Life is Unfair | A Malcolm in the Middle Retrospective

[@KariChristineS]

nothing gives me more nostalgia than the Malcom in the Middle theme song

[@sammullett17]

N me ha 👍😍

[@boatsarescary226]

Life is unfaaaiir

[@Richard_Nickerson]

@@telon5620 Begone, random asshole

[@cottonisbaked]

Big facts

[@edgar6368]

Yes noo maaaybe.... I can’t help but smile when i hear it 😊

[@Negative_NBG]

Malcolm in the Middle really helped me realize that being poor was a very common thing that I shouldn't be ashamed of.

[@sadlittletroll1738]

Hi! I'm doing a pop-culture review project for a class and I was wondering if I can use this quote! Also, if it's okay, should I credit you or would you like to be anonymous? Thank you!

[@krishvids608]

@@sadlittletroll1738 i doubt they’d mind being acknowledged as their name is literally on the internet

[@Ty-vj4wg]

@@sadlittletroll1738 That is not a good quote. Not only do you not know this person but what they are saying isn't necessarily true.

[@sadlittletroll1738]

@@Ty-vj4wg Thank you but don't worry! It's not an academic paper, and I'm not going to frame it as representative of all viewers' experiences ☺️

[@famousramus2288]

Yes

[@ryanmercier3791]

This show being taken off Netflix was the biggest injustice of the 21st century

[@rezzem7715]

Preach

[@user-zg5ey5xo9i]

@Daniela Lobos Pérez That's stupid to say. In my country you can't buy it on dvd/bluray only the first 3 seasons.

[@loll1165]

Don’t worry it’s on hulu

[@patricklauer4452]

Ryan Mercier they did that to Futurama too >:(

[@kencarlson2607]

I watch it on Hulu, so at least it is still out there.

[@selim2538]

I don't care when people say, that the viewers got less and less. The show was great in every season and I fucking love every single episode of this masterpiece

[@hrdk4038]

I’m not saying it’s impossible to like a show that much, but did you honestly like every single episode? Personally I disliked many episodes that were very unsatisfying, still a great show overall.

[@heydani6678]

@@hrdk4038 which episodes didn't you like?

[@SirBlackReeds]

Is it a masterpiece? They dropped the ball in the finale. Lois's full explanation of why Malcolm had to suffer so much reeks of the writer(s) being unable to come up with a valid explanation.

[@ElChicoBush]

Actually I consider the final seasons my favorites. The comedy and the script were so much better. But it's weird to me seeing how people received them. And I'm Mexican, so it's also curious how the USA public see the series. Very different perspectives.

[@selim2538]

​@@hrdk4038 I've rewatched it many times and I'm gonna rewatch it probably soon again and I really enjoy every episode, maybe just because it's my humour and it reminds me to my childhood. Btw sorry if I'm writing kinda shitty but I'm pretty drunk rn hahaha

[@kenker_ape]

not having the laugh track play after every joke is what makes it watchable today. Other shows that used it cringe you out

[@razkable]

big issue with sabrina the teenage witch

[@pfw4568]

With The Big Bang Theory being the worst

[@thereforeiyam]

oknelum it’s like having instructions on when to laugh. Which is why shows like the Office is so great and how it aged so well.

[@thereforeiyam]

Santeri SIVEN well, that was the standard in the 90s, and a lot of great shows that can’t be touched were birthed from the laughing track standard, Fresh Prince, Seinfeld, That 70s Show, even Friends. Not saying they’ve aged, because these shows had some real and comparable moments to the early ‘00s shows

[@maxipad1584]

oknelum what about that 70’s show

[@Der-Jockler]

I have some real respect for Reese. In the Episode where he wanted to fight Stevie he temporarily crippled himself just for a fair fight.

[@cashiscamping5126]

Like a proper gentleman.. too bad Stevie had other ideas!

[@joshuaharris5032]

That was probably the best episode to me

[@daoyang223]

Or how he brought the other bullies down because the bullies had 0 boundaries.

[@Shizzy5321]

Reese is a fairly good person with him protecting his brothers

[@chrisryan91]

And when he stopped bullying other people picking on Stevie is what pushed him over the edge

[@robertovillarreal3316]

I actually did not know about the viewer decline over the years. I watched it fully and enjoyed every episode

[@KaiDecadence]

Same. I always assumed that the show always had favorably decent ratings.

[@tuckersmith5520]

It got better every year though

[@OlivierBL]

Viewership, in mass media, is (very) far from being the best way to evaluate the quality of a show. While this video is right about the series progressively leaning toward depicting extraordinary situations that may appear repetitive or even dull to some, it is far from being the case for the last season, which in my opinion, has some of the very best episodes of the show, especially the first (Burning Man) and the finale. While all the show is great, the first and last seasons are true masterpieces.

[@lemonasticlaifu1505]

Same, I accept that later seasons weren't as funny as the first ones, but overall the quality was great and stable.

[@lunapyrope9683]

Yeah I always figured they just decided they were done with it. It's okay to have a series end without a billion seasons ending in seasonal rot, and hell even preferred.

[@DanielBowens]

I think my mom and Lois shopped at the same store, Malcom and I had all the same damn shirts haha. That lower middle class swagger boi ahah

[@ALASTOR101.]

*DRIP*

[@margorita3122]

same man!

[@foolioxcoolio997]

Likely to be a K-mart. I feel like K-mart screams 90's.

[@survivorsfederation4346]

Shit I thought I grew up just middle class not lower middle class lmao

[@iiiivvvv9986]

Got a bunch of hand me downs from my cousin in America and after watching MitM for the first time I realised that all those clothes basically matched everything in the show lol

[@Dan-B]

I'll always think of Bryan Cranston as Hal from Malcolm in the middle.

[@samurai7dkong]

At least he is referred by name now after breaking bad. I'm the few who still call him Malcom's Dad or Hal.

[@quinnmarchese6313]

I always imagined that Hal broke eventually, leaving the old family behind to start a new life, and then he got cancer

[@karenguessman5461]

Well Malcom in the middle and breaking bad were the most popular shows he was in so people are going to call him Hal or Walter White/Heisenberg......it is what it is...

[@solaireofastora922]

It sucks that he started making drugs and ruined his career.

[@pean1197]

I don’t know whether or not to think of him as Walter or Hal

[@chipotlejanitor6155]

I feel like this show is criminally underrated and forgotten about. If you think about how many sitcoms have been influenced by this show (Always Sunny, Modern Family, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm for example). And how Malcolm practically started a trend of sitcoms filmed with single cameras and without a laugh track. As well as the down to earth, non-idealistic and realistic approach, I think it is probably the most influential sitcom of the 21st century, both technically and creatively.

[@MutedAds]

Chipotle Janitor don’t forget “The Middle”.

[@swankelly]

@@MutedAds I was about to say that

[@nahlabazile6994]

What about Scrubs?

[@nickb2208]

Even Huang's world .

[@TheWhiteMokona]

laugh tracks should not exist!

[@soyeah590]

I remember an episode where malcom simulates his life in the sims, accelerates the time in the game to the future and gets to see himself slowly deteriorate while all his family succeeds lmao

[@Mars_555.]

Me too, that episode was great

[@TheYuccaPlant]

What’s even funnier about that is he made his character have full stats which is what completely ruined the simulation but he never even realized while stevies sitting there looking at him unimpressed.

[@pumpkinsmush2489]

Found it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZCwlpWZZsiDkK8

[@CarlosFlores-xb3gx]

This was the first episode I watched & it TOTALLY hooked me :) Dewie becomes the pope XD

[@xiphactinusaudax1045]

the virts not the sims

[@chadgames3518]

Hal leading around the bodybuilders like minions is one of my favorite things ever.

[@fatdaddy1996]

Yes, this!

[@captainhook155]

That's definitely one of the most hilarious and underrated moments of the show.

[@arthas640]

honeslty one of my all time favorite episodes of any show. When they pull his car like a sled it left me in stitches

[@aidanmagill6769]

Shiny giants!

[@Xolcm]

"If you ever see me stroking a cat while laughing maniacally over a globe, you have got to let me know!"

[@christianbarrientos3002]

You Know, in Mexico the show is still pretty much alive, we mexicans just can't get over it, such a good show

[@jorgeddls]

Canal 5 had to put it on air again due to people being so upset, i grew up watching it and i love it so much

[@Jose-ew7xg]

Canal 5 es el mejor! Ahi siempre viven las leyendas

[@alienhive2947]

Do you guys watch it in original english?

[@Jose-ew7xg]

Alien Hive no, its dub in spanish

[@q0dis]

Alien Hive we use to watch the translated version as kids, I personally like to watch it in English but the other version it’s still as good 🤠

[@alessandrocwilliam]

"Almost two decades ago" That hit me hard... Times goes *too* fast

[@jltaco85]

yeah it seems like yesterday i was a high school freshman in 2000's looking forward to an episode of malcolm in the middle.

