Why Doctor Cox is the Perfect Mentor for JD (Scrubs Video Essay)

Anyone here watch Scrubs? It's one of my all-time favorite shows of all time and today, I'll be tackling the subject of why Dr. Cox is such a great mentor for JD, as well as why he's a bit of a cautionary tale for the character.
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[@rustyshackelford312]

Dr Cox isn't cautionary tale of what happens when you don't care enough. He's what can happen when you care too much.

[@zonechaser1]

This comment is so true.

[@Strongzero8251]

Hard agree

[@HealthyObbsession]

Definitely agree

[@existenceisrelative]

It's optimism's toll. You can be positive, but when the world doesn't match it takes a toll on you. Some people can either sidestep these feelings, ignore them, or the very few can accept them and truly keep being positive. But there's a toll that positivity takes on you, if you truly believe it. And an even worse price to be paid for those who want to fake it.

[@themilkguzzler2467]

I totally agree. It makes you much more susceptible to heartbreak which in turn, makes you more cynical.

[@heroinboblivesagain5478]

"You understand that I barely want to be like me?" Is my favorite Cox line. It hits so close to home for me.

[@mdatkinson92]

I was about to make the point that this line means he definitely includes himself in the idea that everyone is basically a bastard. Were he real, however, I think he'd be the best doctor to have ever lived.

[@mdatkinson92]

To add: this also goes some way to explaining his annoyance of J.D. It's a mix of envy, because he could've been this guy, and annoyance, because it's like looking in a mirror.

[@lagrange777able]

German Translation kinda different, but i like it too. Goes something like:"Do you realize, that not even I want to be like me?"

[@ilearnedsomethingnewtoday6193]

The only thing I would say that I would add is that I believe Dr. Cox is the moral center of the entire cast. Yes, makes the wrong decisions for himself, but he always makes the morally correct choice when it isn't about him.

[@tss3393]

Case and point, "Once you start blaming yourself for deaths that aren't your fault, there's no going back."

[@ilearnedsomethingnewtoday6193]

@@tss3393 you just had to bring up "my lunch". Most heart wrenching episode in sit com history.

[@sergeyoneill1344]

He is a utilitarian, while he provides for everyone around him; while he destroys himself. That's a utilitarian, at least in its extreme form.

[@tmarsh82]

John C. McGinley should have had an armload of Emmys for his portrayal of Dr. Cox. It's surprising that he wasn't even nominated for one.

[@joncarter5210]

This! Absolute joke especially for the episode my fallen idol

[@skunkrat01]

It follows that it's JD's words "because after 20 years in medicine, you still take it this hard. And that's the kind of doctor I wanna be," that finally break Dr Cox out of his immense trauma

[@connorclarke8393]

Great video! Dr Cox's vulnerability and emotional flaws really set him aside from typical TV 'tough guys'. It's explored so beautifully in the early seasons and truly makes him an iconic character (in the sitcom world at least). I particularly like your point on how JD had influenced Cox over the years - together they overcame their (opposite) deficiencies.

[@NicheCaesar]

Couldn't have said it better myself, Connor! And trust me, I tried (see video above 😉)

[@chzzyg2698]

Last time I watched the series I noticed Sarah Chalke dealt with a lot varying roles. She might've been the second best actor on the show, under the radar and often overshadowed.

[@RetiredRhetoricalWarhorse]

"Essentially being a mentor allows Dr Cox to help himself" Guess what, that's what being a parent/mentor is all about if you try to do a good job. You suddenly have a responsibility. You can no longer afford to ignore your own demons and shortcomings. You NEED to fix yourself in order to be a good parent/mentor. It's a herculean effort. The ones who accept the challenge are people you should keep in your life. You should actively work towards having these people be and remain part of your life. These people will help you grow and will lend a hand if you stumble. Be sure to be deserving of them having your back. That in turn will make YOU a person others should want in their lives. Those who get dogs or kids because they think that'll fix 'em? Yeah, avoid those. Make them go away. Watch their unfolding drama from afar if you must or try to cut that cancer from your life for good.

[@tss3393]

Help him to help you, help him to help you, help him to help you.

[@marcochimio]

Outstanding assessment. The show was already great. Dr. Cox made it memorable.

[@paulti1396]

Great characters are different everytime you watch the show. When I was young and watched the show for the first time, he was like a funny grumpy teacher and we used his lines to insult each other at school. As you grow older, you come to realize that he is vulnerable, that the responsibility of being a doctor can be crushing and that you don't have to be nice all the time, especially if you want to get things done (save lives for a living). Great show and one of its best characters.

