Welcome to a new Sitcom Tuesday! This week, I’m continuing my coverage of The Middle (2009-2018, ABC), which is currently available on DVD and streaming!
The Middle stars PATRICIA HEATON as Frankie, NEIL FLYNN as Mike, CHARLIE McDERMOTT as Axl, EDEN SHER as Sue, and ATTICUS SHAFFER as Brick.
Season Six is The Middle’s self-proclaimed “Year of Sue.” And it lives up to that moniker in more ways than one, centralizing and celebrating the show’s best, funniest character, as portrayed by the joyful Eden Sher. However, Six is also the most disappointing collection yet, observing the series’ first serious dip in quality. What’s happened? Well, nothing major. It’s very much like Five — Axl’s at college, but still around regularly. In fact, he’s probably around more this year than the previous (and those ahead). So, the separation of the ensemble — which will progress again next year when Sue goes away (precipitating an even bigger drop) — is less an issue with Six, specifically. There’s actually nothing big to pinpoint… only the fact that the characters are no longer being used well within story. Sue included. That is, the adults are continuing to become more supporting, peripheral players in deference to the kids — all three of whom now have ongoing romantic arcs. Yes, even Brick — Six throws him his first real girlfriend, Cindy. She’s a weirdo like him and therefore reinforces his own characterization in kind. But it’s a development that inherently challenges our understanding of his depiction. Meanwhile, Axl also gets a new girlfriend in Devin Levin who, funny name aside, has no communicable comic perspective. Her blandness, and the generic maneuvers his character goes through as their relationship develops, further mitigate his already hazy personality. And it’s a case study for how generic rom-com plot points rob characters of their individualism, subordinating them to pre-determined story maneuvers. With no premise-backed reminders of the “middle” aspects of the series’ identity.
Speaking of the “middle,” its great ambassador, Sue, is also treated to many romantic pursuits this year. Heck, she now has an abundance of everything she wants. There is no shortage of boys who like her (Darrin even proposes), her friends and family cherish her often, and she encounters some form of success in everything she tries — from gym exercises to college applications. Once the plucky loser who nevertheless soldiered on in the face of defeat with earnest resolve — like so many “forgotten” or “middle” people who don’t normally get spotlighted — she’s now a lovable goofball whose attitude always wins the day. And that’s charming and warm, and we love to see it because we truly do root for her. But it’s not funny. And it’s an unmotivated shift in the series’ ethos, rendering her less an ambassador for the middle-class, mid-west spirit (that knocked-down, get-back-up attitude), for now she’s a teenage dream in a sitcom that celebrates her. And I mean celebrates her — with tributes throughout the year. Plus, plenty of boys like her — so many that it’s difficult to consider her a loser, because she’s popular! And that’s such a change in the conception of the character that it almost has to be the conclusion of her arc. For otherwise, there’s nowhere left to go that supports her design and the situation as established. Except… there are three seasons left. And they’re only going to get worse, as the characters continue to weaken and the situation is less clear within story.
01) Episode 121: “Unbraceable You” (Aired: 09/24/14)
Frankie mistakes the start of the school year while Sue gets her braces off.
Written by Tim Hobert | Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel
Six’s opener starts with a fun twist, as the family realizes they’re already a week behind the start of the school year — all thanks to disorganized Frankie. It puts everyone on the back foot — an amusing conflict. However, what’s most notable is that this entry sets up the “Year of Sue,” which, as discussed above, proves to be an accurate label, for this is when the show pivots from deploying her as the most potent ambassador of its situation, and instead simply celebrates her as its beloved star. It’s a self-referential shift that perhaps argues that this show is reaching its natural lifespan, for now, it’s just going to tell us how wonderful she (and, by proxy, it) is every chance it gets — because that’s what we want, right? No. Trading braces for a retainer is a metaphor — her smile is now less weird, and so is her depiction. (Richard Kind guests.)
02) Episode 122: “The Loneliest Locker” (Aired: 10/01/14)
Frankie and Mike take on extra jobs while Sue and Brad stage a play.
Written by Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter | Directed by Blake T. Evans
Frankie and Mike having to find second jobs to help pay for Sue’s college is a reminder of their middle-class existence and therefore the terms of the premise that help define them and their world. I appreciate this underrated episode for that subplot, along with its A-story’s depiction of Sue as a doofus lacking in self-awareness. It’s closer to her original character, and less like what we see more often here in Six, as she’s lionized. Okay, I do think the awfulness of Sue and Brad’s play is maybe broader than The Middle should be willing to stomach — and in general, Eden Sher is very animated this year to help compensate for some of her character’s comic dilution — but it’s a funny effort that succeeds and is rooted in what we know of everyone.
