Sarah Chalke defends J.D. and Elliot’s divorce in ‘Scrubs’ revival

Scrubs is back, and its beloved characters are navigating very different lives nearly two decades later.

The revival of the hit medical comedy premiered Feb. 25 on ABC, revealing what John “J.D.” Dorian (Zach Braff), Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), Christopher Turk (Donald Faison), Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes) and Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) have been up to 16 years after the original series ended.

Among the biggest surprises in the premiere: J.D. and Elliot are divorced.

While the split may have shocked longtime fans, Chalke, 49, told People she believes it was the right creative decision.

“As we talked about coming back and what this show would be, I wondered where [creator] Bill would decide that we start off,” she said, referring to series creator Bill Lawrence.

Chalke says positioning the former couple as exes opens up stronger storytelling opportunities.

“I think having them be divorced was such a great way in,” she explains. “If they're happy and they're just fine, there's not a lot of room for comedy and drama in that. 

There’s much more room to play when they're figuring out how to be around each other, who they're going to be to each other, how to co-parent, how to work together and be in the same work environment again.”

Braff, 50, agrees, noting that the dynamic feels more authentic.

“It’s good to show one that really works better than ever and one that didn’t,” he says, referencing Turk and Carla’s enduring marriage. “That’s what happens in the real world.”

Faison adds that keeping Turk and Carla together while allowing J.D. and Elliot’s marriage to falter creates balance.

“I think they got it right,” he says. “If we're going to go back to the way Scrubs was before, this is a very important dynamic to have them be competitors, as well as friends and lovers.”