I was really young when Malcolm in the Middle was released, which naturally meant that I missed out on the show. Little did I know that I was missing out on a lot until recently, when a friend recommended that I watch it.
Luckily, I already had a Disney+ subscription and an Xfinity Internet connection at home, which meant that I could easily binge the show at home without having to worry about the show buffering over and over again.
Just like that, I watched three seasons of the show over one weekend, and I was in awe of how amazing the show was, despite being 25 years old this year.
I recommend that you do the same as well. However, make sure that you look into Xfinity bundles to stream so that not only do you get a superfast internet connection, but you also throw a TV service into the mix as well, that too at a reduced price.
Coming back to Malcolm in the Middle, here are some reasons why the show was always ahead of its time.
Frankie Muniz Was at His Prime
In the early 2000s, Frankie Muniz was considered to be among the best child stars at the time. He starred in back-to-back hit movies, including Agent Cody Banks and Big Fat Liar. This was also the time when he starred as the titular character.
The show was named so because Malcolm is the middle child among three brothers. However, each of them has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and Frankie did a brilliant job in playing the character. I don’t think anyone else could have done it so well during that time.
Malcolm Was a Very Special Character
As I mentioned earlier, every character in the show had their own strengths and weaknesses, and Malcolm’s strength was that he was blessed with a genius-level IQ. While his family seems dull, Malcolm is the only one who has witty solutions to everyone’s problems.
He is also probably the most rational character in the entire show.
Malcolm’s weakness was that he was very straightforward and socially awkward, which is why he had a hard time making friends except Stevie, Lloyd, Dabney, and Cynthia. All of these kids belong to a special class called the Krelboyne program, which is specifically for gifted students with high IQs.
The Show Symbolizes How Chaotic a Family Can Get
If there’s one extremely chaotic place, then it’s Malcolm’s house. His parents are the best of both worlds, with his dad, Hal, being relatively chill with his kids, while their mother, Lois, is extremely controlling, and I would understand why.
While the boys wreak havoc everywhere, Lois gives them severe punishments to give them life lessons, but this ends up sparking resentment among the boys every time.
Every episode in the show has a touch of chaos in it, which is why it makes the show very interesting to watch.
This is why I also urge you to watch the show and binge it so that you barely have any time to control your laughter. Plus, you’ll find the chaos in the show very relatable, giving you all the more reason to watch the show, especially if you have brothers, too.
The Show Has an Amazing Cast
I watched this show after I watched Breaking Bad, and I was amazed at how much range Bryan Cranston has as an actor. While Breaking Bad was a very serious show, Malcolm in the Middle is a comedy throughout, making it one of my all-time favorite sitcoms.
Bryan Cranston plays the character of Hal, Malcolm’s father. Jane Kaczmarek also did a brilliant job in playing the character of Lois, Malcolm’s super-controlling mother.
Christopher Masterson plays Francis, who is Malcolm’s oldest brother and is sent to military school for his delinquent behavior.
Justin Berfield plays Reese, Malcolm’s older brother. Then there’s Frankie Muniz as Malcolm and Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey, the youngest brother. Other characters include Tania Raymonde as Cynthia and Craig Lamar Taylor as Stevie.
Every Episode Has a Unique Story with Peak Comedy
One would wonder, “How much havoc can 4 boys wreak?” and you’ll find your answer in every episode. Other than fighting, the four brothers would somehow ALWAYS find themselves in trouble, and no matter how much they hide it from their mother, she always finds out.
So, every episode has you waiting for the next one, and once you start binging, it gets really hard to let go of the show to do something else. Which is why I recommend that you take the weekends to binge the show.
Or you can watch at least three episodes every night since every episode is just 20 minutes long. Once you watch the show, I’m sure you’ll add it to your list of all-time favorites as well.
