Scrubs Season 10 Episode 9 Brings Back the Janitor In A Near-Perfect Season Finale

Critic’s Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

4.7

Finally! I’ve been waiting all season for Scrubs to bring back the Janitor.

His appearance was perfect and made me laugh so hard I couldn’t stop during the commercials.

And that was only part of a strong season finale that leaves me hoping Scrubs is renewed for Season 11 sooner rather than later.

The Janitor’s Appearance Proves Scrubs Season 10 Needed Him

Although Scrubs Season 10 has been one of the strongest revivals of an old show in a while, it wasn’t the same without the Janitor.

Yes, he started off as a one-episode joke who ended up staying for eight years, but there was a reason the series held on to him, eventually turning him from a figment of JD’s imagination into a real person.

The Janitor was always the personification of an Internet troll, and someone I’d never want to meet in real life, but he was also one of the funniest characters, and occasionally, he showed some humanity.

From the moment he appeared on Scrubs Season 10 Episode 9, he was exactly what he always was: a sarcastic thorn in JD’s side who wasted time with practical jokes and negative comments.

The Janitor suit by Janitor joke had me doubled over laughing, and although his gags around the toaster were somewhat predictable, they still worked as a way of aggravating JD.

I like that JD now has enough self-esteem to walk away from the Janitor and try to focus on his job. That’s a change that’s been a long time coming.

And the new Janitor being the old one’s son — and now hating JD — was an unexpected final joke, although I half expected the guy to change back to being JD’s best friend as soon as his father walked away.

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Dr. Park, on the other hand, might as well stay new and improved, because he can’t hold a candle to the Janitor as a bully.

Park isn’t funny-mean. He’s just mean. I’m glad that someone finally called him out on it.

I know I keep saying this, but Park is the one character I just can’t get into. I don’t find him funny, and if he isn’t going to change for the better, he might as well leave.

The Janitor Scenes Were A Strong Counterweight to the Sadder Cox Plot

I’ve always appreciated that Scrubs mixes medical drama with comedic moments, but I don’t know how much I can take of Dr. Cox’s storyline.

I’m expecting a turnaround at some point — I can’t imagine that Cox will remain sick for several seasons, assuming the revival lasts that long — but so far, this is heartbreaking, even with Jordan showing up to make annoying, yet funny, comments.

This storyline is giving me vibes of The Good Doctor killing Glassman off at the end of its run, and I hate that idea.

The strongest part of this storyline is how it reverses the relationship between JD and Cox.

Now, Cox is the one who has to let JD help him, and that’s not easy for him. That’ll. bestory gold if it doesn’t tip too far in a depressing direction.

Cox still isn’t above joking about how he never believed in JD, which I don’t think for a second is true, but it’s obvious a lot of that is an act.

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If Cox really didn’t think that JD knew what he was doing, he’d switch doctors. Instead, he hangs onto JD while pretending he doesn’t want his help.

His comment that JD also wanted him to appear perfectly strong and invincible was interesting. I’m not sure JD ever felt that way, but he did admire Cox, and Cox never accepted it.

Scrubs Season 10 Episode 9 Opened the Door To Romance For JD…

…but I bet that sooner or later, Elliot will dump that airline pilot and she and JD will end up together again.

That new woman seemed awfully shallow, and she kept saying ridiculous things and claiming they were jokes. That didn’t make her seem like girlfriend material.

Plus, Elliot was sitting at the bar, seemingly alone, and the new woman said she was gorgeous.

The set-up for the date was weird, too.

Turk tried to pick her up several times and didn’t seem to remember it was for JD and not so that he could have some extra-marital fun or a threesome with her and Carla, while JD avoided her.

Yet in the last few minutes, JD saw her in a patient’s room, learned she was into him, and asked her to the wedding.

Was it just me, or did that feel awfully convenient to anyone else? I mean, JD didn’t have to do any work at all to get the date!

Speaking of which, I was so relieved that the patient’s father survived the pacemaker surgery rather than dying right after the joy of experiencing the wedding.

Too many medical shows would have gone for that sad twist, but thankfully, Scrubs didn’t go there in an episode where Dr. Cox’s condition was enough of a tear-jerker.

At some point, we’ll also have to deal with Asher and Tosh if the series returns.

Amara may have friend-zoned Asher, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be happy about her friend dating him.

I’m definitely all in for Scrubs Season 11 if the show is renewed. How about you?

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If you enjoyed this article, check out our coverage of St. Denis Medical.

Scrubs Season 10 has finished, but all 9 episodes will be available to stream on Hulu as of April 16, 2026.

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