[@garretwoeller7669]

Yeah wow the feeling the same

[@BlueCadet3_]

i took a deep breath when i heard that and then scrolled down to this

[@avengingme]

@@jltaco85 Same, 2000-2004. Life felt like it actually had magical potential then. Now I know that's fluff and you have to scrape for everything you want.

[@trinaq]

I know, it's amazing how there hasn't been a new episode of "Malcolm" since 2006!😥

[@Mar-xs3hg]

It’s so funny to me how this show is still super popular in Latin America (at least Mexico) like people fought the network to never stop showing the reruns, and there’s a lot of memes about the show

[@Bubbletea_69]

El futuro es hoy viejo!

[@Mr061099]

It's probably one of the most beloved shows in all of Mexico. One of the best TV shows of all time.

[@baxkill]

@@Mr061099 Se la comieron los gatos

[@nouky3980]

Same in France, it's one of the most popular and beloved show, almost everyone who got a TV knows about Malcolm in the Middle.

[@kaladin8081]

Soy el señor de la basura.

[@funnyman2392]

One of the things I love about this show is the feel of it the whole show just feels 2000s with the look of it and music and just has a great flair of 2000s nostalgia to it

[@dapperfan44]

That's why I don't like when people call things "dated." You need media that represents the time period in order to understand the past and have a window into the past.

[@ratedr7845]

@@dapperfan44 nah, screw that, dated is bad

[@dapperfan44]

@@ratedr7845 Why is dated bad?

[@ratedr7845]

@@dapperfan44 because they're cheap, they use references instead of genuine story techniques

[@shuraamano]

@@ratedr7845 But story can only be related when it's related to its time. You can write a genius of a story for a tv story in middle age, but who's going to watch it?

[@Snapepet]

Hal: We're babysitting the cat. Police Officer: I don't see a cat. Hal: We're not doing a very good job.

[@dogotthatdog7637]

another good quote Hal:hows your birthday party son Dewey: I had no expectations and im still disappointed

[@yoshi9538]

I expect nothing and I'm still let down

[@theawsome8221]

"if we get a saddle, mom can't say no to a horse"

[@diggygorgonzola3467]

“Don’t you work dad?”

[@Shizzy5321]

Louise: WHAT DO NOT EXSIST Hal: i don't know

[@byst33]

My favorite dynamic in Malcolm is that the parents always stayed madly in love, and the tension was typically between the parents and the kids. It was a refreshing change from shows like Everybody loves Raymond which was basically just a whine fest.

[@that_deadeyegamer7920]

To be fair, if you get married woman tend to become irritable and crotchety as they age so the whining and nagging isn't exactly inaccurate. And guys do grow increasingly obtuse to their partners wants and needs.

[@truffeltroll6668]

@@that_deadeyegamer7920 sounds like they married the wrong person

[@doctordungus7774]

"A whine fest" is how I would describe Malcolm in the Middle though. It makes the world seem like everyone is evil and selfish and spiteful and out to get you. The mom is a horrible person and acts like that's everyone else's fault. I grew up in a lower-middle class family, and my grandma that raised me always worked hard to be kind and giving to everyone in her life. That's what I've tried to maintain as well. She grew up literally dirt poor, and instead of taking the message that life is unfair and wallowing in misery, she and my grandpa clawed their way up into the middle class through smart spending and hard work. And everyone loved them. I used to work with people who complained that service jobs were unfair and bullshit and didn't pay enough, but I did the SAME job as them in the Walmart Electronics department at the SAME store, and I thought it was fine, and most people were nice. It's a matter of perspective. And I think Malcolm in the Middle's perspective is perpetuating cynicism and nihilism and making the world worse off.

[@byst33]

@@doctordungus7774 I don't see it as cynical but I see your point. Lois usually functions as the villain in the show, and from a kid's perspective that can be funny and relatable. But they always inject scenes like the fight against the clowns after they forgot Lois' birthday, and I think a clear takeaway is that family is complicated and annoying and silly but at the end of the day you stick up for each other. With regards to being "nice" people though, I agree they're somewhat portrayed as charicatures and the show definitely wouldn't be interesting or funny if they weren't so ridiculous. If you want a show like Leave it to Beaver, just watch that.

[@savannahsstars4757]

@@that_deadeyegamer7920 that's not reality, just sexism.

[@jesse.estrada]

Here in Mexico, Malcolm in the middle is huge, literally everyone knows it and even can recite a quote from a random episode. Really speaks volumes to us, the family dynamic and how their life is live specifically. There are hundreds of fan pages in Facebook, the dub actors are as iconic as the actors, it's a special show for us.

[@tornadochaser2457]

That's really awesome to hear dude! 🙂

[@andreaescoto9225]

I love it's all over Facebook too!

[@kinimonimi5727]

And it's still show at prime time in canal cinco

[@sopaman841]

I'm so used to the Spanish version that I cant even watch the English version, its dubbed really well

[@andreaescoto9225]

@@sopaman841 right???

[@TJS44_]

Stevie crashing into the tree instead of the leaf pile is still the best tv moment of the last 30 years

[@SirBlackReeds]

It's unfortunate that was played without context in this video.

[@danielnidhiry5796]

check your math

[@TJS44_]

@@danielnidhiry5796 no, I'm saying its funnier than anything that's been on tv the last 30 years, no math required

[@YinkThePinkInkDrinker]

@@danielnidhiry5796shit doesn’t even make sense

[@danielnidhiry5796]

@@YinkThePinkInkDrinker ?

[@bethanyoneal5789]

I feel like Malcom in The Middle truly embodied what it’s like to live as a lower middle class family. Especially in the episode when Lois loses her job, and they can barely scrape by. There were times in my own family when were struggling financially because one or a both of our parents got laid off.

[@lydiawheeler4514]

That was the most relatable for me to it embodied the feeling of living in a family that is living paycheck to paycheck and how it affects the children

[@chrisparkhurst5158]

I grew up in a working poor family. Besides their house and slightly more family trips/vacations it's just as relatable for the working poor

[@JohnTrustworthy]

>I feel like Malcom in The Middle truly embodied what it’s like to live as a lower middle class family. And this is why I love F is for Family as well.

[@WillianyAmill]

I mean... Just cause I could relate to it doesn't mean we broke shit and acted recklessly and selfishly like rabbid bad ass kids just cause we could.... 🤨

[@Arkiasis]

It's also why the show was popular in Latin America. What is a lower middle class US family is their middle class. Financial struggles are the norm. Living 1 bedroom with all your siblings is the norm.

[@jaythosonmp439]

are you a fan of malcolm in the middle? ● yes ● no ● maybe ● i dont know ● can you repeat the question?

[@britann9539]

Ahaha nice 👏🏻

[@scottbruckner4653]

cAn YoU rEpEaT tHe QuEsTiOn?

[@XxRestlessGamerxX]

⚪

[@chadleyjohnsonson4865]

GB06 Chomp Chomp and you’re not so big

[@jeffreymbelu9718]

“Tyler the Creator” voice- Yes!

[@MandoDin]

Fun fact: The actor of Reese auditioned for young Anakin Skywalker

[@nikgokuhil]

Justin Berfield- This is outrageous, it's "unfair" *winks*

[@nickb8507]

He would have punched Jar Jar😂

[@Termin8or_115]

That would've been cool but kinda ruin his chances on staying on malcolm in the middle

[@armanhammer18]

Aww. He would’ve made a better Anakin IMO.

[@minutemadejuiceboxes9991]

And was gonna get the role until he was overshadowed

[@powder-blue]

Chris masterson (Francis) appeared less and less in later seasons because as the oldest kid, he naturally separated and grew up into his own. Also, the actor started directing more and more of the episodes instead. 😊

[@BPayne34]

Hal: Reese, if Dewey says he has an imaginary friend, then he does Reese: But noone believed me when I said I beat Mortal Kombat! Hal: That's ridiculous, Reese, noone beats Subzero

[@stupidmonkey8057]

Hal was a legend

[@logie3020]

Fuck subzero he can go suck a fart out of jermas ass

[@roddydykes7053]

Benn Grim oh man I remember that quote somehow too. Malcolm in the Middle and Mortal Kombat were staples of that era

[@karenguessman5461]

Scorpion will beat him, get over here!

[@mineguy98]

Holy shit! I actually remember that line!

[@faizfuad8361]

Thank god they didn’t care about the test audiences’ reaction.

[@pokedino6999]

Malcolm in the Middle is one of my favourite shows of all time, but tbh i actually think the pilot was a little underwhelming compared to the rest of the first Season so I can kinda understand the lukewarm audience reactions since they were reacting the only the pilot.

