One “Heck” of a Ride: My Top 20 Favorite The Middle Episodes.
The Middle was one of those rare shows that had so many amazing episodes and no bad ones that It would be a disservice to limit it to 10 episodes because that’s barely scratching the surface of this show’s greatness and how most episodes are golden and even the less than perfect episodes are perfectly enjoyable in their own way. Here is my attempt to try to narrow the list down to 20 of the episodes of The Middle that I think are their very best and are my personal favorites of the series.
20. The Neighbor. Season 1 episode 12.
Frankie decides that a confrontation with neighbor Rita Glossener played by Brooke Shields is imminent when Sue has a confrontation with her sons. Meanwhile, Axl is asked to teach Brick how to kick a ball for gym class, and bribes him in order to do so. However later, Brick turns the tables on him and bribes him for a favour of his own.
The episode is very funny, especially due to the classic scene where Sue and her friend Carly challenge the Glossener boys to a fight while playing the song “Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting”.
19. The Bee. Season 1 episode 16.
Brick shows considerable talent in his school’s spelling bee and Mike decides to train him for the regional bee. The family gets set to go on a road trip to Chicago for the regional bee when they realise they’ve forgotten Sue’s birthday.
Most notable for being the first of The Heck family car trips. This became one of the show’s signature elements and a favorite among cast, crew and fans alike.
18. Pilot. Season 1 episode 1.
Slapstick comedy about the hectic daily life of an ordinary middle class family in the middle of the country with the parents approaching middle age. Sue auditions for the choir of a show, Frankie is asked by Brick to attend his class presentation dressed in a costume, and Frankie believes she has finally sold a car.
This was the start of it all and did a phenomenal job of introducing us to this crazy and lovable family and all their quirks, flaws and family dynamics. Patricia Heaton proved with this pilot that she was able to carry a show as the lead after 9 years on Raymond.
17. The Sit Down. Season 3 episode 17.
Axl, Sue and Brick call a sit down meeting, accusing Frankie of being a nag and Mike of giving out crazy punishments without ever hearing their sides of the story. The kids ask is for a chance to do what they’re supposed to do on their own without constantly being harassed by their parents. Frankie and Mike agree and soon find themselves taking a relaxing break from responsibility.
This is a very notable episode because for me this was when the three kids on the show truly began to shine in their roles and showed that they could carry stories on their own as well as the true chemistry amongst the Heck siblings truly being given its glory as well for the first time.
16. Hecks on a Plane. Season 2 episode 16.
Sue wins tickets for the family to visit New York, but the plane ride turns into a comedy of errors, including members of the family fighting over who gets to sit in first class.
Another fantastic Heck family trip episode only this time on a plane instead of a car.
15. The Last Whiff Of Summer parts 1 and 2.
Frankie’s plans to recreate the magic of her own childhood summers are foiled when Mike lets it slip that Axl is his favorite Heck child, and Frankie tries to coax the kids into telling them who their favorite parent is.
Another great two parter that shows the Hecks at their best and worst at the same time. The subplot of the Mike\Sue relationship was a highlight as well.
14.The Friend. Season 4 episode 13.
Mike is less than pleased when Frankie sets him up on an adult play date with a new neighbour. Meanwhile, Sue and the Wrestlerettes take on the cheerleaders in a cheer-off.
One of the best episodes for both plots but the “Fame” scene is definitely one of the best things the show ever came up with. The fact that Eden Sher did not win one single emmy for this series is a crime of major proportions. Also Patricia Heaton and Neal Flynn’s performances were also top notch in this one.
13. Year Of The Hecks. Season 3 episode 12.
Frankie decides that each family member will have a New Year’s resolution assigned anonymously, with an incentive to help keep everyone on track. Chaos ensues as they all try to fulfill their promises.
A great episode for every character here but Frankie and Brick’s relationship is so wonderfully spotlighted here and the first meal at King Henry’s at the end of the episode will go on to be at the center of one of my all time favorite episodes of the series.
12. The Graduation. Season 4 episode 24.
Tension builds as Frankie tries to plan a graduation party for uncooperative Axl; Sue tries to get her driver’s license for a sixth time; Brick must assemble a slide show highlighting the past four years of school.
This scene above is one of the funniest moments of the entire series, but the true gold of the episode is the psychological storyline between Frankie and Axl and how parents and children start to bicker mercilessly right before the child leaves the nest. Also, this episode as you see from the clip above once again shows the expert physical comedy of both Patricia Heaton and Charlie McDermott.
11. The Graduate. Season 6 episode 24.
Sue worries a series of unexpected events may ruin her graduation; Frankie and Mike are shocked when they learn Brick has been offered a chance to skip eighth grade; Axl is afraid he will lose his girlfriend.
A wonderful Sue Heck episode that finally gave Sue the recognition and appreciation from her classmates that she deserved.
This was another one of those great Heck family episodes that really focused on the family dynamic of this hilariously messy but super tight knit family that we all can relate to and love.
10. The Par-Tay. Season 8 episode 18.
Mike upsets his neighbor when he poaches his plumber at a reduced rate; Frankie is hurt when Sue declines to tell her who she has a crush on; Brick hangs out with Axl at college.
A great Axl\Brick episode that demonstrated their evolution as brothers. It also had a great ending for the build up of Axl and his future wife Lexie.
