This week we are looking at musical episodes of tv from the 2000s. All three of these episodes have been listed as some of the best musical episodes in television history. All of them speak to themes of unspoken feelings. The adage, "When you can't say it, sing it!" applies here.
We are looking at the Scrubs episode Season 6 Episode 6 "My Musical." In this episode, the doctors of Scrubs are treating a patient who perceives everyone to be singing. She has an aneurism that must be corrected. Meanwhile, we are treated to expository songs from the doctors, about the diagnostic value of still, bromance, a new mother who wants to return to work but feels like she'd be judged, and Dr. Elliot's dilemma -- whether to let JD move in with her to her new house, or to be honest about wanting her own place.
Next we reviewed Buffy's musical episode, Season 6 Episode Episode 7, "Once More With Feeling." In this episode, a demon is summoned that makes everyone in town sing their feelings, even when they intend to withhold them. Despite the danger that if they don't stop this, people will implode, the characters are motivated to end this so they don't continue to reveal what they had been hiding -- Buffy is resentful that her friends resurrected her unknowingly pulling her out of heaven, Spike loves Buffy but is struggling with feeling used, Anya and Xander are looking forward to their marriage but also terrified that things will change. This episode is high effort and high production, and it's often the very top of the list for musical episodes.
Lastly we have an episode of Futurama, Season 5 Episode 16, "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings." In this episode, main character Fry wants to woo his coworker Lela, but he doesn't believe he has the talent to make the meaningful music she inspires in his mind real. He's learning an instrument and is struggling. He makes a deal with a devil robot that he will swap his hands for a random set of more talented hands. He lucks out and randomly gets the devils hands. The devil wants them back and will engage in chicanery to do it. But in the mean time, Fry becomes a famous musician and is able to put on the show he means to for Lela.
