So begins season six of Scrubs. It sounds a bit heavy for a sitcom, but somehow the writers manage to make the couple’s decision-making process light-hearted, and they throw in other chuckle-worthy moments throughout the first episode.
The rest of the season follows the traditional Scrubs formula: lots of sarcasm and outlandish daydreams, tempered with bittersweet moments to keep the show from taking on a slapstick tone. The formula isn’t quite as fresh as it once was, and the show is finally beginning to show its age, but it’s still one of the best half hours on television, if you ask me.
As could be expected, the guest stars in this season are phenomenal. Elizabeth Banks definitely has the largest guest-starring role, as the future mother of J.D.’s child, and she fits right in with the rest of the cast; it’s almost as though she were there all along. Other notable guest stars include Michael Weston as Pvt. Brian Dancer, and Dave Foley as Dr. Hedrick, who both appear in multiple episodes.
Episodes that deserve special mention include:
- “My Musical,” in which the entire cast sings and dances Broadway-style
- “My Long Goodbye,” in which the Sacred Heart crew are forced to say goodbye to one of their own
- “Their Story,” in which narration comes not from J.D., but from Ted, Todd and Jordan
- “My Point of No Return,” in which Elliott and J.D. begin to question their respective commitments to their current relationships
The DVD
Scrubs: The Complete Sixth Season comes as 22 episodes on three DVDs. As with most other Scrubs box sets, the discs are arranged in a tri-fold folder that fits inside a cardboard sleeve. The cover art on the sleeve is predictably comical, with the entire principal cast (sans J.D.) appearing behind orange double hospital doors; J.D. stands outside the doors, holding them closed. The folder that contains the DVDs, which is also orange, displays various images of the Sacred Heart staff, being goofy. I am, as always, pleasantly surprised at the design of the case.
The DVD menu follows in the same vein as all the rest, with cell-shaded computer animations of the interior of Sacred Heart Hospital. When the DVD first loads, there is a short animation that travels, in first person view, through the hospital to the coffee shop. The main menu appears on the countertop, in a top-down perspective alongside three cappuccinos. I mention the cappuccinos because, intermittently, the foam dissolves in each cup to reveal a video clip from the season; it’s a really original way to display clips, in my opinion.
Video is presented in full screen format, just as it is on TV. The video quality is, if possible, even better than it was when originally broadcast. I have always enjoyed the visual style of Scrubs—it doesn’t have a live sitcom look to it, but at the same time it doesn’t look like these shows that have an almost movie-quality appearance. It has its own distinct look.
Audio is presented in Dolby 5.1 surround in English, French and Spanish, which is nice, but certainly not necessary for a show that relies mostly on dialogue and music.
Special Features
This set includes a nice collection of special features, which should be more than enough to satisfy almost anyone.
There are optional audio commentaries to accompany every episode, which is a really nice feature, if you ask me. This gives a lot of incentive to re-watch episodes, just to see what cast and crew have to say about each scene.
Other special features include:
- My Making of: “My Musical” – a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the musical episode
- Judy Reyes Keeps Talking – a candid interview with the actress who plays Carla
- Scrubbed Out – deleted scenes from the season
- Alernate Lines
- The Third Tier – a behind-the-scenes look at some of the characters who appear in small, recurring roles
Overall
If you’re a fan of the show, season six is a must-have. If you aren’t a fan of the show, you should definitely at least take a look. With episodes as outrageously funny as “My Musical” or as touching as “My Long Goodbye,” there is truly something for everyone in season six.
Overall: 7.5