[@johnmurphy7674]

Actually, even a very popular show like Friends was also bad rated at the beginning. Sometimes it’s better not to pay attention to the audience. Malcolm in the middle is one of the funniest show ever.

[@pokedino6999]

@Ryan Akwar really? the pilot actually won a few emmys? nice!

[@abrahamjuarez5611]

I know right

[@mikeylikesit525]

I love Malcolm in the Middle because it vibes so close to home. The lower middle class, the crazy kids always wanting to kill each other. It feels so perfectly personal and captured life wonderfully.

[@Anw4rr10r]

This! I can definitely relate

[@satsumasalanewt4007]

Yep. All my other friends couldn’t relate to this show, but I could as I grew up (and still am) in a lower-middle class family. Also, I was found to have a high IQ at age 11, just like Malcolm. I have an IQ of 139. I’m also the middle child of 5 kids as well, and my oldest brother was in the military at age 16. Did this show predict my life or something? Because this show completely mirrors my life. Well except that Malcolm’s parents were together in the show, mine got divorced last year.

[@mikeylikesit525]

@@satsumasalanewt4007 I'm sorry to hear that about your parents. I'm no genius but I understand being the middle. It's nice to know other people are in the same boat. Most of my friends come from good, small, well-to-do families who can't relate to this show at all, (except for maybe tormenting siblings).

[@stutteringcris468]

I enjoyed the show because I was intrigued by "hey look at this crazy family!"

[@kummakummakummakummakummac8606]

@@satsumasalanewt4007 - You are the real life Malcom. Did they ever send you a check. Lol.

[@TheNorthie]

Francis and Lois did have a moment together where they tried to reconcile. Lois basically saying she abandoned Francis with Ida for awhile and she apologized to Francis after he found out. And while it was “word for word” of what Francis thought she would tell to him, he felt no relief. His whole life was waiting for this moment and it’s the way he played it out in his head, but gets no satisfaction from it.

[@Q2Cockatiel]

That was one of the best scenes of the entire show

[@aIwoods]

it was a sign of the times, but this was one factor of the entire series that made me uncomfortable from the start. francis being sent away to bootcamp, despite it being comedic, was SO utterly traumatic for a child i couldn’t fathom how it could make for a “functional” family in the end

[@GuerreroMisterioso95]

This show was extremely popular in Mexico. Not only because the dub was fantastic, like almost perfect localization, but also because it was more relatable to Mexican people, because most Mexican families are like that, numerous yet comically dysfunctional.

[@terminator572]

If it was better localized it would've been filmed in 30 FPS with horrendous music.

[@laloquaint]

I used to watch it on Canal 5 alongside Dragon Ball Z before going to school. Those were the days.

[@rafaelcervantes4143]

Canal 5 gang rise up

[@bluesummer3075]

I know right

[@muffinguy910]

i still watch some episodes from now and then, i renember that it was aired before otro rollo. hahaha

[@Ekh0es]

This show had such clever writing. It truly did. And to this day I am still salty this show is not available on bluray. I want to OWN this show.

[@mariavirginiamendoza7818]

Ech0es I saw it on Netflix not too long ago!!

[@Catwomen4512]

@@mariavirginiamendoza7818 but he wants to OWN it

[@obtuse2399]

Its on hulu

[@mazda9624]

You know DVDs exist, right?

[@BetterForWho]

i had to buy the complete show on amazon but only the first season was made in the us so i also had to buy a dvd player that could play the dvd’s because they were a different region obviously

[@ECL28E]

Favorite episode, Reese finds and reads a book, believing it's just an average romance-novel and immediately gets sucked into it, relating to the book's main character. As it turns out, the book was Lois' teenage diary.

[@TheYuccaPlant]

ECL28E no he thinks it’s the diary of a girl from school and falls in love with her AND THEN he finds out it’s lois’ teen diary

[@sptony2718]

I loved the one where Lois is on jury duty and she keeps delaying the verdict. Everyone knows the defendant is guilty, but she keeps empathizing with the defendant. She's basically so hilariously out of character in this one. "We shouldn't judge too early!" -> from a mother that harshly punishes her own kids for the slightest provocations.

[@RG-vb7ly]

@@sptony2718 She doesn't empathize with the defendant; she thinks he's guilty, but when a handful of the other jurors immediately change their vote to agree with the guilty verdict just so they could get out of jury duty faster (rather than actually being convinced by juror deliberation that the defendant is guilty), Lois continuously changes her vote to make the other jurors do the right thing of thoroughly hearing both sides of the argument before reaching a conclusion (in the end, she recuses herself from the jury because she realizes she's projecting her feelings for Francis onto the defendant). Since her waffling was based on her trying to make others do what she thought was the right thing, the episode doesn't break with her usual characterization.

[@sptony2718]

@@RG-vb7ly Seem like I misremembered that episode, it's been quite some time since the last time I've watched it.

[@RG-vb7ly]

@@sptony2718 Fair; I only remember it this well because I recently watched the episode on Hulu.

[@Advent3546]

It breaks my heart knowing Frankie Muniz' memory condition has gotten to the point that he doesn't remember filming episodes of this wonderful show. But knowing Bryan calls him and catches him up on old times patches my broken heart again.

[@roidskrap9253]

wait what happened to him?

[@borisdamole]

@@roidskrap9253( edit, old comment, see Steveo's podcast. )he had 9 concussion in childhood and then had a mini-stroke. It's not all sad tho, he might be the only actor ever who got to binge watch a show he was the star of, and view the entire series as a new experience.

[@johnbest1262]

Check out Frankies episode of the Steve O podcast. He confirms this rumor was false. He did have concussions but no memory loss.

[@borisdamole]

@@johnbest1262 yup, glad we all got new info!

[@chrispennington6890]

He definitely didn't lose his memory that was false

[@batt3ryac1d]

I dont like how Reese's story ended. He should've gone to culinary school or something.

[@dreamscapeai7]

I agree

[@coledoucette5116]

Yeah, but for reese it's not to surprising

[@coledoucette5116]

@daywalkercxl same I loved the ranch storyline

[@HOBOSRUS33]

I liked it cause he was happy with how it ended. He didn’t NEED to be a success to find happiness or be content with his life. It shows a side of not having to go to college and grind through school to be content with your life or where it was headed.

[@euiwoo7989]

Cole Doucette they had to abandon it because the actor for the owner of the ranch died I think

[@-THE_META]

I think it was inevitable Malcolm would become an egotistical jerk. Being a precocious genius kid who is miserable all the time is going to turn you into a salty old man by the time you are 15, especially with the hormones and lack of fulfillment Malcolm often felt. Being capable of so much but being denied it constantly creates frustration. Frustration becomes vented in some form. I like Jaime, I like him being the Antichrist, I like every brother, I like they were all geniuses in their own ways.

[@burlong01]

I agree. While I sometimes grew annoyed with Malcolm never learning his lesson, it always felt in character for him. Like, not being able to learn from his mistakes WAS his teenage years.

[@Pik3rob]

Weird how people label Jamie as the antichrist because he was only really like that for one episode, and it was a rather good episode at that. In the other episodes he's mostly a typical baby, but they give him some pretty funny stuff to do, and they incorporate him well in the arcs for the other characters, specifically Dewey who ends up breaking the cycle of cruel older brothers.

[@Pik3rob]

@Shaman Xeed I'm more of a manga guy myself and if you're referring to my avatar, she's not from anime. The fact that you think she's from an anime is pretty fucking gay.

[@nuibaba280]

true

[@scotthappy6885]

Pik3rob ok weeb

[@sleepdrifterr]

malcolm in the middle made me realize not everything is perfect, the home isn’t always going to be clean, and especially.. my mom isn’t always going to be right. it made me feel a certain way. a good way. this video made me sad to an extent, especially the declining views. i loved that show to the fullest even though i wasn’t even born when it aired. i’m 18 now and it’s still my favorite show on earth :)

[@LeonardAndHisBiscuit]

Hal leading his army of body builders was one of the most amazing, humbling-yet-somehow-empowering moments in all of media history.

[@NC-mv1rw]

LeonardAndHisBiscuit He also directed that episode!

[@bigboibubba5528]

I loved the episode where he overthrew Craig at the lucky-aide and led an uprising. Su-sussudio!

[@BalefulRogue]

Rip Rich Piana 😭

[@arthas640]

Oh my God, that is literally one of my all time favorite moments in TV history!

[@leilanidru7506]

Why is no one talking about “heil honey I’m home”💀 That has nothing to do with this thread but I’m surprised they’re no comments about that.

[@RR-ir6ss]

Malcolm In the Middle is a trillion times better and more original than Friends. I loved it the whole way through, even when it got over the top.

[@michellesmith9256]

R R Never gave a crap about Seinfeild even before Kramers rant, and Friends never took me. I loved this show though.

