MovieChat Forums > Scrubs (2001) Discussion > I love this show, but do you think it ca...

I love this show, but do you think it can be a bit preachy?

posted 8 years ago by IceCreamKimi
6 replies | jump to latest

I do love this show and watch at least an episode a day even though I've seen them all so many times.

The only gripe I have with it sometimes is that it can be a bit condescending.

What I mean by that is there are multiple characters who get told off for not achieving enough in life. It's as if your life is judged just by how high you can reach in your career.

For example:

1) JD rips into the Janitor for not doing more with his life. This was the episode where we find that the Janitor was an actor in "The Fugitive"

2) JD also rips into his brother for just being a bartender.

3) Kelso repeatedly ridicules Ted for being a useless lawyer, even though it must have taken a great effort for a person like Ted to have risen to such a position. I think Ted overachieved given his anxious nature.

4) Jordan in the early seasons telling Perry off for not kissing ass to get a promotion. This one is understandable at least because Perry does self sabotage himself, especially when he gives a speech for Kelso and calls him pure evil.

5) Carla destroying a delivery guy for being someone in their thirties or forties and still wearing shorts to work.

I know a lot of this is played off for comedic effect, but it is a common theme throughout the seasons.

This is just my take on the issue, not trying to start any wars. But I am interested if others have alternative views.

[–] justanicknamed 8 years ago

A couple of things. Sometimes you say something you shouldn't because of the heat of the moment. Some of those things were said in that context.

1) I don't have an issue with anything said to Janitor seeing as he was not only nuts but sadistic. I thought he was a great character, but he was also cruel, and not just to JD.

2) Dan was a loser. He really needed to get his sh!t together. If he was a bartender in an upscale place making a good deal of money and/or the owner of the bar, that would be one thing. But, he wasn't.

3) You give too much credit to lawyers. The 98% of sh!tty ones give the 2% of good ones a bad name. In addition, it isn't that difficult to become a lawyer in some states. Some states have a very low standard for passing the bar, including allowing a person to take it time and time again until they get it right. And, if for example you need a 60% to pass and you get a 61%, you can still call yourself a lawyer.

With that being said, Kelso was an azz to Ted.

4) No problem with what she said.

5) As I remember, and I could be wrong, the delivery guy made a not-so-nice comment to Carla and she ripped him a new one.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] justanicknamed 8 years ago

Yes. That is EXACTLY what I said. 

That and

He really needed to get his sh!t together.

Let me know if I need to dumb that down any more for you.

[–] frankzappayay 8 years ago

It is preachy and it also has too many forced sad and touching moments. Some people like that but I hate it. If I want drama I will watch drama, if I want comedy I want 100% comedy and not a weird mix of the two. The show annoys me because the writing is often outstanding and it can be really funny, but the other stuff sours it for me.

[–] justanicknamed 8 years ago

Never heard of a "dramadey", eh?

[–] GGuser 8 years ago

Think about it, the series centers around doctors in a teaching hospital

Obviously we are to assume that they all pushed themselves and worked hard to get and be there so it's not too hard to imagine that they would have that stance

You forgot the moment where J.D. admits that he thinks he's better than Carla because he's a doctor and she's 'just' a nurse and that exchange made Carla cry
granted it was raining but I'm pretty sure she was crying.
The reason I bring that one up is because you should also note that he never took that back or apologized for it and they both simply moved on from that point, which happened early on in the series. To be fair, I vaguely recall that he maybe tried to or was about to apologize to Carla but she wouldn't let him or give him a chance to. Still that was sort of harsh.

Anyways, are you American, IceCreamKimi? Or do you live in the U.S.A?

I think it's a cultural thing
Keep in mind that it began in October 2001
I had not realized it was a month after Sept. 11 and they really made no reference to that but I digress..

it has been an American value and idea, to quote Melania, who basically quoted Michelle Obama: "that you work hard for what you want in life." and that is also a big part of the idea of 'the American dream' here so of course, there tends to be a lot of focus and emphasis on one's career, job, or work

and when you think about it, it makes sense for two reasons

1. You can't really live an independent or prosperous life without that, so it's basically a necessity &
2. people, like the doctors in this series spend like what? 80-90% of their time or life at work being doctors
I mean that's what the show centers around so you can't be surprised that the work and job and importance of it is a focal point