I started watching The Middle a few weeks ago, it's something I had seen throughout the years on television but never really gave much thought to, nor had I ever seen a full episode. I think most people have probably seen these characters around from time to time but also couldn't pinpoint what they're from. That said, it does appear that The Middle is a show that performed rather well for its time, given that it went on for well over a decade and only recently ended. It's a show that takes up the structure of a typical family oriented sitcom without the annoying laugh track, something quite similar to the likes of Malcolm in the Middle and Even Stevens. It's easy to miss that era of television, particularly with strong a strong cast, narrative structure, and large sum of comedy that pulls out the energy a little more. And the cast is quite strong, featuring Eden Sher who became quite a great voice actress, Neil Flynn who many may recognise as the janitor from Scrubs, and a chaotic car dealership owner that's actually the brother of Bill Murray. Oh! And in one of the later episodes, even an appearance from the actress of the Spy Kids! films. It's a show that doesn't rely on cameos in that weird sitcom sense, but has a really unexpected but strong natural cast to it.
Season one consists of 24 episodes of around 24 minutes in length, and each one was something I thoroughly enjoyed for its own reasons. While there is a slight consistent narrative throughout the season as the characters develop and their lives are displayed. I really liked this mixture of structured narrative and each episode being something different given it allowed the show to remain fresh throughout, where sometimes we get the story of the characters and see their hardships and successes, but also some growth that comes through within those experiences. There's even the character development evident that shows how they slowly change and adapt over time, how they think and act, mixed with the typical character traits that they hold. But fortunately it doesn't hold that structure of characters being insufferable, you can find humour in each of them in their own ways, and I think this is where the comparison to something like Malcolm in the Middle comes in. That typical family structure in which they're not particularly well-off, have a relatively large sized family and generally struggle to get through life without some sort of chaos arriving out of nowhere. I feel I can relate a lot to that part at the moment!
I really like how the story unfolds with each episode. Sometimes they story takes consideration of multiple characters per episode, and in others they might focus more on a specific character to develop their story and show whatever it is they're getting caught up with. One running theme throughout the season is how the young daughter Sue gets a boyfriend, but the boyfriend is blatantly gay and nobody aside from the parents really notices it, but doesn't say anything. With the boyfriend constantly exaggerating his interests in various feminine styles and objects in front of everyone. Sue also having character development for being the least memorable student in the school and never being able to make any teams despite really wanting to, and in the end going as far as she could to achieve something and refuse to allow the school to keep rejecting her attempts. One of the best characters though is the youngest child: Brick. A socially awkward child that does nothing but read but is clearly very intelligent. A lot of humour in the show comes from this character. But even the side characters get equal character development and humour to them, and that's something that helps keep the world of The Middle feeling real. From work colleagues to friends. Each of them develop too.
All of this makes for a show that is really easy to sit down and watch without growing tired of the formula. You can easily sit and binge through multiple episodes in a row not just due to the runtime, but the simplicity of the show and its setup. And yes, that's definitely been the case for me: watching episodes over coffee in the mornings or watching multiple episodes over a cup of tea in the evenings and going deeper into the night hours. With so many additional seasons and the literal growth of the actors themselves, I'm curious as to how the show continues to develop with its stories. As of now the family are relatively young, the children in particular. And I can see how it develops into something that sees them all encountering more situations that keeps the show dynamic alongside that growth. I don't think there's really anything bad for me to say about the show, even from the technical standpoint it's made incredibly well; the set designs look great, everything looks lived-in and real to the world and characters. And the locations used in the show feel the same way. There's clearly a great budget on the show and it's highly evident. The same for the directing and style in cinematography. Sometimes it's fixed perspectives, sometimes it gets a bit more creative alongside the events in the episodes.
I definitely recommend checking this out if you're looking for something fun and cozy to watch, something you can pick up instantly and put down whenever. A great show to binge through.
Is one of those series that went half unnoticed but has such an authentic humor that hooks you. Totally agree about the comparison with Malcolm in the Middle: both capture that family chaos without falling into exaggeration. Do you already have a favorite character or do you rotate depending on the episode? 👀
It's impossible to not love Brick. Easily the best character, but I also love Bob. The character of Bob with playing this 'super cool independent' character while actually being a really lonely softy is hilarious.
I remember watching this show years ago when it was on tv. I had completely forgot about it until now. Definitely had some funny moments, and I agree the vibe is very cozy. The photos are triggering some nostalgia in me now, perhaps I should give this one a re-watch. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah it's so good! And definitely one of those shows where you could watch it over and over. The same with Malcolm in the Middle. I might even restart that.
I never made the connection between the two shows before your post, now I can't un-see it. Malcolm in the Middle is a classic, a true window to a simpler time.
Yeah I'd say it's incredibly similar but perhaps plays a bit more into certain tropes; small mother, manly father.
Dewey is also incredibly similar to Brick. But they went the extra mile by making Brick even more isolated and odd.
se ve buena, gracias por la recomendación!
looks good, thanks for the recommendation!