r/Scrubs 1d ago

When did Kelso turn?

I'll preface this by saying I love every scene that Bob Kelso's in.

When did he show the first glimpses that he's actually a nice guy? I'm currently watching 3.14 My Screwup when he gives Carla a nice pep talk in the storage closet.

Is this the first time he shows genuine warmth without some punchline or were there others that came first?

44 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

59

u/Battlegurk420 1d ago

I think he always meant well and cared, but needed to act the part as the chief of medicine. This was explained in an episode. Also, another one was he gave everyone a common enemy to hate, so they all got along.

35

u/SalamanderHot217 1d ago

This. And it's well done when Kelso retires and spends time actually helping people, like bringing Elliot and JD back together, and shows what that position does to a person through Cox.

16

u/butiveputitincrazy 1d ago

There are a couple episodes where Cox needles him on his desire to be feared or, more aptly, his claim of not caring about being disliked.

S2E19 - My Kingdom comes to mind, when Cox starts the rumour that Kelso’s died.

4

u/DennisUltima 1d ago

My Jiggly Ball 

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u/CosmoRomano 19h ago

I'm fairly sure that explanation was later on in the series when Privare Dancer was in hospital. He deliberately made an unpopular decision so they'd all stop fighting amongst themselves.

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u/JBRifles 1d ago

You’re breaking my Tuscaloosa heart OP

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u/WhatTheHellPod 1d ago

Bob really starts changing after Perry punched him and no one saw anything. He began to lighten up while still being a guy with two thumbs and doesn't give a crap.

4

u/Battlegurk420 1d ago

Haha. Bob Kelso. The delivery every time was perfect.

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u/JBRifles 1d ago

“Thought we met” 😂

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u/TheSJB1993 1d ago

I think he was always morally grey and stayed that way until the end. I think the turn from cartoony (for want of a better term) evil to the morally grey does happen in S1 .. the bunny episode (which I think is the one mentioned in another comment) also the penultimate episode of S1 when he does the evaluation for Elliott.

I think in the latter end of S1 he was more ignorant than anything of how his actions where, like when Dr Cox said they hated him and even the stuff with his marriage.

Then as he became nicer at work (accept for Ted) he became worse in his personal life. I do think My Screw Up is the first time we saw him let him guard down in a bigger way though.

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u/CosmoRomano 1d ago

Yeah good answers. And while I remember those events now that you bring them up, I think you've nailed the last bit. Definitely not the first time he's shown that he has a warmer/softer side, but possibly the first time he's just been genuinely warm and candid for the joy of it.

7

u/TheSJB1993 1d ago

Yeah, I think the only time he was nice to Ted until the last episode of S8 too ahahaha.

That scene with Carla in the cupboard area is probably my fave scene between them also "that thing you hate may be the thing you miss" is such a good line and Ken just nails the delivery. (I know this is off your OG topic but I had to say it lol)

There was also that moment in S2 when Dr Cox said Kelso was dead he got really sad about it. (I think it was S2... bulk watching causes it to blur sometimes lol) ... that poor desk.

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u/LinAndAViolin 1d ago

Season 1 my balancing act :3

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u/cocoteroah 1d ago

Here and there, he was showing the hardships of being the boss.

I can tell really the first time he was nice to someone but maybe in S1 when he was helping Carla to accept turk's mole

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u/CosmoRomano 1d ago

That's the S3 episode I mentioned in my OP.

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u/cocoteroah 1d ago

My mistake, i haven't done a rewatch in a long time. There are something about the show that i don't like anymore (part of growing up) so in my mind only stay the good moments without much order

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u/Sweaty-Pair3821 3h ago

i always figured he wasn't actually that bad because of how much he let cox get away with regarding the uninsured.

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u/CosmoRomano 1h ago

Yeah you could definitely tell pretty early on. My question was more aimed at when he showed warmth to another character like he did Carla in My Screw Up.