9. Thanksgiving IX. Season 9 episode 7.
The Hecks take a hectic road trip to Frankie’s sister’s house for Thanksgiving; the kids must decide which one of them will lose their job at Spudsy’s.
The Middle is one of those shows that shined best with Holiday episodes like their Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas episodes are some of the best that I always make sure to catch every year. But perhaps Thanksgiving is their true calling card and this final Thanksgiving episode was a great bow out for a Heck family Thanksgiving.
8. The Map. Season 3 episode 13.
After attending Aunt Ginny’s funeral, Frankie begins to fear that the family is missing out on important life milestones and vows to begin celebrating all of them. Meanwhile, Axl accidentally eats Brick’s Indiana dough school map project and is tasked with creating a new one.
The episode was written by creators DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler and that is very evident of how strong and significant this episode was in The Middle’s history. The opening car scene not only goes down as one of the best and funniest scenes in the series but of any sitcom.
7. A Heck of a Ride parts 1 and 2. Season 9 episodes 23 and 24.
The family go on a road trip to Denver, where Axl is due to start his new job and new life, away from home. On their road trip to Denver, Frankie and Mike struggle to come to terms with the fact that Axl is finally moving out and they come across a few hiccups along the way.
It’s as important to end as well as you start and The Middle ended up ending better than it started. 9 years of viewers watching, laughing and loving this midwest semi dysfunctional but incredibly tight knit family came to an end in 2018 and the writers and actors did a phenomenal job wrapping up the stories of The Heck family and all their friends, relatives and romantic partners. I consider it one of the all time best series finales of all time.
6. Mothers Day II. Season 2 episode 21.
Mike and the kids think they’ve come up with the perfect gift: a day that Frankie can spend to herself. But sometimes even the best intentions backfire.
Certainly the best of the Mother’s day episodes. Plenty of classic scenes in this one, though the absolute gold is watching Frankie completley waste her mother’s day alone in a montage of hilarious scenes.
5. A Birthday Story. Season 2 episode 7.
On his ninth birthday, Brick demands to hear the true story about the day he was born, which would mean unearthing a mysterious Heck family secret. Meanwhile, Axl’s new manager at the movie theatre is both hot and dumb.
A monumental episode for the show and the backstory of the family, specifically Brick. This would go on to be referenced frequently for the rest of the series.
4. The Confirmation. Season 8 episode 19.
After being reminded that Brick was never confirmed, Frankie and Mike send him to Reverend TimTom’s Wilderness Jesus Jam weekend camp.
At last the pay off of years of references to this running gag. Made all the better by Patricia Heaton’s Everybody Loves Raymond Co-Star Monica Horan playing off of Patty brilliantly.
3. Get Your Business Done. Season 3 episode 20.
Inspired by a pastor’s rousing sermon, Frankie encourages the family to fulfil their destinies. While Sue starts a business, Brick wants a new bed.
Truly one of the funniest episodes of the series. The Hecks at a black church was just inspired. Also another great Heck family focused episode where every character got such wonderful stuff to do.
2. Hungry Games. Season 5 episode 13.
Reverend Deveaux interferes with the Hecks’ plan to use their coupon for an all-you-can-eat buffet after church.
A definite favorite of mine. The guest star choice of Michael Keegan of Key & Peele fame as Reverend Deveaux was inspired and using the counseling of each family member as a way for the audience to get deeper inside their heads was both funny and illuminating.
- Orlando\The Wonderful World of Hecks. Season 5 episodes 23 and 24.
Sue counts down the days until the Hecks depart on their road trip to Disney World. Brick begs his parents to take a detour to North Carolina so he can meet his online girlfriend.
When the Hecks arrive at Disney World, a good time may not be had for all when a series of misfortunes threaten to put a damper on their trip.
It was incredibly hard to choose a number 1 spot for this list but I had to go with these pair of episodes which were just such fun to watch as a fan of the show seeing The Hecks at Disney World and arguing, missing everything, oversleeping and ultimately bonding is what The Middle is all about.
Honorable Mention:
Forced Family Fun parts 1 and 2. Season 3 episodes 1 and 2.
With the summer winding down and school about to start, Frankie realizes that all of their neighbors have gone on family vacations over the summer, yet the Hecks have spent their entire summer in Orson, Indiana. So she asks Mike to go on a “quick and cheap” vacation with the kids, and the only thing that they can think of is camping. However, when the kids refuse to cooperate and enjoy the great outdoors, she is reminded of her ruined honeymoon camping experience, involving Nicky (Ray Romano), an acquaintance of Mike’s from high school.
As a giant fan of Everybody Loves Raymond and the chemistry between Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton you’d expect this one to be much higher on my list but while It was amazing to see “Ray and Debra” reunite I remember when I first saw this episode I was a bit disappointed that Ray wasn’t in the entire episode and that the storyline wasn’t focused on the two of them as I had assumed it would be. The episode The Math Class that introduces Doris Roberts as Brick’s math teacher was much better conceived as well as more natural. Nevertheless this two parter was still a wonderfully funny episode with great touching family moments and extra points for the great reference to ELR when Nicky says “You know in an alternate universe you and I could’ve been very happy together”.
These are just my top 20 picks, and I’m sure many of you feel like I left out a bunch of other best of Heck outings but I hope that at least a few if not most of your favorites are on this list.
Til next time, folks… (Whisper) Til next time, folks.