[@Vntge_Bby]

jay exactly! Thank you

[@wowno5763]

Friends is normie laugh track sitcom horseshit.

[@BudderB0y2222]

Wow No For real, it’s for basic bitches and simps. That and the office

[@coledoucette5116]

@@BudderB0y2222 the office is good but I could only watch it once

[@tmarch351]

"since the show can't stop the kids from aging, at least legally..." I'll take one of that illegal anti aging thing

[@ab-oj9wv]

Well son, get started on gathering a few dozens of maidens and an above ground pool...

[@SkotKozB5]

Hold on. I'll get my hammer.

[@Erik-zd2oi]

@@SkotKozB5 ladder*

[@SkotKozB5]

@@Erik-zd2oi I understood that reference.

[@Erik-zd2oi]

@@SkotKozB5 nice

[@jenfine]

I still always think about the episode where Dewey was cat sitting for Lois’ co worker, the cat ran away and Hal thought it was a good idea to leave the window open with a can of cat food. And then the place got robbed. And then the cop asked them what happened and Hal explained they were cat sitting. Cop: “I don’t see a cat.” Hal: “We’re not doing a very good job.” I think about that all the time. So funny. I also loved Hal vs the bee even though it was so absurd.

[@BVpinkninja]

My favorite episode was when they all went to a family party for the dad's family side. And the dad's side mistreated the mom. And all the boys got together and ruined the food table and drove the gold car into the pool THAT WAS THE BEST EPISODE THEM STANDING UP FOR THEIR MOTHER!!!!

[@brianbuchmeier]

Yes! Probably the most vivid image I still have of the show is of the boys, Francis included, just calmly driving right into the pool in a beautiful (rare) moment of family unity.

[@andrettitalk9535]

I feel like I can hear the ending from that episode after the boys proved their point in not messing with their mom. It's like the family walks away calmly like the "La la la fuck you la la la" than the credits lol.

[@Ilovetheskunk]

@@brianbuchmeier they also had this kind of moment at the baseball field when they all beat up the clowns

[@Regan995]

dont forget the brawl with the clowns

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

@@Ilovetheskunk I remember that episode like it was yesterday

[@kjeezy2990]

It sucks that Frankie Muniz lost his memory and had to re watch the series to get a grasp on his childhood

[@scottimusmaximus4360]

Yeah I honestly found that genuinely upsetting when I was told about it. Had a huge lump in my throat when I read Bryan Cranston promised him he'd help him recover as much of his memory from his childhood during malcom in the middle as possible. Good guy.

[@joeyg3055]

I watched all the episodes I like them all the way to the end I thought they're great hello was finally had a girl and it turned out to be as evil as her or even more the Francis got married and had to run a ranch was funny too and Malcolm I think he was busy making movies that's why they didn't worry about his character much

[@nickb2208]

@@scottimusmaximus4360 what!? He lost his memory? Please explain.

[@scottimusmaximus4360]

@@nickb2208 muniz has a series of mini-strokes a few years ago. The blood supply to his brain was temporarily cut off causing memory loss. Last I read, I think he still suffers from them. He said he's had about 15 of them since 2012 So he can't remember filming any of the show or much of anything before the first mini-stroke. Cranston promised he'd help him recover as much of his memory as possible by hanging out together and talking about it and watching the show etc Other members of the cast and crew have done the same too

[@justice7788]

I didn't know about this, damn

[@koreyjeffries9504]

"THE FUTURE IS NOW, OLD MAN!"

[@Elev8_901]

Has a new meaning now, huh?

[@Omar_rdz]

El futuro es hoy, oíste viejo?

[@yahtomiro5429]

yeah like: "sorry we have to decline the show" ok, boomer

[@bruhnniebruh]

This is my go to reference from this show. Have said it for 9 or 10 years now and will probably never stop. It's the perfect setup and punchline.

[@Karmy.]

Wait that is from this show?

[@manuelferreira107]

Fun fact: In Portugal the shows title was actually translated to: Life is Unfair (“a vida é injusta”).

[@ViktorKruger99]

All that copyrighted footage... you sir like to live on the edge.

[@SpaceMissile]

get it while it's hot!

[@emmastarr5242]

Not every KZbinr is in it for the money, you know...

[@ViktorKruger99]

I'm not talking about money, I'm talking about corporations being dicks about this and copyright strike YT channels.

[@karlkarlos3545]

ever heard of "Fair Use"?

[@garymcmillan9493]

@@karlkarlos3545 since when has that ever mattered

[@lv5310]

I don't know why I always remember the episode where Malcolm went to the hospital and spit out blood because he was always holding his anger in. That episode always reminded me to let some steam out here and there lol

[@guywholikesspiders924]

I think it's called "malclom holds his tongue"

[@firebeardnc6012]

Great episode, but it did disturb me when his inner monologue became low and demonic

[@acapulcogoldpablo8096]

FKN SAME!!

[@haversidne3658]

Something similar happened to me some months ago, I went to the hospital because I was keeping my anger and frustration for myself and I basically convulsed.

[@Jacob-ht7im]

"GIVE ME THE BALL!!" *blech*. That stuck with me too. I too have frequent flashbacks. "You have the stomach-lining of a 65 year old air traffic controller!".

[@sub0sandwich32]

I always thought that it was really cool how the brothers had this trinity of talent, while Malcolm was a literal genius, Reese was a culinary mastermind, and Dewey was naturally gifted musically. Even if they aren't the "gifted" one, each of the kids had something they were good at, and personally I find that to be a nice message.

[@JoeMama-dt4jg]

And Francis was a natural leader and rebel rouser.

[@JoeMama-dt4jg]

Lois' thing (had life panned out differently) would've definitely been politics, and Hal was a great salesman..being able to talk his way in and out of things regularly throughout the show

[@_d2082]

@@JoeMama-dt4jg its crazy. They've got just about every tyoe of person, with most types of good and bad qualities, while the characters are all mostly balanced and loveable.

[@Jlboynes]

I like the fact that even if they are your regular working class family, they have skills and potential but it is limited because of their social circumstances. Such a wholesome and relatable message

[@SirBlackReeds]

Specifically, Malcolm is a mathematical whiz.

[@dusanpavlovic5891]

This show is criminally underrated. Whenever someone would ask me what my favorite show is and I replied that its Malcolm in the Middle, people would be confused and ask "what's that?". I wish more people got the chance to experience this masterpiece. Sadly, they just don't make shows like this anymore.

[@dudeman5303]

For me, everyone knew Malcolm in the middle but it kinda became disliked just because it was so well known - but that show deserved every single view because it was leagues better than everything else on TV. I can't believe I ended up being one of those "I used to watch Malcolm but naw I've grown out of that" people, I've been rewatching it and I'm blown away by how edgy it can be and yet it's still such a progressive show that just blows my mind.

[@dudeman5303]

They really don't make shows like that anymore

[@tigerlily863]

It's on Disney+ now. At least in South Africa that is.

[@NumberOneVillain]

I recently rewatched this show on Hulu and I never realized just how good it was. Even though it was successful in the 2000's, I firmly believe it was ahead of its time.

[@JC-mb4of]

Currently rewatching too!!! Just gets funnier every time

[@KevinToine]

It was.

[@warhawk2574]

I dont believe it was ahead of its time. Do you think that show would last in today's day age. It was in the right years to be aired, not in the 90s where they get the term old by gen z and not to youge where it belongs to the fortnite generation.

[@strangecow6897]

I still love how creative the episodes Bowling and Blackout were.

[@Ingerimm]

Bryan Cranston is an amazing actor and was awesome in this show, but... *Jane Kaczmarek really stole it for me, her over the top hysterics and that face man, that face!*

[@MRuby-qb9bd]

She's so underrated. That was some A+ casting.

[@nateguerra319]

Yea her blowing gaskets and Hal just chilling dead inside always got me lol

[@HueyTheDoctor]

Bryan would be the first to tell you that he was in awe of the performances she brought to the table during every scene they shared together. Imagine if she'd been Walter White's wife, instead of that unbearable bitch Anna Gunn and her wooden theatrics.

[@justthetruth3950]

I didn't know about the viewer decline because this show was *HUGE* here in Mexico. There are still reruns of the show today, me and my family still watch it sometimes, and I don't know any person that hasn't watched at least a couple of episodes. It was very relatable for the typical mexican families.

[@kevinsolorio8645]

Day Dreaming canal 5?

[@sangan3202]

Day Dreaming yep i still see them advertising the show

[@ChibiBaiti]

Its about the same here in Chile, everybody loves the series and they still rerun it from time to time, and every single time i see it on tv, i just have to watch it

[@zetrocadartse646]

if we all speak spanish by being from LATAM, Why are we not talking in spanish? xd

[@damienpeladan481]

Same here in France. You still get reruns of the show basically every weekday here

[@kristinachaney7391]

The mall episode where Hal steals the "foot spa" bags and runs up the wrong escalator twice is some of the greatest comedic genius I've ever seen. I'll never forget how hard I laughed the first time I saw that.

