/r/malcolminthemiddle

Photograph via snooOG

Subreddit for the classic sitcom Malcom In The Middle (2000 - 2006). Subreddit created on December 24, 2011, under new management on January 7, 2024.

/r/malcolminthemiddle

60,308 Subscribers

52

Who hates Christmas the most? Ida? The Grinch? Mr. Scrooge? Hans Gruber?

10 Comments
2024/03/13
11:04 UTC

21

What show/movie is Malcolm watching in the 'Malcolm Babysits' episode?

I've watched the show for years and have always wondered what Malcolm was watching in this scene. I assumed it was a horror movie of some kind, maybe something similar to Arachnophobia.

Any ideas?

4 Comments
2024/03/13
08:01 UTC

0

Piama

I thought I'd make a thread to sum up my overall thoughts on Piama, who, being Francis's wife for the greater part of the series, is one of the most notable recurring characters of the show. series, is one of the most notable recurring characters of the show, and at least back in the day, one of my favorites. I remember shortly before I really got into the series I saw the second half of the episode "Lois's Birthday" and liked that Francis's girlfriend/love interest, Amaani, was a woman of color, and was disappointed to find out on researching the show that she never did return, although was happy to learn that Francis did end up marrying a woman of color. Funnily enough, I ended up long atter. And atter that, I pretty quickly got into the series, and was always happy when there was an episode Piama was in. Going back to it now, though, I honestly find her a bit annoying, maybe it's Emy's voice or her delivery or something, but it can really be a bit annoying at times (no offense to her). Of course, it doesn't help that she was pretty underutilized for being Francis's wife. Obviously she's almost completely offscreen in the last two seasons once Francis stops appearing regularly (was there ever any given real-life reason for this? It always seemed odd). But even during seasons 4 and 5, she's in less than half the episodes, and most of the time just being there to act as the voice of reason to Francis. Her season 3 appearances are probably her best, imo. I will admit I liked the kinda bromance vibes I sometimes got from Francis and Eric, so in a way I do kind of see Piama as partly responsible for Eric being written out. But Francis was established as straight before Eric even first appeared, so it was really only a matter of time. Either way, I'm glad they didn't give Francis a new male friend his own age after he left Alaska. I remember after seeing Francis fire the guy who was trying to rip off Otto and thinking that guy was basically trying to take Eric's place, lol. But I'm getting away from Piama again. Like I said, I really enjoyed her appearances in season 3, but for the rest of the series it just sort of felt like they didn't know what to do with her. I liked the rivalry between her and Lois in her introductory episode, but after that it mostly was Lois casually being a jerk to her rather then the serious animosity on both sides I picked up from the birthday episode. It actually felt like they'd completely resolved even this with Lois deciding to turn over a new leaf in the episode where they visit Hal's family (which was a bit confusing, as Lois has had a bad relationship with them long before Piama entered her life) but then that's forgotten and they don't become friends until season 6—in Piama's third-to-last appearance. Speaking of which, none of the other family members really ever interacted with her much. I know she briefly spoke to Reese in "Hal's Christmas Gift" and had a scene with him in the Thanksgiving episode, but there honestly wasn't a lot. Admittedly, part of this is due to the fact that a lot of her appearances were limited to episodes where Francis wasn't home. Anyways, overall, l've known Piama to be Francis's official girl since before I ever watched a full episode, so it's hard to imagine him with someone else. If I were directing the show early on; though, and had never heard of her, I might have had his long-time partner be someone else. I liked Blair Wingo’s performance and if her character was a bit different (as in, not leaving Francis because he’s dealing with a family emergency), I can definitely see her working. I also like the girl—-what was her name, Kathy?—from Krelboyne Picnic. I know they had a fight and kind of broke up, but the end implied that they might try patching things up. And since Lois is the only other girl in the family, I’d try to make her different from Lois, not too bossy or anything. As it is, though, Piama worked fine, they just could have maybe developed her a bit more.

8 Comments
2024/03/13
05:10 UTC

918

Lois get out of there that’s not your family

27 Comments
2024/03/13
01:59 UTC

21

Now sit down and watch!

2 Comments
2024/03/12
23:36 UTC

0

Krelboynes and tbbt crossover

I just had a thought What if the krelboynes met Sheldon and gang from the Big Bang theory

Add to it Alex from modern family 😂

1 Comment
2024/03/12
13:34 UTC

987

What’s the most “2000s” thing about this show?

What represents the 2000s so much with this show is 100% the fashion and the songs used (like “In Too Deep” by Sum 41), what do you believe is another thing that describes the 2000s with this show

283 Comments
2024/03/11
22:46 UTC

336

Another day in the Middle.

2 Comments
2024/03/11
14:54 UTC

1

How Kathy McCulskey become Killer Frost

0 Comments
2024/03/11
09:09 UTC

109

No need to be shocked Emma…you are a 2X Oscar winner

3 Comments
2024/03/11
08:58 UTC

0

Continuity errors

As good as it is, this show obviously wasn’t the best on continuity. For example in the episode where Francis has been working at the ranch for a year Reese mentions a ceremony at school, even though Francis started working at the Grotto during summer break. Although I guess the Grotto storyline in that episode could have happened earlier since it never coincides with the main storyline.

There’s definitely others, though, like Francis’s birthday being in December in season 2 but in April in season 6.

