Malcolm In The Middle

151 episode over 7 seasons from 2000 to 2006. This comedy of a crazy misfit family was great for both youth and middle-aged people alike. 22 minutes an episode we found enjoyment through the antics and derangement these children managed to ensue and the mind games with the mother. Oh and Bryan Cranston.

The show mostly follows the 3rd child Malcolm. A genius he wishes only to be like everyone else. His cool older brother forced into Military School. His idiot and violent brother. And the youngest Dewey...he's hard to describe. Then of course there are his parents. The loud and angry mother, and the adorable fun loving dad.

Malcolm is constantly struggling with his intelligence and his wish to have fun. But I think the biggest part is that his high intelligence gets him into just as much trouble as his brothers because they often do their antics together. These antics include: beating up others, making a balloon launcher able to strike blocks away(but using much more foul things that water balloons), sneaking out to parties, and more. Malcolm tells us his struggles and mistakes by breaking the 4th Wall and talking directly to the audience.

Everyone grows over the series as they learn new lessons. But the family remains social pariahs being despised and feared by almost everyone else. The neighbors shun them, other students fear dealing with them in case the violent brother beats them up. Of course a few people drop into their gravitational pull over time, but just about all of them have their own rejectable qualities.

Characters come and go over the 7 seasons. Even the oldest brother who was a constant character experiencing his own adventures away from the family grows less and less seen. Till the last season where he is only in 5 episodes or so.

I enjoyed the show. It was redundant at times as they did pretty much the same thing over and over again. But they managed to add some new aspect that kept me going through the series. I must give the show a 7 out of 11 however.