[@Judgement_Kazzy]

One of the most iconic millennial shows was created by a man named Boomer. That might be the funniest thing in the whole show.

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Fucking boomers

[@117kazekage]

Gabe Morehouse reeeeeeeeee

[@Tom-cl4lb]

@Rusty Nütz Millenials don't exist to zoomers. They put them in the same category as boomers.

[@subzero4190295]

@@Tom-cl4lb that's not true, we acknowledge millenials. We dont like millennials either, because they are the PRODUCT of boomers, not boomers themselves

[@k-musictrash356]

I don't care what anyone says, I think that this show is a masterpiece. Extremely memorable, funny, interesting & rewatchable, can't even count how many times I have watched this without getting bored, it still holds it's ground

[@ramsesfarias6167]

If you still rewatch it, where lol? After it got taken off Netflix I have nowhere to watch it plz help

[@saraluvsherjuicyfruit4643]

@@ramsesfarias6167 Hulu

[@ferxxo20xx]

Extremely quotable as well.

[@Philms91]

I don't think there was a single bad episode.

[@mackielunkey2205]

@@Philms91 There were a few that came to mind IMO, but the show was really strong. It's actually hard to find bad episodes. I didn't like the Rollerskates episode and the episode where Hal and the boys go to Francis' ranch. Other than that, the show is fantastic.

[@denomava5470]

In Mexico this show is pure gold, we as a whole love it and it was actually aired in public television. I love it bc it reminds me if my childhood

[@louannstabile6311]

Same in France !!

[@francisgerasi4547]

Yes this show has become part of Mexican pop culture along with Drake & Josh

[@ToomanyFrancis]

I was wondering why I looked up the theme song and half the comments were in Spanish.

[@ericgabrielbautistajaimes9187]

Nothing as watch the program in channel five

[@anaclaudiagarciacalderon192]

I know most people knew it from its Canal 5 run. But I fondly remember the day Fox latinoamerica first aired it back in late 2000 (it helped to forget the shock of Freaks & Geeks being canceled) its a huge part of most mexican adults nowadays because it was able for everybody and it was so relatable.

[@daoyang223]

The main "reveal" in MITM when Lois starts explaining why she is the way she is towards Malcolm is what made the show extremely important to me. It wasn't super political but it was very much POLITICAL. It's a good message and honestly it's ambitious of her to be a caring parent. Reminds me of my mom and the sacrifices she's made for us.

[@crazypato3752]

Why is she the way she is ?

[@djcogdill9263]

​@crazypato3752 Iirc, in the very last episode she explains to Malcolm that she's extremely hard on him because she knows no matter how hard she is on him she knows he will do well in the real world no matter what and since he grew up poor he will work twice as hard as everyone around him to prove himself to them. It shows a little of the scene in this video. It's where they're covered in what looks like brown sludge. I haven't watched the show in years so I don't exactly remember what they're covered in or if op is referring to a different moment.

[@francesconesi7666]

The "main reveal" is the main reason the last episode sucks ass. "I was always so hard on you because I want you to become a POTUS that cares about people like us" like seriously? That's dumb. The good thing about the series were the realistic family dynamics, something which was progressively replaced by over the top bs which is harmful to the development of characters, like when Lois goes to fuckin Afghanistan to retrieve Reese, thus both wasting the plot potential of him going back home and having to mature on the way and jumping the megalodon of random american housewife goes to active warzone to find kid and doesn't get detained or shot.

[@purplegrapiest]

The moment Hal realised he lost his dad, still hits hard for me every time I watch it. He truly is great at displaying a level of emotion that just feels real.

[@simonkimberly6956]

It made me really angry when malcom finally broke and decided to exploit him

[@bagelman3075]

@@simonkimberly6956 I was expecting him to give it up when he started crying and finally came to his emotiions but he didnt back down which kinda pissed me off

[@IAmTheDoctor00]

Yeah that speech about the pen hits hard. It reminds me of losing my grandfather and how sometimes a big loss doesn't process for a little bit until something small pulls through a few memories and then it then reality hits and you lose composure.

[@OmegaSaurus]

I love the fact that Frankie, according to Hal was named Malcolm because of Rusty Malcolm, the NASCAR racer, and Frankie later in his life became a racer himself Its so sad that he suffered memory loss tho...

[@FirstPlace97]

damn, didn't know that. That sucks

[@Spider_Mike023]

Iirc frankie Muniz proposed a reboot on Twitter hed be down to do called "malcolm in the mid-life crisis" lol I would totally watch that honestly. And Isnt frankie a Drag racer right?

[@Spider_Mike023]

@@TeeBeeDee crashing?, didnt know it was that bad. I knew he talked about how finally binging all the malcolm shows was great cause they filmed scenes sporadically and not episodic so he said it was cool to finally see how they all turned out. But I didnt know he had a big accident.

[@Spider_Mike023]

@@TeeBeeDee yea just started looking it up, that is sad, Dang.

[@ZeranZeran]

He is not "Severely messed up" stop making shit up. Yes, he has memory loss, but he talks and interacts completely normal. Watch any interview or podcast of him He seems totally normally, and more than able to do a tv show.

[@flexedknotsea6772]

I remember when my parents grounded my brother and I from watching “Malcom in the Middle” because we would always get in trouble after watching it because we got ideas from it. Those were fun days

[@rilu8337]

HAHAHAH I just remembered my mother did the same at some point!

[@lil-dexxy6475]

@TheHumanSpeciesIsAPlague NotMeantToBeInExistence Get a load of this asshole

[@stonejohnson9552]

I wish I had the balls to do the stuff I saw in this show!!! Hahaha

[@skillybiskuit12]

@@lil-dexxy6475 oop it’s the dirty delete for me 😳😂😂

[@islandboy9381]

Like the punching game haha

[@sheroukyoussef7896]

My favorite episode has to be Rease’s apartment when he proves to be doing better without his family but he ends up spending 10,000 in 10 days on credit cards 😂

[@colete888]

if you didn't know, this series is HUGE in Mexico, It got aired on one of the most popular public channels back then and it has been reaired countless times since. I'd even say is more famous here than in the US. And props for putting P5 music on the background

[@ezra5514]

Yea they still play reruns

[@jekkt]

we watched it in germany

[@detleffleischer9418]

Literally. Its one of the few shows (aside from Gumball, Simpsons, and My Little Pony until it was taken off the air for new programs) that still gets a metric fuckton of airtime on Canal 5 and other channels.

[@damink_8508]

Popular show in NZ aswell

[@user-ff4pi9dc3g]

literally any person living in a poorer class compared to the people around them can relate to this show, back then my family was 5 members and we would always compare ourselves to the actors on the show.

[@MoostachedSaiyanPrince]

I always associate this show with a dysfunctional yet also still somehow functional and caring family. One of the moments I remember more than any other is the entire family starting a fight with a bunch of carnival clowns because one of them called Lois "Wide Ride." Literally all of them engaged in a brawl to defend her honor. That right there is family, and it's believable, even if it is over the top.

[@SirBlackReeds]

Of course, that was in the classic seasons/golden era.

[@miamorse3317]

So my family.

[@bud_kleric2771]

Lmao for some it's not that far from the top🤣

[@wyldkat82]

this is why i consider this a semi loose sequel of "married with children" a dysfunctional family that is struggling to get by. Except this wasnt man vs the familiy like with "married with chldren" but it was parents vs children. But just like with the bundys, when someone disrespects a member, watch out. The family will come together.

[@fortyforfree]

Someone’s ankle got bit, that’s all I remember lol

[@Gigabarto]

Malcom was HUGE in latin america as the best sitcom of the 00's and a lot of people still watch it to this day, in mexico they still air it on tv 5 days per week.

[@Omar_rdz]

Yep, on prime time!

[@banditp6494]

Yup Monday to Thursday @7 in Canal 5

[@huemul4586]

@@Omar_rdz in chile is really big too

[@JV-py6hj]

Fleece Johnson yeah my mom absolutely loves the show, and she’s from a super small and more remote village in mexico. Malcolm in the middle just got everything about a family right, and us mexicans just loved it lol

[@intifadayuri]

I gree up watching it in mexican public TV and recently watched all over again online!

[@tomdog2004]

It’s obvious to me how great this show is when I’m able to watch your video and see the clips you use and even after all these years I am able to recite the lines and giggle to myself.

[@carlmurphy2416]

Watches this video. Opens Netflix, types in 'Malcolm' Sees "Explore titles related to Malcolm in the Middle" Closes Netflix. Cries.

