Scrubs – The Complete Second Season continues the misadventures of the crazy and sidesplitting funny doctors of Sacred Heart Hospital in a three-disc set that collects all 22 episodes from the hit series.
The second season follows the three main characters, J.D., Turk and Elliot, as they begin their second year as student doctors, and have to survive the daily grind of a hospital full of odd patients and even weirder hospital staff.
Zach Braff continues to be the main focus of the show with his daydreaming portrayal of J.D., and the actor keeps the charm of the character from growing old with each mistake he makes. He is great in the role, and it is hard to imagine the show being any kind of success with Braff’s talents.
Turk, played by Donald Faison, and Elliot, played by Sarah Chalke, continue to back up Braff in the series, and the trio do a good job of seeming like they truly are friends. Turk, who can get annoying at times, makes up for J.D.’s lack of confidence in almost every episode, and Elliot is great at providing a love interest and some competition for the young doctor.
Although the show is very much an ensemble cast, John C. McGinley’s portrayal of the rage control freak Dr. Perry Cox continues to steal each and every scene he is in, and truly provides some of the best laughs in the show. Cox’s constant berating of J.D. provides some great comedy dialogue, and even his continuous use of pet nicknames for J.D. never get old.
McGinley is very comfortable in the character, and, like Braff, it is hard to imagine any other actor in the role pulling off the laughs every episode. Even though Cox fights the title, he also does a good job in the mentor role for J.D., and we know that he will be there to help the three students learn from their mistakes or save the day.
The show continues its bizarre plots and heavy slapstick humor in every episode, and the second season is truly as funny as the first. The actors seem a bit more comfortable in their roles in this season, and the show seems to be hitting its stride. Also, we know what to expect out of the season, and the show’s writers make sure to deliver the same quality of comedy that made Scrubs a success in its first season.
J.D.’s daydreams sequences continue to bring the laughs
The series, which often features bizarre dream sequences, doesn’t seem to go as overboard with some of the daydreams as it did in the first season, but does maintain that basic plot outline that seems to structure each episode. It also keeps the same off center view of a medical show that sets it apart from other television hits like E.R., MASH, and even Doogie Howser, MD.
This season has some truly funny episodes - such as My Kingdom and My Big Mouth. It also continues to have big guest stars - such as the legendary Dick Van Dyke and the beautiful Heather Locklear. It also adds a bit more serious tone with an episode involving J.D.’s older brother, and the engagement of Turk to Nurse Carla Espinosa (played by Judy Reyes). The series manages to never take itself too seriously, and the writers make sure the audience will keep laughing even when the show is trying to pull on the emotional strings.<!--page-->
If there is a problem with the second season, it is the fact that the show has become fairly predictable, and you pretty much know what to expect in each episode.
The writers, while keeping the laughs coming, seem to follow the basic premise of J.D. screws up or deals with some personal issue; tries to solve it; ask for help from Dr. Cox; and then learns something in the end. Also, the constant narrating by Braff’s character and his closing statements at the end of each episode does make it feel a little like a grown up Doogie Howser.
The writers continue to embarrass Braff for our enjoyment
Even with its predictable plots and formulaic episodes, the series’ writers continue to make each show funnier than the last, and keep you from minding that you already know how the episode will end. The characters remain funny, and the dialogue stays sharp - especially when Dr. Cox goes off on a rant.
The DVD set comes loaded with special features that fans of the show will love. They include an interview with McGinley about his character; a feature that explores how the show uses music as almost a character in the series, several deleted scenes from various episodes; and a great outtake feature that shows just how much fun the actors are having with the series.
The ensemble cast does great in the series
Scrubs – The Complete Second Season continues to deliver the laughs and outrageous plots that were established in the first season. It does become formulaic about halfway through the set, but the writing and acting is great. I would recommend the set to any fan of the series, and to anyone that wants to take a risk on some really great comedy.
Scrubs – The Complete Second Season is available for pre-order at Amazon for a Nov. 15th release. It is available now at AmazonUK . Visit the DVD’s database for more information.
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