Scrubs returns with new episodes for the first time in 16 years on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. And for those looking to jump back in, or even for those looking to watch for the first time, there’s plenty to catch up on.
The main trio of the original series — Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke — are back as series regulars, while John C. McGinley and Judy Reyes are expected to be recurring guest stars. Braff, Faison and Chalke are executive producers on the revival, as is series creator Bill Lawrence. However, Lawrence will not be returning as showrunner, a role that has been filled by Scrubs veteran Aseem Batra. Of the revial, ABC says the following:
JD and Turk scrub in together for the first time in a long time: Medicine has changed; interns have changed; but their bromance has stood the test of time. Characters new and old navigate the waters of Sacred Heart with laughter, heart and some surprises along the way.
Scrubs always has a knack for mixing the bitter with the sweet, humor with hurt, optimism with the reality that doctors face every single day. It’s what made Scrubs at its best not just another sitcom.
Below I’ve broken down some of my favorite episodes/arcs to watch before Scrubs returns on February 25. These episodes are all available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
Scrubs Episodes/Arcs To Watch
My First Day (S1, E1)/My Two Dads (S1, E5)
“My First Day” sees the audience join J.D. for his first day at Sacred Heart. Despite being a pilot (and actually being shot on a completely different set), it’s actually striking how much of what would become Scrubs trademarks are present right from the beginning. We start with J.D.’s inner monologue, we witness some of his fantastical daydreams and the show makes excellent use of music. The bromance between J.D. and Turk is already there, but he also meets three people who will define his time at Sacred Heart — future on/off girlfriend, Elliot; supportive nurse and friend, Carla Espinosa, who dubs him Bambi; and his future mentor, the acerbic Dr. Perry Cox.
I chose these two episodes in particular because of the common thread of the battle for J.D.’s medical soul. We see Chief of Medicine Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins) intially put up a mask as a friendly “safety net” for all the new doctors of Sacred Heart. Meanwhile, Cox comes off quickly like a jerk in his initial interactions with J.D. However, by the end of the pilot Kelso’s mask slips and Cox is the one to encourage J.D., prompting the series lead to the seemingly shocking conclusion that Cox is, in fact, the good guy and Kelso the villain.
In many ways, Kelso is almost Palpatine-like, to use a Star Wars reference, and this is taken a step further in “My Two Dads.” Kelso and Cox both try to guide J.D. to their way of thinking when it comes to dealing with a patient who needs an expensive procedure their insurance won’t cover. After an episode of going back and forth, J.D. finally realizes he agrees with Cox, only to have the series then literally have Cox and Kelso duel (verbally in reality, a lightsaber duel in J.D.’s imagination), with Cox doing his best Obi-Wan Kenobi impersonation as he gets suspended for going against Kelso’s orders. This mini-arc solidfies Cox as J.D.’s mentor and Kelso as a quasi-villain, although the show took pains to sand some of the edges off and show how the job changed Bob over the years.
My Drug Buddy (S1, E14)/My Bed Banter & Beyond (S1, E15)
This set of episodes sees J.D. forced to choose between new girlfriend Alex and best friend Elliot when a patient comes under suspicion for stealing meds. J.D. sides with Alex, following advice from Turk, while accusing Elliot of being jealous. Ultimately, just as J.D. and Alex are about to take their relationship to the next level, he discovers she stole the pills and it leads to a break up.
The aftermath sees Elliot admit that J.D. was right, she was jealous, and they have a whirlwind romance that spans basically the length of an episode. The cracks in the foundation of their nascent pairing develop almost immediately, as the honeymoon phase careens into fighting and nagging. By the end of “My Bed Banter & Beyond,” J.D. and Elliot both realize they are not meant for each other and deny they are in a relationship.
This is the first time (of many) that J.D. and Elliot get together. From the pilot on it became clear that they would be this show’s “will-they-won’t-they” couple, and the show seemingly enjoyed bringing them together only to then split them apart to fight audience expecations (the worst example of this was J.D. convincing Elliot to break up with Sean in Season 3 only to then reject her immediately thereafter). For a long time the show disavowed ever going to the J.D.-Elliot relationship again, but seemingly brought them to a place where they could have a functioning, adult relationship in what was thought to be the show’s final season. However, it is fun to see the beginning of their romantic journey when it was clear neither was ready for the other.
My Occurance (S1, E22)/My Hero (S1, E23)/My Screw Up (S3, E14)
These three episodes represent the arc of Ben Sullivan (guest star Brendan Fraser), the best friend of Dr. Cox and brother of his ex-wife/partner Jordan. These episodes balance fun hijinx with an introspective look into Cox, with Fraser feeling right at home in the Scrubs universe thanks to his laissez-faire attitude and ever-present camera.
