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Malcolm in the Middle re-watch

Started by dead-ced-dead, May 07, 2021, 03:58:47 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

up_the_hampipe

I enjoyed this show as a kid, but I always assumed it was just funny back then. Was recently gutted when rewatching old episodes of Scrubs. But this thread has me excited to revisit this show.

Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse

Quote from: Kelvin on May 09, 2021, 04:15:18 AM
There's also a nice moment in one of the later series where Lois tells Francis that she knows she fucked up as a mother to him and she doesn't have any excuses. Usually in a sitcom like MitM, that moment would either feel out of place and manipulative, or they'd simply undercut it with a silly joke straight afterwards. Instead, Francis freaks out because it's exactly what he's always wanted to hear, but now that he has, it hasn't helped at all.
Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2gVHdr_MlE

Icehaven

Yep I was never a huge Scrubs fan but my housemate at Uni was so we'd watch it and it was alright, but I watched a few last year when it was being repeated on E4 and it's aged incredibly poorly. The few episodes I saw included Elliot running around showing her breasts to patients including a 14 year old boy, and JD's casual disgust at a woman having an arse bigger than he'd like being completely fine. Unlike other much older sitcoms where that kind of judgement is mocked and shown up, you're actually supposed to agree with him.

Gulftastic

A tiny detail I liked was the subversion of the usual US sitcom trope of the lead having one black friend in their circle by making Hal the sole white guy in his.

JaDanketies

Quote from: Gulftastic on May 09, 2021, 08:31:26 PM
A tiny detail I liked was the subversion of the usual US sitcom trope of the lead having one black friend in their circle by making Hal the sole white guy in his.

There was an episode where he felt like an outsider because they were all successful professionals

racecar bed indy 500

Quote from: Stonefish on May 08, 2021, 04:09:05 PM
This isn't a show it would have occurred to me to rewatch but I always remember enjoying the episodes I did see. Will give it a whirl.

similar but with the caveat that I've on occasion thought i should do it at some point but not doing so. usually i listen to the theme though, its so good it's just in the music rotation on its own merit.

madhair60

Watched the first three or four episodes yesterday and have to concur that is both Funny and Good.

Dewey is my favourite.

JaDanketies

Hal is my favourite by a long shot. It might be largely due to Bryan Cranston's impeccable over-acting.

AsparagusTrevor

Quote from: JaDanketies on May 10, 2021, 11:26:17 AM
Hal is my favourite by a long shot. It might be largely due to Bryan Cranston's impeccable over-acting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdiU4DvfXWc

BritishHobo

I love the episode where Hal is framed by his bosses for their own corruption, and
Spoiler alert
proves his innocence because the crimes were committed on Fridays, and he's been skipping work every Friday for fifteen years to have fun days out.
[close]

thr0b

Of course, there is quite a sad coda in that despite being the star of one of the biggest American sitcoms of its era, Frankie Muniz doesn't actually remember being in it.

https://www.nme.com/news/frankie-muniz-doesnt-remember-malcolm-in-the-middle-2148714

peanutbutter

I imagine one huge issue with Scrubs is that Zach Braff seemed mildly annoying back then but he must seem absolutely insufferable now?


Malcolm in the Middle is one of those shows that got the dynamic of the core characters down so perfectly and cast so well that it almost couldn't fail. RE: Jamie, I definitely remember my brain logging their birth as the decline of the show, just been trained to expect that, although they definitely weren't needed it probably helped creatively to have the option available and they were smart enough to not force the baby into stuff.
Cranston is fantastic but I feel like Muniz doesn't get enough praise considering how good of a job he done as a thoroughly unlikable loser that was still rather relatable. Could've easily been utterly insufferable to watch. Not a great actor or anything but he had that character down to a tee

Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse

My favourite later episode is the one where Malcolm becomes editor of the school newspaper for an easy extra-curricular, and ends up taking a stand on including a feminist story about cat-calling even though it includes vulgar language. When he's finally forced to back down by the school board, who threaten to pull all extra-curricular activities including sports, he distributes his own paper just outside the school grounds, entitled "Absolutely Filthy Smut" which includes the story and an obscene fold-in Stevie drew.

Malcolm doesn't take his stand because he likes the girl (Ronnie) who wrote the story - she's a butch lesbian. He recognises the story as of far better quality than the usual submissions and feels a kinship with Ronnie who just wants to be recognised for her efforts. He calls the ACLU for help at one point but immediately hangs up the phone when he realises they're going to make a way bigger fuss than he's prepared to deal with. And finally there's the satisfaction of outsmarting the school with "Absolutely Filthy Smut".

Ending: https://youtu.be/FLRiO96bfkI?t=142

willbo

the last I heard of Braff was when he started dating the far younger actress Florence Pugh

perdothegit

Quote from: Noodle Lizard on May 09, 2021, 06:48:56 PM
Must give some love to some of the recurring characters like Craig Feldspar and Otto. Stevie's dad, Abe, as well. Too many to mention, really.

Craig Feldspar is the best! The episode with the helper monkey had me in tears. Wish he had been on the show more often.

dead-ced-dead

The ending of this episode made me cry. The more I watch, the more I recognise myself and my family in this show. It depicts being lower-middle class with such authenticity and the frustrations and chaos that comes with that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMUo-KG7aB0

Something about the way Lois softens as Hal worries is really moving. They're both trying their best, even when they blow up at each other, they are truly in love.