6 Comments
2024/03/11
03:41 UTC

268

Favorite flip out

Kitty flipping out on everyone at the dinner is possibly my favorite scene in the entire series (S2E4). It’s just gold. “Ma’am would you mind quieting dow—- Would you mind going to hell?!” “And I’ve had it with your poker nights, and your idiot friends” “—whole night staring at the cocktail waitress!”

17 Comments
2024/03/11
01:01 UTC

316

What’s your favourite visual joke from the series?

Mine has to be the street luge with Stevie. Such a funny setup which makes me laugh out loud each time.

Link: https://youtu.be/d8bzKRmajDo?si=fIz27AbNcRBW2OQ_

68 Comments
2024/03/10
22:15 UTC

764

Anyone else really impressed by the kid actors who had to be drunk?

I thought these kids did a great job pretending to be drunk, considering they (probably. Hopefully) never had been drunk before. Specifically this kid when he goes "What do I DO?! Play kickball...."

39 Comments
2024/03/10
20:31 UTC

0

We need a Malcom in the middle revamp!

5 Comments
2024/03/10
18:54 UTC

1,598

All of Chad's signs. Let me know if I've missed any.

93 Comments
2024/03/10
18:33 UTC

42

What’s your favorite episode that you never get sick of?

66 Comments
2024/03/10
07:20 UTC

39

What's up with Malcom being a genius and then turning neurotic?

Anyone else notice this? Season 1 they wrote some scenes out that specifically showcased his intelligence. But it fell off after that and then he just seemed neurotic. Like the smart person who wrote the script in season 1 quit. If anything, as seasons went on, Dewey seemed like the smart one to me. What do you guys think?

31 Comments
2024/03/10
06:34 UTC

612

What ever came about after Dewey’s tattoo??

I’ve watched Malcom in the middle all my life, but now as an adult watching the seasons and episodes in order on Hulu is awesome. I just got to the episode where at the end Dewey shows Lois this giant tattoo he got for her and she freaks out and then boom the episode ends. I was hoping the next episode continued that, but it didn’t.. it’s almost like it’s never mentioned again… was it a real tattoo? Is it shown in later episodes whenever Dewey is shirtless?? Lois did say something along the lines of “we are taking you to the hospital immediately to get this lasered off!” Are we just supposed to assume they spent thousands of dollars when they can’t afford Dewey’s own bed?

54 Comments
2024/03/09
21:02 UTC

13

What’s the punchline of this cut scene?

In the Thanksgiving episode (S5E04) there’s a series of cut scenes showing ruined thanksgiving dinners of the past. One of them is of Hal calling his dad and talking about ‘how everyone has to test their toothbrush’ and the family is asleep in their food. What’s the gag here? Non American so maybe I don’t get it but any help is appreciated.

5 Comments
2024/03/09
15:48 UTC

123

Rockstar Logo On the fridge

I’m probably not the first to mentioned it but after watching the whole show several times this is first time i’ve noticed this.

11 Comments
2024/03/09
14:23 UTC

100

I wish I had a scream box

6 Comments
2024/03/09
14:20 UTC

38

Reese, is that you?

3 Comments
2024/03/09
13:28 UTC

100

Hal’s Flanderization

My absolute favorite Hal moment is in the episode with “Egg,” the kid that just randomly shows up at the house. Lois incredulously asks Hal who he is, he looks over, holds for a second and goes “Beats me” then goes back to whatever he was doing before and walks away. The way Bryan Cranston delivered it is so ridiculously on point, and it perfectly encapsulates early seasons Hal. Always distracted, non-plussed and sort of easy-going. It reminds me of Linwood Boomer’s description of the character in one of the interviews of “Someone always building a rocket-ship in their head.” whereas, in later seasons, the B plot is Hal just actually building a rocket-ship in the backyard or doing something equally outlandish lol.

I can’t even say it’s flanderization because it was intentional. Hal’s character was initially going to be cut until literally the last minute so it was up to Bryan to really find his character, and as the seasons went on he and the writers decided to make him Lois’ complete opposite as he mentions in several interviews i.e. meek, goofy and scared of everything. It works out pretty well for their chemistry, and it created some of the show’s best jokes, but I really loved the earlier portrayal.

I like goofy, over the top Hal. He’s iconic. But seasons 1 to like 3 Hal is so unbelievably peak.

26 Comments
2024/03/09
12:40 UTC

287

Stop Making Sense (1984)

13 Comments
2024/03/09
12:22 UTC

30

Reese isn’t here right now, this is Davey

Haven’t rewatched the show in probably a decade. Reese’s delivery of that line is probably one of the funniest things I’ve seen on network TV from that era. This show really nailed it with their child actors.

4 Comments
2024/03/09
12:06 UTC

113

Piame makes the show feel complete

Does anyone else feel like they aren’t watching the show in its finished form until Piama shows up? I feel the same way with Pam and Jim in The Office and Friends with Chandler and Monica. The dynamics just feel like they added something the show didn’t “need” but still felt like something was “missing”, but we didn’t know what it was. Piama just added a whole new layer to Francis’ story than he had before and made his interactions with the family more enriched when he got to be with them

16 Comments
2024/03/09
08:41 UTC

11

Blud went from “idk what you’re talking about” to “ok I been dying to tell someone” In a millisecond.

4 Comments
2024/03/09
04:41 UTC

Back To Top