In the first two episodes, Ben is ultimately diagnosed with leukemia. In “My Occurance,” J.D. has to fight his instinct to look for a mistake to nullify the reality of Ben’s diagnosis. He has to face the truth and accept the news that he does not want to hear — the man who he just met but is incredibly friendly and means so much to Cox — has leukemia, no matter how much J.D. wants to deny it. It provides a moment of growth for J.D. where he has to come to terms with the fact that no matter how much he likes a patient, ultimately he has to be willing and able to deliver bad news and adjust. “My Hero” focuses on Cox, constrasting J.D.’s hero worship (literally putting a Superman cape on his mentor in a daydream) with Cox’s instinct to run when the going gets tough for Ben. Ultimately, Cox faces his fear of Ben dying and is there for his friend as Ted’s band, the Blanks, sings the theme to Underdog, a more fitting allegory for Cox as a doctor than the earlier Superman cosplay.
We don’t see Ben for a couple of years, but in Season 3’s My Screw Up, it is revealed he traveled the world … without keeping up with his condition. Of course, this proves a fatal mistake, but not before Ben helps Cox one last time. Ben helps teach Cox that he can’t do this all on his own (as the Scrubs theme says at the beginning of every episode), as Cox spends the entire episode blaming J.D. for a patient’s death he couldn’t have prevented … a death which turns out to be Ben’s. Rather than attending his son’s birthday party, Cox instead finds himself at Ben’s funeral, where he uncharacteristically allows others, including J.D., to comfort him.
My Lunch (S5, E20)/My Fallen Idol (S5, E21)
Throughout the series, Dr. Cox and J.D.’s dedication to their patients is seen as a good thing, a trait you want your doctor to exhibit. However, in this arc, it shows how that can travel down a dark path. Ultimately, the pair help each other and show why and how they are so important to each other.
In “My Lunch,” J.D., beats himself up for seemingly missing the signs that frequent (and frequently annoying) patient Jill Tracy was struggling only to have her die in the hospital. In this instance Cox is finally everything J.D. always wishes he would be — a mentor ready, willing and able to step in and lift up his protege whom he clearly has great affection for before a mistake sends that protege down a road he can’t recover from. Jill’s death leads to a momentary victory for Cox, helping him give three patients needed organ transplants. Things go bad, however, when it turns out Jill had rabies and causes all three patients to die, including one who could have survived for a while longer before the organ transplant.
That sends Cox into a spiral in “My Fallen Idol,” with the episode title representing J.D.’s anger at seeing his mentor show up to work drunk. Intially everyone rallies around Cox in an attempt to lift his spirits — with the notable exception of J.D. Finally, J.D. shows up to Cox’s apartment and admits he was scared that his superhero may not be able to help him out of any situation. J.D. recognizes that as his cross to bear, while at the same time wanting to tell Cox he’s proud that even after 20 years of being a doctor things still affect him so much and that he still cares. And that’s the kind of doctor J.D. wants to be, a revelation which earns J.D. a genuine thank you from his hero/father figure.
My Last Words (S8, E2)
As a fan, I thought the eighth season of Scrubs was a fine return to form after a few seasons in which the sitcom was beginning to show it’s age. There were several episodes from this season which could have been highlighted here, including the two-part finale, but I chose “My Last Words” because it felt like it lifted the veil a bit on an important aspect of Sacred Heart’s heroes. Yes, they may joke around and have fun, but ultimately it’s often a coping mechanism as the docs battle against death in their midst. And this episode exemplifies how J.D. and Turk have grown since “My First Day.”
Here, J.D. and Turk see their “Steak Night” plans halted because they find themselves drawn to terminally ill patient George Valentine, who is on death’s door as a result of ischemic bowel disease. Rather than just change his IV and head out on their way to Steak Night, J.D. and Turk spend the night with George, who it turns out has no living family, helping him work through his fear of death.
J.D. and Turk admit that they are, in fact, afraid of death. However, they can’t let it know they’re afraid of it otherwise it would kick their butt. This comforts George as he realizes everybody is afraid, and J.D. says he just hopes that his last thought was a good one. The trio spend the rest of the night talking, and George’s inevitable death gives J.D. and Turk a nice moment of reflection enjoying an ice cold beer … and a flare. Because you can’t let a store clerk think you’re a couple of lame-os.
Scrubs Revival Trailer
Scrubs returns after over 15 years away for a nine-episode revival season, beginning on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Here’s an official look at what lies ahead for J.D., Turk, Elliot and everyone at Sacred Heart.
Scrubs FAQ
When do new episodes of Scrubs premiere?
New episodes of Scrubs will air on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
How can I watch new episodes of Scrubs?
New episodes air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu. Prior seasons are available on Hulu and Disney+.
How many new episodes of Scrubs will air?
The 2026 revival is expected to run for nine episodes in its first season. A second season has not yet been ordered.