03) Episode 125: “Halloween V” (Aired: 10/29/14)
Brick invites a girl over to the house while Sue hosts an outdoor movie screening.
Written by Robin Shorr | Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel
This year’s Halloween entry is light on those holiday trappings, with only Sue’s story really indulging the day in a meaningful way, as she and Brad plan an outdoor pumpkin patch screening of Charlie Brown’s Halloween special, but nobody shows up. I like that this is a version and utilization of her character that’s more reflective of a plucky loser, so I appreciate it this year especially, as too many half hours actually eschew that depiction. That said, I highlight “Halloween V” because of Brick’s story — he invites his girlfriend Cindy (Casey Burke) over, and their awkward interactions inherently accentuate his unique comedic characterization. And with Mike and Frankie there to observe and intrude, they feel thankfully relevant too.
04) Episode 127: “Thanksgiving VI” (Aired: 11/19/14)
The Hecks and their loved ones go out to eat on Thanksgiving.
Written by Tim Hobert | Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel
Truthfully, I think the logline of the Hecks going out to eat on Thanksgiving could be a setup for funnier things than what ultimately happen here. (And in general, this year’s mini arc about the tiny sinkhole that consumes their kitchen sink — subjecting the Hecks to yet another inconvenient middle-class indignity — isn’t ever maximized for the laughs that it could earn.) And yet, this is an opportunity to get the characters together, along with their current love interests (Gia Mantegna’s Devin Levin is even introduced). So, it’s naturally set up to be an ideal showing for this ensemble sitcom, and indeed, although nothing exceptional occurs, it’s above-average quality for Season Six, and I would probably miss it if it wasn’t somewhere on this list.
05) Episode 128: “The College Tour” (Aired: 12/03/14)
Mike accompanies Sue on a tour of several colleges while Frankie visits Axl.
Written by Rich Dahm | Directed by Blake T. Evans
Entries that significantly pair Sue and Mike tend to be a healthy concoction of both humor and warmth — perfect for The Middle — as her earnest self-expression is so beautifully juxtaposed against his natural aversion to feelings and any kind of vulnerability. They therefore naturally challenge each other, and that yields both hahas and “awwss.” As for this installment, its sentiment isn’t too forced; it feels relatable and earned by the characters and their relationships. And it’s buoyed by some valuable laughs, particularly in Sue’s ignorance to the word “Caucasian” and insistence that she’s a Native American because she’s a native of this country. It’s silly but works well — making for a well-rounded, tonally comprehensive offering.
06) Episode 131: “A Quarry Story” (Aired: 01/14/15)
Sue gets a temp job at the quarry while Frankie must work a day back at the car dealership.
Written by Ilana Wernick | Directed by Clare Kilner
What I like best about this showing isn’t the A-story where Sue takes a janitorial job at the quarry — leading to an after-hours party that balloons out of control and gets her in trouble with Mike. All that’s, well, it isn’t the most personalized use of her character. But the other subplots are more uniquely entrenched in the continuity of the characters and this world. Axl is forced to replace the sink — damaged by the sinkhole — with his grandfather on Mike’s side (John Cullum). And Frankie, in order to cash an old check that she’s just discovered, is forced to work one more day at her old job: the car dealership. This is a fun notion that only works with an understanding of the series’ history, and it indeed stands out from the pack for its specificity.
07) Episode 132: “Hecks On A Train” (Aired: 02/04/15)
The family takes a train to South Dakota to deposit Aunt Edie’s remains.
Written by Tim Hobert | Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel
The Hecks often travel by car, and we’ve even seen them travel by plane. But this episode subjects them to another very American form of transit — the train. This is a sitcom’s dream setup because the tight quarters force a unity of time, place, and action that therefore requires simple stories predicated on characters and their interactions. Here, we get an idea about Mike not being as emotionally reactive as he needs to be (a recurring, defining trait), along with a fun subplot that reinforces Sue’s terrible luck, as she accidentally submits an unfinished college essay when there’s a jolt on the train. That’s an application of her character that feels appropriate to her design, and in general, this is a pretty good display of everyone by the standards of Six.