[@someonerandom8552]

Carl Murphy that’s why I got the box set. I don’t trust Netflix to have all my shows

[@fitolothegriffin556]

Go to hulu

[@-haclong2366]

Disney wants everyone to go to Disney+, that is why it's gone.

[@-haclong2366]

@@someonerandom8552 That is why I pirate, a lot cheaper.

[@skipbayless557]

It's on Hulu and Disney+ shit.

[@Defuseedits]

for me personally there wasnt an episode i hated, i loved every little bit of malcolm in the middle.

[@kasukeurahara2302]

Same here, it's one of those shows I could watch forever and laugh every single time.

[@adamhauskins6407]

I like some more than others

[@victorrocha5755]

I think "To hate" is a very strong word for this show, but there were certainly a few episodes where I felt it could have been better AND I felt slightly disappointed. Nonetheless, I'd choose any Malcolm in the Middle episode then some horrible terrible Friends, How I Met Your Mother, 2 and a Half Man or The Big Bang Theory episode at any time. I can hate those show very easily, starting off with the addition of "Laugh Track" on a comedy show that is not very funny at all.

[@fryone]

@@victorrocha5755 The sect of writers that thought canned laughter works should face the wall 🐭

[@islandboy9381]

The only episode that I kind of didn't like that much was Malcolm manipulating Hal to buy a car for him while he was griefing about his dad's death.

[@Crazelord91]

This show was way ahead of its time. There's only a few sitcoms beforehand that really focused on poor disfunctional familes, getting by, and self inflicted anxiety in such a funny but relatable manner (and without a laugh track). It should have been a lot more popular than it was, the series finale was so under promoted compared to its contemporaries that I didn't even know it happened (and I was watching the show semi regularly) until after it aired and I saw it as a rerun.

Titus was pretty good. It had audience laughtrack though.

[@JohnSilverHawkins]

Yeah, I loved Malcolm in the Middle. It owed a lot to another great show I grew up with, which was Married...with Children.

[@Actiomedey]

@@JohnSilverHawkins That shows hilarious.

[@KaiDecadence]

@ So glad I'm not the only one who's heard of Titus. That show is pretty underrated. I re-watched the show a couple years ago and while it is a bit quirky with how the brothers overreacted at certain situations, it was surprisingly endearing and the whole cast was great. Another show that I really enjoyed that kinda dealt with the working man trying to support his family was Grounded For Life though I will admit that the show kinda lost it's luster in its last season.

[@KaiDecadence]

@@Actiomedey It's funny because it feels like that show predicted some of the the things we see now but yes, it was pretty good.

[@Wraith2791]

I think it was because of how whacky it was, but the episode where Stevie fights Reese is what stuck in my head the most. The tub of ice to freeze his legs to give Stevie a chance was probably the most honorable form of bullying I have ever seen. Give them a fighting chance, sort of thing.

[@TheSavageThanos]

Meanwhile Stevie created a mark 1 Iron Man suit and stomped Reese out lol.

[@Wraith2791]

@@TheSavageThanos agreed hahaha.

[@JD43232]

Dewey was *AWAKE* I always thought of him as the actual genius. He's was more self aware than Malcolm even with the age difference

[@themoreyouknow7418]

Jordi Danen we’ll get apparently actually was on malcom’s level intelligence-wise, but he used that genius level differently, becoming a defender of the defenseless of sorts in his special needs class, rather than succumbing to existential dread and cynicism.

[@JD43232]

@@themoreyouknow7418 true!

[@themoreyouknow7418]

Jordi Danen personally, I think it unintentionally sent a message of what can happen if someone can’t truly find purpose, regardless of how much potential/talent/ability you have.

[@CREDLACE]

I think the reason for that is that Dewey knew how to hide his talents and his interests to avoid unwanted attention. In stark contrast to Malcolm who while very intelligent knew not when to keep his opinions to himself.

[@nonyobussiness3440]

C. ROXAS Dewey also heard voices and had Reese tendencies

[@sorentempest8216]

As a lower income kid in the Gifted and Talented program in the early 2000’s, this show was my saving grace. I never felt more understood

[@MastaGambit]

same

[@kwabzycomposer]

Yo we have the same name poggggg

[@Bloombaby99]

Agreed, same here.

[@Justfillintheblank]

Still to this very day, this is by far my favorite TV show ever.

[@ericsong5155]

Preach brutha

[@killerclone1786]

Same

[@shanechannel7066]

My transgender wife and I use to watch this all the time

[@Purpleturtlehurtler]

@@shanechannel7066 good for you. :)

[@corynn9900]

Me too! I was actually 1 year old when it ended, but I found it on Netflix and fell in love with it!

[@lou-cidmire3065]

Favorite sitcom of all time by far!! MiTM was so multi-faceted. What I remember most are the STUNNING musical arrangements like Dewey's operas, the "Candyman" military school chorus, the Gentlemen Callers featuring Hal and his poker buddies. All still stuck in my head 20 years on.

[@hottea2933]

One detail I noticed about the whole show in general is that Dewey (Malcolm’s younger brother) could be as smart if not smarter than Malcolm. In many episodes we see Dewey manipulate his brother Reese and others around him to do what he wants them to do. Dewey always seems to do the unexpected all by himself. Like for example, Dewey learns to play the piano all by himself and basically masters it as he is able to play famous symphonies. He is also capable of making every situation go is his favor (unless his brothers can help it). Dewey has WAY more common sense than Malcolm, too. Also, he is able to get to the Grotto by himself just so he can talk to his other brother Francis. Another thing to note is that one time, when Dewey is to take “the Krelboyne test” Malcolm takes it for him so Dewey doesn’t have the same fate as his older brother. This means that even Dewey’s brothers know that he is gifted. This is not fully recognized in the show because Dewey is the neglected one of the four (or five of you want to count Jamie). Though like you said in the video, Dewey couldn’t be the “cute” one forever so the writers has to expand on this character somehow. Also, this theory of Dewey being as gifted as Malcolm could also translate to other members of the Wikerson family. Reese, for example, is shown to be an expert chef even though he’s never cooked before in his life. Lois is also shown to be able to psychologically torment all of her kids and even Hal throughout the show. So maybe it is a hidden clue that everyone in the Wikerson family is a genius but obviously the show is mainly about Malcolm. I have been binge watching the show during my time off and I noticed all of these things and I just wanted to share it 😀

[@hottea2933]

Liz yeah lol

[@diggygorgonzola3467]

Liz that part always got me. I freaking love Dewey

[@lukegaier9490]

As the youngest child in my family, with two older brothers and no sisters, I can honestly say, in my experience, this kind of behavior just kind of comes naturally. I'm not saying I'm a genius, but when I would speak my voice would go unheard, I was the butt of every joke, and I was always seen as just the tag-along who didn't really add anything to the experience. As I grew up I realized that I wasn't as strong as my brothers, so if I wanted to have an advantage I needed to be smarter than them. I found out that if I ignored them they would get bored of harassing me and leave me alone. I found out that a quick quip might result in getting punched, but leaving them speechless always felt like a victory. I found out that I didn't need to do what they were doing because I could be my own person and achieve my own goals even if I had to teach myself how to do it. We're all grown up now, and we all get along, and I love them, so I don't want to give the impression that there is standing tension between us today, but I'd be a fool not to realize how their negative influence helped positively form the man I am today. I'm not manipulative, but I could be. I understand how it works. Instead, I try to be empathetic. I see people who are unheard, and I try to hear them. I notice when someone feels left out, and I try my best to include them. When I see Dewey do what he does I get it. He doesn't really have another option. In this world sometimes you are born the underdog, and you either get smart or you stay a victim. In my mind, Dewey is easily the wisest of all the siblings because he's experienced all of it, and he's chosen to let it make him better.

[@circlebird8765]

Hal was really gifted too. Remember the episode where he took over the krelboyne's project to build a fighting robot because he didn't know what to do with himself with Lois gone?

[@amyvic5121]

Fits Malcolms portrayal as him being narcissistic, thinking he is the only genius, when from this perspective he is surrounded by geniuses of sorts.

[@tylor_vwricer]

Dewey go easy, that stuff dosent grow on trees. Wait, it does, so why does it cost so damn much?!

[@farisshireen9426]

Grandma sues reference, love it.

[@iyadaladimi3313]

everytime I drink oj I think of this scene lol

[@Tiagotaf]

I can't fathom the reason this series had a declining viewing rate. This show was ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. From the first to the last episode, every character was properly developed, their storylines were wonderfully explored, and the actors did an amazing job portraying their complexity, personality, weaknesses and strengths, and the show managed to make us fall in love with each character. To me, this is the best show ever made. I can watch and rewatch over and over again, and have a good laugh every time. Life is unfair!