[@ilearnedsomethingnewtoday6193]

He's also the moral and ethical center of the show. Loved that about him.

[@LordHollow]

Such a beautifully written show.

[@NicheCaesar]

Couldn't agree more! Been watching since I was in middle school!

[@DarkMustard1337]

Ya had to show Ben's funeral..I teared up To be fair though anytime he let's JD in..includin when he g ot him out of his slump..its heart warming.

[@romainsavioz5466]

Where do you think we are

[@CJBerdomas]

Dr. Cox is the quintessential Chaotic Good character for me. Yeah he is abrasive, cynical and buts heads with Dr. Kelso, but he genuinely cares about his patients and the doctors under him and will do everything he can to save a life, even to his own detriment.

[@magnusberge]

When he loses yet another patient 02:22 that broke me as a teenager, to see him vulnerable like that

[@greatcornholio]

Scrubs (barring the final season) is one of the best shows I have ever seen. To this day, there are few characters that are even in the same league as the masterpiece that John C McGinley portrayed. I couldn't agree with your assessment more. When I watched the show when I was much younger I loved his comedy but as I got older I appreciated his humanity more and more.

[@scottyb003]

What do you mean? Season 8 was great!

[@vidman102]

One of the reasons Cox has become so cynical and jaded looking is because he cares just as much as JD does when it comes to patients. Loosing who knows how many patients over the years cuts you up and leaves emotional scars that will never go away, only fade and lessen with time. Despite all of that, he still cares and his time with JD only serves to remind him of that.

[@blackx334gmgf7]

Makes it all that more funny when JD hears how's Dr. Cox truly feels about him

[@permabanter7770]

Not enough recognition of his penchant for the theatrical as well. He abides by and understands JD's day-dreaming and eccentricities, and plays along a whole lot more than you would think a cynic like him would, because he recognises when it's the best way to get through to him, or any of the other characters.

[@DinaraTengri]

Grear video! There's a brilliant scene in the season two episode "His Story" where Dr Cox sees his therapist who perfectly breaks down Cox's whole "deal": his fears and flaws, his defense mechanisms, and why his relationship to JD is so important for him.

[@blackbird5634]

''Welcome back coxer'' was some amazing stuff there!!! *The adult male relatives in my life are: plastic surgeons, military helicopter pilots, Army Rangers, FBI analysts, and even chemical engineers etc. There's so much ''not talking about feelings'' in my DNA that the wall of silence is several miles thick.

[@MrLittletube]

Agree with this. It’s a bloody great show and Dr.Cox is by far the best character. I would laugh one second then cry the next.

[@michaelbatchelor8531]

Dr Cox is hands down the best written, acted and almost everyones favourite character in not just Scrubs but television history

[@DoctorAashi]

Love this video, [Scrubs] will always be my comfort show too! During med school I was lucky enough to come across a mentor exactly like Dr. Cox (even though he never explicitly admitted he was my mentor) I’m a lot like JD too & I used to run after him and every time I managed to learn something new during my intern year. He was kind to me in his own way without making it obvious to others, never referred to me by my name lol. We live in different cities now but he wants me to surpass him someday.

[@StanLongQua]

Few things in life are as hilarious as being exposed to a Dr. Cox rant for the first time ;D Brilliant portrayal

[@josefnocera4414]

Cox is the man! Scrubs is a great show, my wife is in the medical field and I introduced it to her she can’t get enough 😎

[@duskrider1724]

Dr. Cox is my favorite character of all time

[@TheDoctor423]

"What is Elmo? A seal?" No, JD... he is a Cardassian, like a certain, plain, simple, tailor...

[@katesam647]

Also that episode “Fallen Idol” when Cox is at his lowest point, JD tells him how proud he is of him 😭💗

[@JuliaN-ti9zv]

The Dr Cox and JD dynamic really is the heart of the show in many ways. Great video!

[@tarnmartin9955]

Thank you. My favorite character in any show ever. You did him justice. Well done.

[@khfan4492]

This brings back so many memories I watched this when I was 7 & I've loved it ever since

[@gangster3474]

I couldn't agree more he should of gotten an Emmy for outstanding TV performance

[@etuinho]

Pretty much spot on, man. Spot on. Loved seeing this tribute to one of my favourite characters.

[@KnecroDragoon]

I just started rewatching the show for the first time in years. After learning alot about story writing and philosophy I've come to the same conclusion. Great Video!

[@D4n1t0o]

Really enjoyed this as someone who can relate just a touch too much to Dr Cox's worldview. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@Limubi1]

This was a wonderful analysis. Thank you.