08) Episode 134: “The Answer” (Aired: 02/18/15)
Sue has trouble turning down Darrin’s proposal while Axl tries to “cure” Brick.
Written by Tim Hobert | Directed by Phil Traill
I’ve been outspoken about how I think the show’s over-reliance on rom-com story beats for the kids robs them of their characterizations, for they no longer have to help inspire plot. Rather, they can just exist in preordained ideas, and often with partners who lack definition. That’s why I’m not highlighting a lot of the romantic ups and downs for Axl or Sue this season; it’s just not preferable as situation comedy. However, this is a standout rom-com excursion that’s also an important reflection of the year, following the Valentine’s Day entry where Darrin proposes to Sue. Now, she must turn him down — only she keeps saying yes, for she does have feelings for him. It’s an amusing gag, but not a great use of her character, as it cherishes her a bit too much. More to my tastes, actually, is a subplot about Axl, a recent psych student, attempting to “cure” Brick of all his weird social tics and abnormalities — a setup that features both well, especially Brick, whose comic uniqueness is a constant, reliable part of the situation.
09) Episode 137: “The Waiting Game” (Aired: 03/25/15)
Sue waits for college news while Mike refuses to admit that he sings alone in the car.
Written by Katy Ballard | Directed by Danny Salles
This inauspicious outing is another example of Sue being a lot more frequently triumphant than she used to be. But the half hour at least builds to her victory well, making us fear that the perennial loser will remain just that — as she waits for a college acceptance after all of her other friends have made their plans. Thus, it’s a decent Sue show. As well as a decent show for Mike, whose subplot about not wanting to admit that he sings to himself in the car is another narrative exploration of his refusal to admit vulnerability — or a sense of humanity that would breach his privacy. And it’s a small, trivial notion that so creatively speaks to that bigger picture about his character. Indeed, this is a quiet, smaller sample by comparison, and yet its charm resides in that fact, particularly when the ensemble is all together to enhance the comedy.
10) Episode 144: “The Graduate” (Aired: 05/13/15)
Sue is afraid that she hasn’t left a legacy ahead of her high school graduation.
Written by Eileen Heisler & DeAnn Heline | Directed by Eileen Heisler
My choice for this season’s Most Valuable Episode (MVE), “The Graduate” is not a particularly great installment of The Middle compared to what we’ve seen before. But, hey, there are no particularly great installments of The Middle in Season Six. At best, things are fine — with elements of good inside them. So, with nothing compelling to pick in terms of quality, I turn my sights to the segment that I think best embodies the year and its unique qualities. My gaze lands on Six’s finale, where Sue graduates high school and the show gets to again do what it’s been trying throughout this “Year of Sue” — fall at her feet in tribute to her wonderful, likable, winning personality. Here, that takes shape in a story that looks to beat her down, as she worries that she’s made no mark or legacy in high school, only to be treated at her ceremony to an overflowing yearbook, full of testimonials by all the people she’s touched throughout their years together. It’s the primary instance this season of the loser not really being a loser. A charming thought that suggests an evolution we don’t actually see. And the show doesn’t fully recognize it as such. After all, there are more seasons coming, and more of Sue to celebrate, even if that means less specific sitcommery as a result… But, alas, this is the apex of Six and its particular treatment of Sue, which typifies this collection and is one of the main reasons for its quality.
Other notable episodes that merit mention include: “While You Were Sleeping,” another primo “Sue is great” entry where she has attractive men drooling over her, begging to take her to prom, and “The Sinkhole,” where Sue must triumph over a difficult gym requirement and the Hecks endure the aforementioned sinkhole. I’ll also take this space to cite “The Christmas Wall,” a holiday outing that hits similar themes about Frankie not wanting to go all out this year, “Flirting With Disaster,” where Jerry Van Dyke as Frankie’s dad shines, and “Mother’s Day Reservations,” a solid family show that also includes Marsha Mason. Lastly, these aren’t great, but I’ll remember “Pam Freakin’ Staggs” for its guest work by Kirstie Alley, and “Two Of A Kind,” for the stunt cast reunion of Jerry Van Dyke with his brother Dick.
*** The MVE Award for the Best Episode from Season Six of The Middle goes to…
“The Graduate”
Come back next week for Season Seven! And stay tuned tomorrow for a new Wildcard!