[@MannerdDesert7]

As much as I love this show I have to admit the first 4 season were better than the last 3 and having watched it recently the later seasons did have a problem of becoming more outlandish and retconning pre established stuff. While I still enjoyed every season I can understand why people lost interest with the later seasons.

[@randomguyontheinternet7940]

Well no matter what attention degrades over time. Even the Simpsons (although very slowly) declined in viewership about halfway through Season 2.

[@OneGaurdian]

I watched the show, from start to end, and it was in the last two seasons that I felt it started dropping in quality. Francis' growing absence was a part of it, for sure.

[@Sailor_Universe]

I feel like the first episodes of the very last season were pretty boring, but then they got better and character arcs were wrapped up nicely. The finale was absolutely perfect.

[@TrueGamer22887]

I loved when it got nuts. Shows perfect to me

[@ryanmazoch6066]

This show keeps the nostalgia of our youth, we’ve been there, we’ve done that. Yeah growing up with this, most viewers were kids and we are easily distracted. Yet, if you go back and rewatch shows like this, it related to you so much and even had similar things happen to you or family. Even now old shows I go back to I get the jokes better. This is a gem of a show that shows what real America was for most of us.

[@erikledmad]

Lois was the engine of the show, Hal was the soul.

[@femalehuman7074]

Malcolm in the Middle was comedy genius. Genius writing and it wouldn't have ever become what it was without that cast. During my divorce seven years ago, I watchedthe entire series 3 times over. The end of the third time, I was ready to face the world again. I put on the episodes while I packed my bags, moved into a new place, started my life over. Again. it was the perfect distraction but more than that I found that I was absolutelyblown away by how special this show was. There will never be anything like it again. The show was a thousand times better than Seinfeld. Seinfeld was what it was and it was great but Malcolm in the Middle did better.

[@runbetarun1205]

Well Malcom in the middle always makes me forget about my life and makes my life sound amazing

[@shallwegettit7874]

Seinfield was a show about nothing 😂 wow reading your take on the show made me love it just that much more. Every persons background differs and you used it to cope and regain yourself. For a show to be such a crutch is blessings. I hope you’ve grown to live at ease and are at peace w yourself 🤞🏾💛

[@ageofdulltron2052]

I watched Seinfeld twice over during a rough patch and it did the trick for me. Malcolm is a sweet show, but Seinfeld is still king. 9 years with very little dip in quality.

[@femalehuman7074]

@@ageofdulltron2052 right on, I respect your opinion. But I will say that no one who is truly see Malcolm in the Middle would describe it as a "sweet show". It was far from sweet. the thing about Seinfeld is that it is a show about horrible people treating people horribly. I will forever worship and adore Larry David and Curb Your enthusiasm, but Seinfeld lacked heart. There was no heart in that show.

[@TURTWIG094]

Nice little story! , just shows how much tv shows could have such an impact on someone

[@The_RedVIII]

One of my favorite shows. Here is a fun fact: The little red head kid you see in minute 15:00 , Dewy's friend Chad, who bites, is non other than Cameron Monaghan, who plays the Joker in Gotham, and is the new main character in Star Wars: Fallen Order. Mind blown.

[@Crazelord91]

And Ian on Shameless

[@batt3ryac1d]

Holy shit he's Ian mind blown

[@jonsnor4313]

And a creepy kid on an episode of the mentalist, the camp episode.

[@someonewhocommentsonyoutub3779]

If you had pointed at him in that scene and said "That kid's gonna be the Joker in 10 years" I never would've believed you

[@mathieuleader8601]

that's so cool

[@MariusNinjai]

watched this almost 5 years ago finally watch Malcolm in the middle time to rewatch this video

[@georgeliquor1236]

Malcolm in the Middle is my favorite slice of life anime.

[@kn00tcn]

Cory wants to know your location

[@razkable]

this dude put clips of the simpsons naruto fresh prince 3rd rock its always sunny and malcom in the same video?..all that was missing was boy meets word for 90's sitcoms he mentioned defined that era and I would ask him to marry me...seriously...I sometimes feel like im all alone in this world watching so many popular certain series and realizing most people aren't as diverse as i am when it comes to media and only saw a couple of the shows I watched growing up and even today from any era and instead watched crap I never heard about and are glad I didnt hear about......I watched anything good basically on all the main networks from fox to abc to pbs to wb to upn abc family jetex toon dinsey disney channel nickelodeon and cartoon network bommerang comedy central bet tbs tnt mtv teen nick usa gsn kcra cbs nbc…. nice to know im not the only one who found these shows watched and learned why/ how their made and their impact and find it fascinating as well...

[@x-Abraham-x2]

Yo I dig the pfp

[@ferxxo20xx]

I believe this wasn't an exclusive American sentiment towards the show. I remember being a kid growing up in México, and Malcolm was so entertaining even my dad would watch it with me, and in a way, it was still relatable since I was a pre-teen hitting that puberty. As I grew older, I understood that most of Latin America has nothing but positive emotions towards Malcolm in the Middle (last two seasons were shaky, but okay) to the point that there are groups where they stream the show, and in México, it is still being shown on TV in the afternoons. Hence, it is still relevant because it just has such a resemblance to real life in a comedic way. I personally have watched Malcolm at least 5 times (3 in Spanish, 2 in English) and it feels so fresh from all the other sitcoms. Truly a series that has been slept on. Thanks for the in-depth video.

[@batt3ryac1d]

They cranked re runs for years in Australia and even the re runs did huge.

[@Deathfromabove5]

the last two seasons aren't even shakey tho. I just rewatched the entire series that I grew up watching and seasons 6 and 7 have some of the most memorable funny episodes in them

[@Jane_of_Us]

It still re runs in Germany sometimes and it was rly loved here too

[@premjitchowdhury262]

This and everybody hates Chris are truly gems.

[@Washius]

Terry Crews was the best part. Loving father who saved every penny.

[@MxPokirby]

I feel like Phil of the Future was up there too.

[@qarcon3247]

@Chidz Hustle wow yeah actually i agree. chris isn't as smart as malcom but its pretty similar i would say

[@nootnewt9323]

Everybody Hates Chris is so underrated. I liked the way they portrayed a lower middle class black family in the 80s. Plus Terry Crews had the most memorable role as Julius.

[@unknownperson-qm1eu]

@@nootnewt9323 I dont think its underrated

[@ashtonevertz7570]

love this show. My favorite character was Dewey (I'm the youngest myself). My favorite moments were when Lois apologized to Reese so genuinely and realized her faults and the final episode. Life IS unfair. She tells Malcolm to his face he will always keep fighting, because he has to, while basically spelling out her predictions for the kids including that she expects Dewey to leave the family and be successful on his own. My favorite aspect of the show was that the family cared about each other. As a kid who was neglected, abused, and had to get a job at 13 it was a ray of hope honestly. The message I got was that just cause people/families weren't the most functional doesn't mean they're bad and it is OK to keep trying to be better but also OK to be happy with what you have. Felt like a fat sign saying "everything is gonna be ok".

[@anthernbans]

Who remembers the episode where Dewey smokes Hal’s old cigarettes??

[@carlkeenan5975]

That was such a funny episode 🤣

[@robodwyer4115]

And he said he ‘cut down’ to 2 packs a day 😂

[@sugoha_2548]

this episode broke my heart because I still had a pure image of season 1 dewey in my head

[@GR.1994]

Unfortunately nowadays that kind of comedy is too much for the new audiences. Bunch of sensitive babies

[@nikola7802]

@@GR.1994 facts

[@Kinzokugia]

"It's almost like Malcolm isn't developing" So, accurate to the Gifted students hitting the real world, then?

[@Foxcade]

Are gifted students regularly told to their face on a biweekly basis how they're an asshole and that's why people dont want to be around him/why they arent happy? If it was purely about self directed progress, I could accept that, but the amount of times he repeatedly learns the same exact lesson about his behavior being anti-social, it just gets irritating to watch.

[@Raaawb]

@@Foxcade This video was suggested to me after having watched two others about "Justin Roiland's story circle." Seems apt, especially since I regard Malcolm to be one of the true genius sitcoms. As with Rick & Morty, I can recall several pure situations that I remember from Malcolm that still make me laugh aloud just thinking about. So I think of that story circle, which takes a complacent character forward from "need" to going to search, finding, then returning to their base, "having changed." The sitcom's challenge is to create a good story (with jokes) that then essentially re-sets the characters back to home base by the end, to have other adventures next week. When they have to tell somewhere around 150 stories over time -- well, I guess it makes daunting the idea of having the characters achieve substantial "change" to then carry forward. But, in real life, "we" also must learn the same lesson many times over before we finally change our own pattern behaviors. You almost hit my one most favorite moment in the series, in the episode where Hal is frustrated as he paints. After a solid week or so of painting he finally looks upon his work -- which WE don't get to see -- struck by realizing he's achieved what he was yearning to. He rushes the family in and we see them also appreciatively looking at what he painted with wonder in their eyes... just for a moment, as the massive layers of paint he laid slowly peels off the canvas... right on top of him. It was as perfect a type of ending as the Twilight Zone's "Time Enough at Last." Thanks for deciding to plant your flag on this show -- sure, maybe it's received ample appreciation in its time -- but it seems it could yet grow to a bigger, more proper amount of acclaim as its "legendary" status grows!

