WithScrubson the brink of a comeback, the sitcom’s revival needs to include a character who had a limited role in the original run but still managed to make a huge and lasting impact on the story. Inall nine seasons ofScrubs, the guest star in question only featured in 16 episodes. However, their legacy on the show cannot be denied, and it would make little sense to omit them completely from the comingScrubsrevival. Although it could make sense to provide them with an offscreen story to explain their absence, it may feel a little forced.
Whilethe sitcom’s return to screens hasn’t yet been officially greenlitby Disney, members of the original cast and crew have been incredibly vocal about the plan to bring it back. ShowrunnerBill Lawrence has gone as far as to say he’s “Definitely going to” reviveScrubs. If and when he follows through on his promise, he needs to include a massive side character who interacted with almostevery doctor inScrubsand made herself indispensable for various reasons.
Elizabeth Banks' Kim Briggs Needs To Come Back For The Scrubs Revival
Kim made a big impact in a relatively short amount of time
After debuting in the final two episodes ofScrubsseason 5,Bank’s character becomes integral to theScrubsseason 6 cast. It would be accurate to say that she developed into a semi-main character in season 6, with 10 of her 16 appearances falling in the medical sitcom’s sixth run. After a brief courtship with Zach Braff’s JD, the pair parted ways after Kim falsely told JD that she’d experienced a miscarriage while pregnant with their unplanned baby. Even forScrubs, it was a dark and emotional storyline, but it certainly made Kim stand out among JD’s other love interests.
Because Kim eventually went on to give birth to their son, Sam Dorian, theScrubsrevival would have to do some convincing narrative backflips if Elizabeth Banks didn’t reprise her role in some capacity.
Because Kim eventually went on to give birth to their son, Sam Dorian, theScrubsrevival would have to do some convincing narrative backflips if Elizabeth Banks didn’t reprise her role in some capacity. Although she and JD chose not to remain a couple after Sam’s birth, their shared son and eventually amicable separation meansKim and JD should still solidly be in each other’s lives. Her return to the show just before the final two episodes ofScrubsseason 8’s finale proves the writers are aware of Kim’s importance to the plot. Hopefully, that awareness extends to the revival.
Why Kim’s Absence From Scrubs Season 9 Worked
The sitcom’s short-lived Med School era was never supposed to focus on JD long-term
Scrubstechnically had three finales, but all for different reasons. The “My Finale” two-parter at the end ofScrubsseason 8 is generally viewed as the sitcom’s true conclusion. Part of the reasoning behind this is that all the loose ends of JD’s life were tied up in “My Finale”, but also becauseScrubsseason 9 just wasn’t very good. While most of the main cast returned forScrubsseason 9’s softly-rebootedMed Schoolconcept,guest stars like Elizabeth Banks weren’t invited back. However, this makes sense.
Scrubs Revival Is The Perfect Chance To Fix This Character After A Season 8 Disappointment
A Scrubs comeback would give the medical sitcom a brilliant opportunity to rectify a mistake made regarding a main character’s downhill arc.
Although Braff’s character was the star ofScrubsseasons 1-8,season 9 was slowly shifting focus away from JD’s story, so it wouldn’t have made sense for Kim to be present. Following the show’s new batch of interns was becoming the eventual priority as Braff made his gradual exit. If JD had remained as part of the sitcom’s formula, it perhaps would have opened the door for Banks to make even more cameos. Because Braff will presumably be a major player once more in theScrubsrevival, that means Kim can return as well.
Kim Is Scrubs' Most Important Guest Star
Elizabeth Banks' character gave JD his first child
MostScrubsguest stars enter and leave the show without making too much of a lasting impact on the main story. Of course, some characters - like Brendan Fraser’s Ben Sullivan - certainly manage to make their brief presence as emotional as possible, but the sitcom still largely returned to business as usual after they depart. Kim doesn’t just rank near the top of the most-usedScrubsguest stars, but becomingthe mother of JD’s firstborn means she can never really be too far from events.
Although Elliot will be there to serve as Sam’s stepmother, Kim’s complete absence would feel a little strange.
Because it’s been so long sinceScrubsended in 2010,Kim and JD’s son will probably be at least in his mid-teensby the time Bill Lawrence revives the sitcom. So, it would be reasonable to assume that Sam will have a moderate part to play, if not a major one. Therefore, althoughElliot will be there to serve as Sam’s stepmother,Kim’s complete absence would feel a little strange.
Hopefully,Scrubsseason 10 doesn’t need to include a flimsy reason why Elizabeth Banks' character isn’t there.
There is no otherScrubsguest star who became so intrinsically linked to a main character’s life. As such, while there could be solutions to account for Kim’s failure to appear in the coming revival, it would feel much more authentic if she made an onscreen return.Scrubsseason 9 already tried to explain a character’s offscreen lifewhen Judy Reyes didn’t return as Carla Espinosa, and it felt very disingenuous. Hopefully,Scrubsseason 10 doesn’t need to include a flimsy reason why Elizabeth Banks' character isn’t there.
Kim’s Scrubs Comeback Opens The Door For Another Character To Return
Nobody cares, Sean…
Scott Foley’s Sean Kelly came just four episodes short of matching Banks’Scrubsepisode tally. After a pair of appearances inScrubsseason 1, Sean came back in season 3 as Elliot’s main love interest. When he lost out to JD - who promptly told Elliot that it turned out he didn’t love her - it seemed as though Foley’s time on the show was up. However,Sean made a shock return inScrubsseason 8, episode 16, “My Cuz.” During his final episode - which was also Banks' penultimate installment - it was revealed that Sean and Kim were now together.
I’m Happy We’re Getting Scrubs Season 10, But I’d Have Loved To See Where Med School Was Headed
Scrubs: Med School was a bold new direction for the long-established sitcom, but I think it could have thrived under different circumstances.
It was a brilliant revelation, and if Sean and Kim are still in a relationship, they could come back toScrubsas a pair. The coming together of JD and Elliot’s exes means there was a certain level of fraught jealousy and other mixed feelings during the group reunion. With so much time having passed since that moment, the dynamic that exists in the present day would be a fascinating thing to witness. Sean serving as a second father to Sam would also be an interesting thing to explore inScrubsseason 10, especially given how defensive JD can be.
Scrubs
Cast
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