[@realtaste95]

can you do one of Dr. kelso? how he tried doing everything for the good of the hospital while knowing that everyone will hate him for it.

[@vincegonzalez2171]

Great video! I just recently rewatched the series and I couldn't agree more with what you said. They way they helped each other was so perfectly written, it's how the real professional world works. I've seen it plenty of times in my own relationships with bosses/mentors.

[@autumn3246]

this is such a great video. cox was always my favorite character and it’s crazy just how much he and jd influence each other. jd learns the sad reality of being a doctor from cox, and cox in turn learns that reality is what we make it. and then you add bob kelso in the mix and you see three different generations that make for an incredible plot line. i will always hold that scuba was one of the best tv shows of all time and it was underrated.

[@Scott-hb1xn]

Great assessment- Cox is my favorite character on "Scrubs" as well- and I think you have outlined for me why...

[@johnmarkconnolly6414]

Very thoughtful analysis. I love scrubs - even, kinda, the last season and a half. The interaction between Cox and JD reminds me, at least, of the mentor I always wanted but never had. I think a lot of people feel that way which is why the show, and these characters interactions, is so compelling.

[@hollenfeuer1]

I love Dr. Cox. You are spot on. I'm glad I'm rewatching scrubs. It'll be yearly at least for now on.

[@annaisntcool]

man this show is so slept on. people need to watch/rewatch it! dr. cox has been my favorite since i watched this as a (way too young) kid

[@NicheCaesar]

Hi! I hope you enjoyed this video! If you did and are looking for more fun stuff I've worked on, feel free to check out the channel or my podcast, Media Obscura! And also feel free to suggest/request videos and topics for future videos!

[@newguy3588]

You have great talent for this KZbin thing, what a great video essay.

[@kokroucz]

fuck me, I was holding my tears all the time. even this many years it hits so hard. Cox is a guy I unfortunately still relate so much,

[@kingjaffa618]

This analysis was incredible

[@user-yj3kn4fe7h]

I completely agree with you. I also see a tad of Perry Cox in Stan Miller in "Stan Against Evil"

[@scottyb003]

I've seen this show from beginning to end at least 6 times.

[@Omnicharlizard]

How is this the only video on this subject? 😂😅 This is a great character breakdown, and is why the character is a phenomenal fictional one

[@dylanfreno2270]

A big, big thumbs up. I never see enough scrubs recognition!

[@Porthos240]

Good to know I'm not the only one; this was my comfort sound that calmed me during study years.

[@RoadwalkermediaBlogspot]

Very nice analysis.

[@greatsm2videl]

Love this! Scrubs is an all time favorite show of mine.

[@GendoIkari_82]

Easily my #1 favorite all-time show; with Cox as easily my favorite character on that show.

[@kunalgulyani2129]

Amazing video essay

[@nMsFreeStyleZ]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@johnathanflannagan2407]

Nice vid dude! Good work.

[@CastToFall]

Not all the way through the video yet but him mentoring JD indirectly hones his parenting skills too, since he works last a lot of his jaded side through JD, someone much more capable of handling Cox's emotional ineptitude than a child would be.

[@Leonisdarko]

Been rewatching Scrubs and man, I forgot how I could go from crying due to laughter to just plain crying! Such a damn good show (up until Season 9)

[@BarryMikokinju]

This is a wonderful video Thank you

[@mrflores6327]

Man isn't Dr Cox the contractor from Are We Done Yet, man the stark differences

[@hibberish7498]

Dude you had me at I love scrubs..subscribing

[@MichaelSOlan]

Im so happy Im not the only one who watches this show every year.

[@G.0.N.E_Ghoul]

This is the first vid of yours I’ve watched but I subbed 2 mins in , scrubs is one of my fave shows of all time and I love you’re doing video essays on it ❤️

[@LuisRivas-sc5qg]

Absolutely great essay. Couldn’t agree more The “try harder” thing and the: - I’m doing my best… - Do better… Is what a mentor would say to the ones he cares for Best of luck

[@bmorrow111100]

My favorite character from any TV show of any genre.

[@crapola67876578]

Great video. Very informative. I would like to hear your thoughts on an old series called peep show.

[@varhah]

Amazing video! I've never made that connection between Dr. Cox and Ben before.

[@tintaly]

Yes, Scrubs is my absolute favorite too! I rewatched it so many times, but almost always felt like I'm the only one (I guess because I'm the only one among my friends who watched it in English - the translation sucked). I can't even say who's my favorite character - they all are so well-written and so realistic. But dr. Cox, I think, went through the most dramatic change and it always gave me hope - if he managed to leave his terrible past behind and become a great husband and parent, may be so can I. All those perfect characters with perfect lives from most of the shows are too distant to relate to.

