Thankfully, there was a DVR

“If there’s no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I’ll follow you into the dark“
- “Into the Dark”, Death Cab for Cutie

Tonight, one of my favorite shows returned to television as Scrubs made it’s 8th Season debut.  Like many shows or entertainment, really, I caught onto the show rather late.  I was well aware of its existence when it first started out in the early part of this decade, but it never was much see viewing for me.  And, over the 8 years, 7 of which were at NBC, neither was it must see viewing for a lot of people, as comically referenced in the bonus clip with the end credits of the 8:00pm CST episode.

It really is a niche show that has grown on me over the last 3 years to the point that I went out and bought 6 of the 7 seasons on DVD.  (I was gifted Season 7 this past Christmas).  It does not take the form of a normal sit-com, which is a nice change of pace from some of the more formulaic TV shows currently taking up space on network and cable television.  While there are shows that are laugh out loud funny, the show is not afraid to delve into topics that other sit-coms do not want to even come near them.  Also, almost seamlessly interlaced throughout the episodes seemingly, there is this perfect or fitting soundtrack that speaks well for the episode’s intent and feel.

Tonight’s 2nd episode jumped directly into the drama genre, in what has to be one of the most tastefully done “sit-com”/dram-edy episodes I have ever seen of any show that I have watched.  The 8:30pm CST episode tonight dealt with the passing of a patient and the fear, the uncertainty, the unknown, and the anxiety that surrounds the end of one’s life.  Interwoven into the storyline, to wrap up the heaviness of the episode in a neat little package, the song “Into the Dark ” by Death Cab for Cutie, of course, a song whose first verse is heavy with the allusions of death, was used.

It takes a good bit to move me…  emotionally and physically.    While I am not a person that cries, and I did not cry tonight, the episode did hit me.  I know that I have been affected by an episode or an experience when I really do not know what to think and I have this deep ache within my soul.  Tonight’s 8:30pm episode did that for me.  Even now, I am just staring at the screen trying to process the emotions and my feelings surrounding the episode.  I may come back and look at this post tomorrow and wonder why I even bothered, but here it is…  here I am…  befuddled with emotions!

This is the last year of Scrubs, and it will be a shame to see the show come to an end.  Fortunately, it will live on with DVDs and syndication.  If you have not tried it out before now, it is worth picking it up.  You can catch past episodes on Comedy Central or possibly local network stations, which will give you a great background into the characters and the show.  If you stay with it, it is worth the time you put into it.