotch, Cox finally snaps out of it as J.D. spits it out - remember, this is the guy who drinks appletinis. We cut to a
short time later when Cox, freshly shaven and smiling, is going out with everyone, even managing to say "thank
you" to J.D.
Great performances from everyone in the cast. Ken Jenkins, especially, knocks it out of
the park as he grudgingly admits his respect for Cox. Christa Miller doesn't have a lot of time on screen (more so than
in recent episodes) but is great with what she has.
Best moments: "Wrench-knife. For kids." The way
Christa Miller says "Beat him, got it" like it's what she's supposed to do instead of an excuse to remember.
Turk throwing the resident over his shoulder. Kelso's entire speech to Cox.
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