Malcolm in the Middle re-watch

[BritishHobo]

I'm a huge huge fan of The Middle. I can see why on first look people might think 'hmm, bit too similar', but I think it really is its own thing, the character are all their own very distinct selves. It does continue that unpatronising honesty about the family's financial situation, but that's the main similarity. As JaDanketies says, it's otherwise warmer and cuddlier, albeit still with that lovely edge of cynicism about their lives. I think the biggest difference is that there's no real factor of the kids being 'bad'. Axl is probably the closest, but he fits more into the mould of lazy, disinterested teenage boy than genuinely rebellious kid. And then the joyously lovely Sue being such a sweet-hearted, optimistic person, terrified of doing wrong, makes for a great dynamic.

I would say it's very consistently funny in its own way, but I guess I agree it's because of your knowledge of and fondness for the characters. I just love all of them.

[BritishHobo]

I've only seen two episodes and both times they were treating the daughter like shit, so no thanks.

I must link one of my favourite clips from the first season finale, where

Spoiler alert

a whole season's-worth of Sue failing to make sports teams culminates in her trying out for a no-cut cross country team where all she has to do is complete one lap:

[close]

https://youtu.be/qrDNwNyrCNE

The show has much more affection for her than it seems. Sue Heck is up there in my all-time favourite comedy characters list.

[BritishHobo]

Back on Malcolm, I'm five or six episodes into my rewatch. I really like the episode where Lois stands Hal up for their anniversary dinner because she's punishing the kids. But instead of cutting to him sad and upset, he just ends up having a lovely time - and making friends with the neglected toilet attendant, which is so this show.

Got to acknowledge the late and great Daniel von Bargen as Commandent Spangler as well. He makes for such a great foe for Francis to play off.

[Catalogue Trousers]

I'm trying to remember - isn't there a fairly early episode wherein Hal

Spoiler alert

wanders into some big anonymous-looking building in town, which turns out to be the headquarters of a sort-of Men In Black type set-up

[close]

?

I really liked that episode, even though it takes a rare turn into the downright fantastic for the Malcolmverse.

[madhair60]

Just finished season 1. Not a duffer among them. What a joyful show. I love that it doesn't necessarily resolve each episode cleanly, leaving consequences to the imagination.

[Lungpuddle]

I'm trying to remember - isn't there a fairly early episode wherein Hal

Spoiler alert

wanders into some big anonymous-looking building in town, which turns out to be the headquarters of a sort-of Men In Black type set-up

[close]

?

I really liked that episode, even though it takes a rare turn into the downright fantastic for the Malcolmverse.

Spoiler alert

I haven't seen it lately, but I think it's more a CIA-type organisation, something to do with spies.

[close]

I may be misremembering,

Spoiler alert

but I don't think there's any hints of aliens or anything.

[close]

[Catalogue Trousers]

I think that you could be right. Either way, it's a sudden nosedive into the unlikely. But it still doesn't feel wrong, or out of place.

[Kelvin]

I'm trying to remember - isn't there a fairly early episode wherein Hal

Spoiler alert

wanders into some big anonymous-looking building in town, which turns out to be the headquarters of a sort-of Men In Black type set-up

[close]

?

I really liked that episode, even though it takes a rare turn into the downright fantastic for the Malcolmverse.

Its a later one, i think. One where Hal's company is under investigation, so he's looking for work. As lungpudle says, its an intelligence org, rather than MiB.

[Kelvin]

Just finished season 1. Not a duffer among them. What a joyful show. I love that it doesn't necessarily resolve each episode cleanly, leaving consequences to the imagination.

I thought you'd like it. Every now and then in my latest rewatch, I found myself thinking, "That exchange wouldnt be out of place in a madhair comic." I think it just has a similar tone to a lot of your stuff.

[madhair60]

REAP

THE WHIRLWIND

[dead-ced-dead]

I've been making my way through the whole series since it turned up on All 4. Perhaps because the BBC used to put it on in the afternoon, or the number of kids in the cast, I've always thought of it as somehow not a "proper" sitcom. That is, of course, completely silly. It's a blinking ace sitcom, as funny as any other I can think of.

I think that's why it often gets forgotten when people talk about the great sitcoms. I'm guilty of it, too. I wouldn't have occurred to consider it a great show until I started the re-watch. I recently recommended it to a friend who was looking for a good 100+ episoder to get lost in and he said as much. "I like it, but I want a real TV show."

I'm re-watching this alongside my first viewing of 30 Rock (I know, I know, late to the party). I like 30 Rock a lot so far, but Malcolm is just on another level of funny. And people would far sooner talk about 30 Rock's merits than Malcolm's, and I really get it. It's wrong, but I get it.

[retsuza]

Rewatching more of this. Dont say I told you but there's a guy who puts them on YouTube in parts. It really shows how clever the plots are, broken up in 5 parts.

Recent favourite is Jason Alexander (George Costanza) as a future version of Malcolm. Great episode

[Gulftastic]

Just watching the one where Hal finds a bomb shelter in their sandbox. I've always loved the bit where he's talking to the portrait of JFK and tells him '..and we got to the moon....biiiiig waste of money.'

[MojoJojo]

Rewatching more of this. Dont say I told you but there's a guy who puts them on YouTube in parts. It really shows how clever the plots are, broken up in 5 parts.

If you're in the UK, you get them through All4. Although the app is a bit naff so you might be better off on you tube.