Lungpuddle

Quote from: dead-ced-dead on May 10, 2021, 08:51:40 PM
The ending of this episode made me cry. The more I watch, the more I recognise myself and my family in this show. It depicts being lower-middle class with such authenticity and the frustrations and chaos that comes with that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMUo-KG7aB0

Something about the way Lois softens as Hal worries is really moving. They're both trying their best, even when they blow up at each other, they are truly in love.

It really runs the gamut (I'll google later to see if that's the expression I want). Hal's first "...seven?" makes me laugh every time and also his bit about Lois' toes, and then from that point on, yeah, it's really moving.

I remember showing this to my sister when she was young and she loved Little Francis' "Say you're lying! Say you're poopy!" which was nice. This show had range!

Jerzy Bondov

I think this is the most relatable Tweet I've ever seen:

dead-ced-dead

Quote from: Lungpuddle on May 10, 2021, 09:01:20 PM
It really runs the gamut (I'll google later to see if that's the expression I want). Hal's first "...seven?" makes me laugh every time and also his bit about Lois' toes, and then from that point on, yeah, it's really moving.

I remember showing this to my sister when she was young and she loved Little Francis' "Say you're lying! Say you're poopy!" which was nice. This show had range!

Which is why it was such a huge crossover hit in the way other non-animated sitcoms weren't. It left no one out and didn't compromise any one of its fanbases to please another.

Catalogue Trousers

QuoteThere's something really moving and realistic (despite the surreal and cartoony elements) about how the family stick together. It's not in a sickly-sweet "hugging and learning" way like a lot of sitcoms, it's something more chaotic and recognisable.

The end of that carnival episode. Hal and his sons are caught in this huge, angry brawl with clowns and sideshow runners, all of them kicking the shit out of each other, it goes into slo-mo and we cut to Lois, who's been insulted by the carnies earlier, and she's just watching all of this bloody chaos with a big, proud, loving smile. One of sitcom's most moving moments for me.

Lungpuddle

Quote from: Catalogue Trousers on May 11, 2021, 09:39:50 PM
The end of that carnival episode. Hal and his sons are caught in this huge, angry brawl with clowns and sideshow runners, all of them kicking the shit out of each other, it goes into slo-mo and we cut to Lois, who's been insulted by the carnies earlier, and she's just watching all of this bloody chaos with a big, proud, loving smile. One of sitcom's most moving moments for me.

Sorry to be That Wanker, but that's the Lois' birthday one where she's at one of those batting cage things. The carnival one ends with the parents forcing the kids to walk home in front of the car as punishment. You're right though, the clown punch up is simultaneously funny and moving. The carnival one is great too, though. It's before Hal and Abe become best friends, but still has one of my favourite Abe moments while they're driving around looking for the kids. I'd describe it but I'd suck all the humour out of it and you probably know which bit I mean. Involves the words "pornography store".

JaDanketies

Quote from: Lungpuddle on May 11, 2021, 09:50:33 PMInvolves the words "pornography store".

Watch out if you re-watch it on the telly, because a lot of the rudest lines are cut (or at least they were when I rewatched on 4Music).

Lungpuddle

Quote from: JaDanketies on May 11, 2021, 10:01:22 PM
Watch out if you re-watch it on the telly, because a lot of the rudest lines are cut (or at least they were when I rewatched on 4Music).

That would be a huge shame, it's pretty innocent really. Stevie's mum's (Kitty?) reaction is comedy gold. I'll investigate, but I'm willing to bet my right nut it's intact.

Lungpuddle

Skipped to the scene. Rightie is safe!

The whole scene with the parents talking about how awful their children are is fantastic. "We should never have let him have that door." Another classic Abe line. Jesus Christ, I love this show. This carnival episode is one with no emotional weight but the gags are so strong. Like a far-above-average season 9 Simpsons, maybe.

amateur

Just started a rewatch on the advice of this thread - thanks, CaB! - and it's amazing to me how slick it is.

Was it recorded on film? It looks astonishingly good even through a 2021 lens.

Little things that in another show would grate, like Malcolm mugging to the camera and saying "Huh?", come across as a really funny. The cast are superb. Only four episodes in but it's hit the ground amazingly well with properly developed characters.

Don't remember much past the first series so very excited to jam through the whole thing.

dead-ced-dead

I'm up to season 3 now and I'm in awe of what the writing department achieves.

All of the characters should be unlikable, but through the great performances but especially the writing, they're always sympathetic or at least pitiable; especially Malcolm or Reese, who would so easy to make cunts.

They balance the funny with the moving, as people above have said, but the balancing of tone is more important. Between cartoony logic and lower-middle class ennui.

Also economic use of balancing subplots.

Catalogue Trousers

The episode with Dewey's Playmobil city remains one of Comedy's finest moments ever.

dead-ced-dead

Quote from: Catalogue Trousers on May 12, 2021, 05:09:26 PM
The episode with Dewey's Playmobil city remains one of Comedy's finest moments ever.

"Live. Live. Live. Die."

kalowski

Just watched episode 1 with the kids: they love it and we've got a whole new show to dig into. I can't wait for them to see how it all develops.

Gulftastic

I enjoy seeing the bits they dropped, like Hal having a ridiculous amount of body hair, or Lois walking around topless.