The zany world of Sacred Heart Hospital has finally returned in Hulu’s Scrubs revival, but actor Zach Braff revealed the heartbreaking JD scene that was scrapped from the first episode, as the series introduces a new dynamic for the lovable doctor. Spoilers ahead…
It’s been 16 years since the original binge-worthy sitcom ended with its ninth season, although many fans consider the emotional Season 8 finale the main ending of the original show. But JD, Turk (Donald Faison), Elliot (Sarah Chalke), and Carla (Judy Reyes) have finally returned to our screens.
Don’t worry, the Janitor (Neil Flynn) will also be back to taunt JD again, and a fan theory suggested he was hiding in plain sight in the trailer.
While the original show gave audiences a glimpse of JD’s happily married future with Elliot, the Scrubs revival imagines quite a different life for the pair: they’re divorced and co-parenting. Now, Braff has opened up about a heartbreaking scene that they were forced to scrap from the first episode of Hulu’s Scrubs revival.
First episode of Scrubs revival would’ve shown a depressed JD post-divorce
Zach Braff says Hulu’s Scrubs revival almost showed a depressed JD living alone to show how much his divorce from Elliot has affected him.
“There was a beat that was actually cut out of the pilot where you saw a flash of Elliot dropping off their son for the joint custody, for his turn, and she sees him through the window and she sees how sad he is, sitting there alone, and she really clocks it,” he told Collider.
“And then, when he answers the door, he switches to a smile to act like he’s fine. It was very telling. We had to cut for time, but it was a very telling moment.”
The star and executive producer also explained the reason behind the beloved couple’s split, saying their “off-again bickering that was a part of their existence persisted through the marriage. Whereas JD still wanted to work on it and go to couples counseling and do stuff, eventually Elliot just pulled the ripcord and called it. I think J.D. understands but is dealing with it.”
Given they work in close proximity together at Sacred Heart, the divorce is going to make life “tricky” for the former couple. And Braff says JD will have to “learn what it’s like to see her flirting with a handsome doctor at the end of the hallway.”
Scrubs fans are distraught by JD and Elliot’s divorce
Fans were quick to lament online about JD and Elliot’s divorce after the first two episodes of the Hulu Scrubs revival started streaming. Many looked back on the Season 8 finale as the “canon” ending to the show, as the episode depicts JD and Elliot’s life as a married couple to Peter Gabriel’s Book of Love.
“Watching Scrubs revival and they broke up JD and Elliot… again! Season 8 series finale still the only canon in my eyes,” one person wrote on X.
Another added: “Now why would they ruin JD and Elliot like that? After the long and crazy road to get that endgame? They better get back together eventually. Because this is not okay.”
Other heartbroken fans wrote: “I know that this is just a fictional show with fictional characters but I am truly saddened by the JD and Elliot reveal!”
Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence chimed in to thank fans for watching, and said, “Sorry if anything disappointed you, but not all JD’s dreams can come true…”
For now, it’s unclear if JD and Elliot will eventually get back together but it’s obvious from the fan reaction that the show would do them a disservice if they didn’t reconcile in some way.
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