The essential episodes of Scrubs
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Scrubs — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Three interns - two medical and one surgical - kick off their first day at Sacred Heart teaching hospital.
- 02
The three interns are each assigned patients with various illnesses. Statistically speaking, one of the three is going to die. J.D.'s patient is 86 year old Mrs. Tanner, who is in renal failure. 20 year old David Morrison is Turk's hernia patient and Elliot's patient Mrs. Guerrero only speaks Spanish and might have lupus.
- 03
When an expectant Jordan shows up unexpectedly, Cox is forced to choose between her and his new love, Julie. Meanwhile, J.D. and Turk take advantage of the hospital's supply closet for sleep, when they take on extra shifts at a free clinic to supplement their income. Carla encourages Elliot to stand up to her father, when he pressures her to pick a specialty more "suitable for a woman."
- 04
An ever present butterfly prompts the question on what could have happened different as Turk looks for his lucky do-rag for surgery, and Elliot tries to find a lost stuffed animal for a child needing a bone marrow transplant.
- 05
It's J.D.'s last week as a resident as he tries to smooth over his relationship with Elliot after their break-up. The former couple squabble over having to share time with newlyweds Turk and Carla, who have their own issues when Carla starts to change everything about her new hubby. Professional yet quirky new psychiatrist Dr. Molly Clock starts her first day at Sacred Heart turning heads and forging new relationships with the staff. She befriends a lonely Elliot and tries her best to help J.D. and Dr. Cox with a patient offering profound and helpful insight. Meanwhile, when Turk's car blows up, Carla lets him pick out the new ride only to find that instead of a car, he buys a Vespa scooter further proving Carla's point that she needs to always be in control.
- 06
J.D. is dismayed when his brother Dan shows up with news of their father's recent death. Everyone faces the challenge of how to be sensitive to J.D. and stumbles over their words of condolences. Meanwhile, Turk has symptoms of diabetes but in his stubbornness refuses to admit it or visit a doctor as Carla wishes. Molly must employ some advanced psychology to force him to face the issue.
- 07
When one of J.D.'s favorite patients Harrison Marks is in dire need of a kidney transplant, J.D. takes matters into his own hands by finding his long-lost son Murray in hopes that he'll donate his kidney. Despite Dr. Cox's warning to J.D. interfere with family business, J.D. persists and complications arise. Meanwhile, Elliot is fed-up with co-workers not taking her seriously, and discovers she can get her way by flaunting her femininity with some help from Carla and Jordan.
- 08
With their residency over, there are big changes at Sacred Heart. J.D. moves out to live on his own while Turk and Carla consider a family change. Meanwhile, one of the residents receives a job offer from another hospital.
- 09
J.D. asks Dr. Cox out for lunch, but runs into annoying former patient Jill Tracy, who unexpectedly teaches him something about responsibility. Elliot and Carla discover that Todd has been lying about all his hospital "conquests" and suspect that he's been less than truthful about other issues. Turk warns them not to meddle in his affairs.
- 10
J.D. plans a date with Kim on their night off but Elliot keeps getting in their way. Meanwhile, Elliot throws a baby shower for Carla.Perry and Jordan hand over all of Jack's stuff to Carla. And someone announces a very surprising pregnancy.
- 11
My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby
J.D. and Kim start contemplating about their future and their baby's future.
- 12
After a hard day of work, Dr. Cox has the burden to tell his son Jack a good night story, so he disguises his hard day as a fairy tale about the little village Sacred Heartlia with Carla and Turk as the two-headed witch Turla, Elliot as the princess and J.D. as the village idiot. Other people featuring are the Janitor as the giant, Keith as the prince, Dr. Kelso as the dark lord Oslek, Ted as his hunchback and of course Dr. Cox as the brave knight.
- 13
J.D. continues his last day at Sacred Heart, and tries to hold out hope for a great sendoff.
- 14
A case of guilty conscience plagues the med school when a student cheats on an exam and Dr. Cox takes it out on the entire class. Meanwhile, Denise makes a startling admission of her own.
- 15
The students gain new perspectives as their first semester wraps up in the Season 9 finale. Cole finds his true calling, while Drew reaches a personal milestone and Lucy receives career inspiration.
Shows like Scrubs
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Comedy·MedicalThe essential episodes of Best Medicine2026–present·FOX
In Best Medicine a brilliant surgeon leaves Boston to become a small-town doctor where he spent childhood summers. - 02Drama·Comedy·MedicalThe essential episodes of Scrubs2026–presentSame network — ABC·
- 03Drama·Comedy·MedicalThe essential episodes of Doc Martin2004–2022·ITV1
Successful surgeon Dr Martin Ellingham relocates to the seaside village of Portwenn in Cornwall; but his gruff demeanour and poor bedside manner bring him into conflict with the locals as he begins his new life as a GP. - 04Drama·Comedy·MedicalThe essential episodes of This is Going to Hurt2022–2022·BBC iPlayer
This Is Going To Hurt, based on Adam Kay's award-winning bestselling memoir, follows Adam, a doctor who we find wending his way through the ranks of hospital hierarchy - junior enough to suffer the crippling hours, but… - 05Drama·Comedy·MedicalThe essential episodes of Doctor on the Edge2026–present·ENAElite plastic surgeon Do Jiui has his perfect life turned upside down when he's unexpectedly sent to the remote island of Pyeondongdo as a public health doctor.
- 06Drama·Comedy·MedicalThe essential episodes of St. Elsewhere1982–1988·NBCSt. Eligius Hospital in South Boston was not exactly the world's best health care center.
