This Sitcom Deserved Malcolm in the Middle Level of Hype
A family that's as messy and chaotic as yours but somehow makes it work. A show that can very likely become your new comfort watch.
2006 marked the end of an era as Malcolm in the Middle had wrapped up its sixth final season, leaving viewers hungry for another quirky family comedy that could fill the void.
Only three years later, a new show quietly arrived that deserved every bit of the spotlight that Malcolm got just a few years back. However, somehow, despite its incredible quality, mainstream media didn't really seem to care all that much. Maybe it was too real, too close to home, or maybe we were all too busy to notice.
The Middle (2009-2018): Meet Your New Favorite Family
The Middle follows the Heck family, a lovably chaotic bunch from the fictional town of Orson, Indiana. Unlike the picture-perfect families we're used to seeing on TV, the Hecks are refreshingly middle, we dare say. Middle class, middle America, middle of everything really.
Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is a dental assistant and mom who's simply trying to keep it all together when things are naturally falling apart. Her husband Mike (Neil Flynn) is the manager of a quarry who approaches life's drama with the emotional range of a brick wall (and it works perfectly).
Then there's the kids: Axl, the eye-rolling teenager, Sue, the eternally optimistic middle child, and Brick, the youngest, whose best friends are books and books only.
Neil Flynn Is Your New Favorite TV Dad
You might recognize him as the janitor from Scrubs, but Neil Flynn's transformation into Mike Heck is amazing. As one Redditor pointed out:
“Neil Flynn is quietly one of the most successful television actors of the last 2 decades. Got cast for a few episodes on Scrubs and then turned it into a main role for 9 years and then transitioned straight into The Middle for another 10 years. Fantastic guy.”
And he truly is fantastic. Flynn's Mike might not have a lot of emotional moments, but throughout the show you can see how much he cares and how actually sweet and caring he is.
The Middle Is The Show That Feels Like Coming Home
The Middle is truly special because of its heart. As ClassicEducation5287 on Reddit shared:
“I love the Middle so much that I don't want to gate keep it any longer. It's such a nice, warm, funny and just stays with you kinda sitcom. I wish it was there on streaming platforms. Also a freaking bonus, for not having a laughing track for God's sake.”
And while this gem might have flown under the radar during its original run, you can now binge all nine seasons on Amazon Prime. Once you start, you'll wonder how you lived without the Heck family in your life for so long.