[@Axel230]

The "Learning the same lesson several times and not still not changing anything" part might sound like lazy writing but I see it happen all the time with a lot of people (Myself included) xD

[@hpvamp246]

It is like watching Rory Gilmore progress in Gilmore Girls with the latest season. The gifted and or spoiled student from a small town doesn’t understand rejection and how to handle it so they flounder when they get to the real world of adulthood and jobs instead of adapting. Although it is frustrating to watch and see these characters make the same mistakes from their ego, it is realistic.

[@snakes7303]

Shhh...dont expose me like this. I just,....

[@The98xander]

I actually never stopped watching the show I will say that in the last season I did miss otto and francis working at the ranch. Still baffles me that Otto never got a proper send off.

[@janlauf7626]

The98xander he died man

[@The98xander]

@@janlauf7626 i. 2011 way after the show ended

[@janlauf7626]

The98xander ahhhhh ok then why was his ending so sudden?

[@The98xander]

@@janlauf7626 no idea, hope it gets answered some day he was such a nice and funny character.

[@StefanCreates]

Totally agree. I loved Otto.

[@Chronicroc]

this show messed me up so much as a child lol. I still have so much fondness for it, but eventually when I started understanding more of what was going on than I did when I was like, five, it became a much more complex experience. It went from just being a show that I saw as only comedic, to one that became extremely relatable and somewhat sad. Getting that more realistic look into life that show like, idk dora lol didn't give. Like, lois WAS my mom. And something about seeing this show that didn't have a certain happy ending was upsetting, but it watching the last episode really was more cathartic than anything in the way it allowed you to process that there wasn't some easy fix to all their problems. Wack

[@sopainstantanea4887]

i'm from mexico... the show's been reruned multiple times over the last 10 years on channel 5 and part of its popularity here it's been mostly due to the translation. the voice actors portrayed the original cast so well with every single dialogue and made memorable lines that match the original language. it's truly hard to do that, proving that the humor from the show relates so well with your typical low middle class family from this country. life is truly unfair sometimes if you ask me. also... the way the characters matured it's what made the series so damn good. i wasn't so keen on malcolm growing up and now watching it with a new perspective, i can personally say that it's one of my favorite shows. the situation factor is there... so freaking real.

[@danteaerosol]

For real though, Malcom is the deepest and most complex character I've ever played as in any character action game. Every time I go back to replay MitM, I don't even bother playing as Dewey or Reese and go straight for Malcolm. I just wish they'd stop teasing us and finally give us a Hal DLC.

[@ChillyUK77]

Lois 3 was hard as nails.

[@chetvalmont3983]

The wait for the Francis expansion is killing me.

[@Kaidantonio333]

I heard the Hal DLC was scrapped for an original project with Hal redesigned as another dad who becomes a meth cook. Sounds promising.

[@wetwritas]

@@Kaidantonio333 you mean the meta puzzle game spin-off of Hal's

[@seg162]

you had me in the first half not gonna lie

[@michaelballspenis2723]

So weird how Frankie Muniz was older than the actor playing Reese.

[@shouko4218]

By only three months tho

[@JG_23_]

It’s so weird tho ik

[@JG_23_]

@metaphysicalgraffiti I understand, but I’m just saying in my opinion it’s just hard to believe that Malcom was about a foot shorter than Reese in a lot of the older episodes, but come to find out he’s actually the younger one

[@talea9593]

What I think is funny is that Dewey is a year older than me when he's a little kid in the show haha

[@EzraDair]

@@shouko4218 in the story he’s years younger than Reece

[@gatorbait9385]

As someone born as a middle child in 94 and never had cable as a kid, Malcom in the Middle was definitely life.

[@decusq]

My thoughts on Louis were as a kid i thought she was just a tyrannical parent but as i grew up i realized she was an over stressed, overworked mother who just wanted to take a bath in peace. Malcom did start as a relatable character but did end up my least favorite character by the shows end as he never really let go of that snobbish attitude throughout the series. This show really was pivitol when it came to depicting a real life family. This show really did teach me life is unfair, it's horrible and it can be down right cruel at times. So i take what happiness i can get and get on by. Awesome video, looking forward to the next one.

[@eph_loves_80s74]

decusq Dude Malcolm ain’t the only one who changed. Reese got mire stupid and lazy in later seasons, Dewey became the new Malcolm composing about no childhood, Francis got more mature they all changed but Hal and Lois. Malcolm is not the only one. Everyone acts like he’s the only one who changed

[@windmonkey95]

Man, there are very few things that hit me with such a strong wave of nostalgia as Malcom in the Middle. I can't think of a better way to explain to someone what being a kid in the early 2000s was like than to show them this show.

[@TheGhjgjgjgjgjg]

I'm 28 now and deeply miss what like used to feel like in that era.What a blast it was,skateboarding,pop punk,these shows.........fuck yea

[@chloe01010]

This show was really popular in England, too. I remember watching this all the time with my cousins

[@AxelWedstar411]

For a while is was the biggest US show after The Simpsons. Good times. 🙂

[@VisualSoldier2]

Used to watch this daily as a child as well in Scotland

[@millwaterj]

The UK*

[@zombievikinggaming4258]

Same here in Ireland, my mother loved Lois as a character too.

[@alice73333]

same in germany :)

[@joelmaisano8481]

Nice retrospective. MITM is my all-time favorite sitcom, and I love the way the later seasons become increasingly over-the-top; which is to say, creative and hilarious. In so many ways -- casting & acting, writing, filming & editing, directing, not to mention its ironic outlook on life -- it all adds up to a brilliant, one-of-a-kind work of comedic art.

[@myyoutubeaccount4024]

I’ve never understood why MitM never gets the recognition it deserves. Without it, Arrested Development, The Office, and It’s Always Sunny never get made or take longer to get off the ground.

[@trxpn3rd]

Everybody Hates Chris as well can be added to that list

[@patrickwhite3749]

The office was around before Malcolm because the original show was a British comedy and the US tv networks made they're own version, some of the characters from the British series even cameo a few times in the show

[@brianlaudrupchannel]

The office??? No

[@kane00000]

@@brianlaudrupchannel The Office is good. Everybody hates Chris is nowhere near Malcolm in the middle lol

[@kane00000]

@Geek37 Nope! Nobody watched that show. Freaks and Geeks could actually be on the list though.

[@dulceratoncita]

The show is also pretty popular outside the US. In Mexico they still have reruns on their main "cartoon channel"

[@kitby11]

ahuevo prro

[@terrioristjoe9794]

True in canal 5 they are always putting on in the weekdays. Hey I don’t complain because this show is fucking awesome

[@OmegaSaurus]

Last time I had to take a 2hr bus because of work, they deadass put 2hrs of Mitm, best trip I had in a while, Malcolm will be timeless here in Mexico

[@AlexanderMartinez-kd7cz]

here in chile they still rerun in on weekends, best show on tv for like a decade

[@ShiroNero94]

It was really huge also here in Spain, I think we got some re-runs recently, don't watch that much TV anymore, I just stick to my DVD when i want a rewatch. I think this show resonates with Latin/Hispanic people more than other sitcoms of the time since culturally our family structure is more openly loud and unconcerned with fitting the role of the "nuclear family"

[@flacogrenudoveinteanero9403]

Here in Mexico (and pretty much all of Latin America) this show is extremely popular and praise even today. People still remembers it, in fact It is a really quotable show in here. I think the reasons (besides the awesomeness of the show itself) was the great quality of the spanish dub and I guess that the fact that it aired in a public channel helped too. It's a great show and still one of my favorites to this day

[@slyons999]

MITM is such an underrated show. It's smarter than people give it credit for. I think as 90s shows fizzled out and the internet was becoming a big thing, tv shows released at the beginning of the 2000s slipped under the radar (same kind of thing happened with Scrubs). It was also overshadowed by the 'big shows' of the mid-to-late 200s: The Office, Breaking Bad, etc. But it's a hidden gem, and thanks to reruns it's finally getting the kudos it deserves.

[@The-Benjamin-786]

Love all those shows

[@Danbo22987]

One thing I appreciated about the show, and a gold standard I hold to family sitcoms, is treating every member of the family as important. Many family sitcoms early on would sideline the kids or have their plots be very standard. Vice versa if it were a show on Nickelodeon/Disney Channel where the kids would have a lot to do but the parents would be either non-existent or secondary