[@mdatkinson92]

Cox is *easily* the best character in the entire show, and one of television's best characters in general.

[@mdatkinson92]

Also, great video. Subbed.

[@TheMaan2008]

You know what, this is like John Carter & Peter Benton from/on ER!

[@catferretvandamn1192]

The JD and Cox relationship was by far the best of any sitcom they just gelled.

[@hefetube2643]

Great Video

[@NinaNiterose86]

Emotionally constipated... I'm gonna have to steal that. 🖤

[@vgcq02]

Kelso was awesome too. Kelso vs Carla, I’ll never forget that.

[@Omnicharlizard]

A friend of mine who became a manager was having troubles with her subordinates. So I sent her links to videos of dr Cox evaluation jd and him scolding everyone else which worked 😅

[@Oceanlinx]

I love Scrubs. It's a very heart-warming and funny.

[@shapeshifter2468]

the best character

[@marcochimio]

Dr. Cox is the perfect "Every-Smart-Man."

[@HealthyObbsession]

I used a Dr Cox quote to help my best friend really think about her relationship with her then boyfriend and her now husband

[@Rightwinger1982]

Scrubs is my favorite show. I was brilliant! I watch it often on DVD!

[@nonotanymore]

I love doctor cox so fucking much

[@Chocolatepain]

Just found your channel. You have a great presentation voice and I enjoyed the essay. Scrubs doesn't get a lot of in depth discussion online so this is very welcome. Maybe you can cover other characters?

[@NicheCaesar]

Thanks for the kind words! I definitely might revisit the show for another video somewhere down the line and am currently tossed between doing one on Dr Kelso or Ted. Any character (not specifically between those two) that you'd be raring to see a video on?

[@Chocolatepain]

@@NicheCaesar Dr Kelso was my first thought because there's lot of pathos there. Maybe Elliot would be good too.

[@EatsToYoutube]

@@NicheCaesar I think Turk and Carla is one of the most authentic and believable relationships on TV. Could be one to explore

[@thedon2441]

All the emotional Episode was all around him near enough

[@Ph.40Lowks]

I love scrubs

[@chrisblanc663]

My favorite character is almost always the mentor character. Gandalf, kakashi, Obiwon, and Dr. Cox to name a few.

[@soha9493]

Great essay, here is your sub!

[@josedvarghese5111]

I actually liked cox till the last 8th season. But in the last season, he actually was very nice to drew, complementing him, even offering him shoulder taps.. All while being callous and cold to J.D. i dont think it was fair... And i started disliking him for that

[@skunkrat01]

Omg I can't believe I forgot Elmo saying "what!? She your woman?" 😂

[@jayriemvis9433]

He is a mean Chandler

[@Ona1979]

Dr. Cox was my favorite character in the whole series. I admired him more than any other doctor. He was completely committed to the welfare of his patients no matter how miserable he was. The same actor, did a great job playing a gay badass a movie, called Wagons East. Starring John Candy

[@SlaveCraven-vw8tk]

Just noticed he says "throw the ball..." yet they are all wearing hockey jerseys lol

[@brownie_shenandoah]

That's Percival Ulysses Cox you lol

[@bdoeden64]

Forgive me, I have never watched the series, I have seen episodes here and there, so forgive my ignorance, and lack of context. but when they are sitting on the couch (7:49) - it looks like they are wearing Philadelphia Flyers (hockey) Jersies, but then he says, "Throw the ball" - is that intentional? Am I missing context, or is it the intended joke to be subverting expectations?

[@frankcastle3288]

Another crucial moment was when he claimed to not care enough to stay with the patients after work, but scolded Karla for not doing it.

[@amartyaroy3754]

Don't forget Molly Shannon episode 😢

[@TheAfker]

i dont think anyone in scrubs changed as much as dr cox did, we saw JD improve as a dr and become more confident but he didnt change too much as a person, at least in comparison to dr cox

[@procrastinator9]

Enneagram types of some of the characters: Cox 1 JD 2 Turk 7 Carla 8 Elliot 3 Kelso 8 Ted 6 Todd 7 Jordan 8 Janitor 4 Laverne 5 Doug 9 Snoop Dog Attending 1 Beard Face and Hooch are off the chart

[@Maerahn]

Dr Cox is a phenomenal character, and John C. McGinley absolutely nailed him to the nth degree. But then, all of the cast in the early seasons were superb - even Elliot was annoying and neurotic in a meaningful and well-developed way.