There's a moment near the end of All nine seasons of Scrubs are filled with romantic arcs for various characters. Although several storylines suggest a will they/won't they dynamic, there's only one speculative Scrubs couple that stands out as the pairing that stands the chance of making it into a lasting relationship. One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to them going the distance arrives in Scrubs season 3's penultimate installment.

Not Scrubs revival on the horizon, the sitcom looks primed to revisit the relationship status of many of the original characters, which could be very telling. Hopefully, all those who coupled off before the show ended in 2010 are still together. One relationship took so long to solidify that it would be a huge shame if it's now fallen apart. However, that's perhaps very unlikely.

JD Telling Elliot "I Don't Love You" Is A Depressing Spin On The Will They/Won't They Trope

Scrubs season 3 could have been when JD and Elliot ended up together

The final scene of Scrubs season 3, episode 21, "My Self-Examination," shows JD telling Elliot he doesn't love her. The moment is a huge downer for a number of reasons. First of all, JD and Elliot had been framed as the main love story of Scrubs to that point. So, it looked as though their romantic arc was finally fulfilling itself when they got back together at the end of the previous episode. Secondly, it makes Zach Braff's character really unlikable.

Elliot ends her relationship with Sean to be with JD after he confesses his love for her, only for JD to realize he was wanting what he couldn't have at the time.

Elliot ends her relationship with Sean to be with JD after he confesses his love for her, only for JD to realize he was wanting what he couldn't have at the time. Thirdly, the fact JD confesses to his lack of love for Elliot in such a public environment highlights what's already so upsetting about the moment in question. Finally, it's obvious throughout the episode that JD is struggling with the decision of whether to simply stay with Elliot because he asked so much of her to get them to that point.

The entire situation seems doomed to fail and incredibly depressing - which is the opposite of what a will they/won't they trope should do. That being said, Scrubs found a brilliant way to breathe new life into a sitcom trend that the genre had been running into the ground for decades. To have JD and Elliot pair off for good at the end of Scrubs season 3 would have drastically limited the potential for both characters going forward. It seems impossible to come back from, which leaves the audience gloriously adrift.

JD & Elliot Didn't Have A Proper "I Love You" Moment Until Scrubs Season 8

Scrubs waited 5 more seasons to give JD & Elliot this scene

Many fans view Scrubs season 8 as the show's final outing. Although Scrubs season 9 happened, it was so different that it felt like a very different project. Scrubs season 8's illusion of finality means JD and Elliot's long-awaited "I Love You" moment falls at the perfect time. For the couple to finally settle in for the long haul after eight years of indecision is a little more consistent with sitcom romance trends, but the incredibly bumpy ride they took to get there is one of the best in the genre's storied history.

Even when JD finally does make a genuine confession of love to his future wife, his dialogue is riddled with the show's signature blend of heartfelt emotion and lighthearted comedy. After a short but tear-jerking monologue, he punctuates the declaration with, "Elliot, I love you more than Turk." Playing even part of such a huge moment for laughs could arguably be said to undercut the scene, but it would be even weirder if Scrubs didn't try and get a giggle out of the situation too. The exchange also works so well because it waits until the "final" season to manifest.

Were JD & Elliot Right For Each Other?

Scrubs' eight-season will they/won't they arc for these characters was essential for them to be well-suited

Despite hooking up several times and clearly having feelings for each other, Scrubs regularly made it beautifully unclear whether JD and Elliot were a good pairing. The two had similarities, but they were also very different in many ways. That isn't necessarily a bad thing when it comes to romance, but it can stand out as a negative factor in the context of a sitcom. They were both visibly uncertain about whether they should end up together throughout the show, which made their eventual decision to tie the knot even more rewarding.

They weren't properly ready for each other until Scrubs season 8. Then, JD and Elliot were a match made in heaven.

JD and Elliot both enjoyed relationships with other characters throughout Scrubs while staying friends - for the most part. There were times when it seemed as though they'd each found alternative soulmates. For instance, JD had several love interests during the show's run, and girlfriends like Kylie and Julie could easily have become his spouse in other timelines. Similarly, Elliot and Sean were another brilliant pairing, but it ultimately ended due to JD's wrongly interpreted affection for Elliot. They weren't properly ready for each other until Scrubs season 8. Then, JD and Elliot were a match made in heaven.

Scrubs Season 10 Will Struggle To Find A Better Love Story Than JD & Elliot

Scrubs' coming revival needs to find a love story to rival JD & Elliot's

With showrunner Bill Lawrence declaring that he's "Definitely going to" bring back Scrubs, the state of JD and Elliot's marriage will finally be revealed after more than 15 years. Hopefully, they're still together and have been happily raising their children. If so, Scrubs season 10 will be severely lacking the romantic tension that Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke both brought to the show as JD and Elliot. Without a will they/won't they story, the Scrubs revival would be missing a vital sitcom trope, and it could suffer as a result. Therefore, a new budding romance will need to materialize.

If and when Scrubs returns, there's no guarantee about how many seasons it will run for. JD and Elliot's story was so effective because it unfolded so gradually. If the revival is just one or two seasons long, it will be difficult to replicate the same level of interest. Furthermore, because the original cast is all paired off, the will they/won't they trope would likely need to be applied to new characters. Worryingly, if Scrubs season 9 is anything to go by, fresh faces aren't something the show's fans are all that interested in.