Scrubs will continue this fall on ABC, and while the revival series may be a comedy, it still knows how to deliver plenty of tears, which makes us wonder: Will a fan-favorite character be killed off?
As viewers will recall, Doctor Cox (John C. McGinley) was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, microscopic polyangiitis, that causes renal failure, impacting the kidneys. While JD (Zach Braff) attempted to approach treatment with optimism, the results weren’t great, forcing him to reevaluate how he’s caring for his mentor.
But would the comedy that fans have loved for nearly 30 years actually go so far as to kill Doctor Cox? Below, we’re taking a look at why the show might go there and why it could never go that far.
Why Scrubs might kill off Doctor Cox
Scrubs is no stranger to breaking viewers’ hearts and killing off characters, most memorably Ben Sullivan (Brendan Fraser), Doctor Cox’s brother-in-law, in Season 3’s “My Screw Up.” The installment saw Doctor Cox go about his day in the hospital with Ben following him around, but as the minutes ticked by, fans discovered that Ben’s presence was merely in Doctor Cox’s mind as he ultimately found himself graveside at his brother-in-law’s funeral.
Disney / Darko Sikman
The reality of knowing that treatment isn’t working for Doctor Cox definitely raises concerns and stakes, as fans were left with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the revival’s first season.
Why Scrubs will never kill off Doctor Cox
While there are certainly arguments for the emotional stakes involved in potentially killing off a character as important as Dr. Cox, we tend to be optimistic and believe that the mentor will pull through. When TV Insider caught up with original series creator Bill Lawrence following Season 1 of the revival, we asked about how involved John C. McGinley will be in Season 2, considering the HBO series Rooster has also been renewed for another season.
“We’re gonna do both,” Lawrence teased. “[In Rooster] he’s a regular and [for Scrubs] we’ll get him up there as much as we can. The only effect it has on his characters, I imagine, is that Dr. Cox and President Mann will have similar hair because I don’t want people to have to spend five hours giving him that ridiculous haircut he has on [Rooster].”
Additionally, who would JD go to for advice without his mentor there to guide him? While McGinley may not be a regular in the revival, Dr. Cox is still a vital part of the fabric of the series. Bidding him adieu is just not an option, which makes us believe he’s definitely safe from demise. He may go through a bit of a battle in the episodes to come, but for now, we can rest easy knowing he’ll be a part of Scrubs‘ ongoing revival.
Stay tuned to see where the show takes Dr. Cox’s story, and let us know your theories int eh comments section.
Scrubs Revival, Season 2 Premiere, Fall 2026, Wednesdays, 8/7c, ABC