Customer Reviews

The Middle: The Complete First Season

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You know all those over-hyped, supposedly 'edgy' and daring comedies the critics insist all discerning TV fans SHOULD love and appreciate? Well, The Middle isn't among them ;) But while critics have given the show a lukewarm reception, all of the actual TV viewers I know have been immediately charmed and delighted by this underrated gem of a show.

The Middle doesn't go out of its way to flaunt just how edgy and risque it can be. It doesn't, like so many other critically lauded shows, feature wholly unlikable people doing wholly unlikable things while half-winking at the camera over just how zany they are. It doesn't go for over-the-top wackiness or the kind of constant lowbrow sexual innuendo and fart jokes that you might unplesantly associate with high school locker rooms.

Instead, The Middle simply tells the story of a family that's likable and even admirable despite also being realistically, comically flawed. The humor stems from the strong characterizations, sharp dialogue and the clever insight peppered throughout. (You'll be thinking "that is SO true...it's scary how well I can relate to that!" at least a few times per episode). We get flashes heartwarming poignancy here too, but rest assured that it's never too sappy or forced.

This is one of those rare shows that successfully blends humor with heart, and I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much I've come to love spending time with this family. I used to have a weird visceral dislike for Patricia Heaton and, for reasons alluded to above, rarely like sitcoms...but this show immediately reversed my opinion of Patricia Heaton's acting abilities, and even gave me a renewed hope for the sitcom genre!

One major reason it's worth owning on DVD: The vast majority of the episodes not only hold up with multiple viewings, but actually improve, as you notice subtle moments of awesomeness that you were too busy laughing to pick up on the first time around. So many shows *claim* to have struck that balance between wit and poignancy; to have created lovable yet hilariously flawed characters; to have written dialogue that's sharp and memorable. This is one of the few shows that, in my clearly Middle-loving opinion, has actually succeeded in all those areas and more. It's a show that provides mood-boosting humor with moments of sharp insight into what it means to be part of a family and a steady supply of heartwarming charm. I can't wait to get my fangirl hands on those DVDs, and look forward to rooting for and laughing with the Hecks for many years to come!

I thought it would be impossible for another show to nail the family life experience the way "Everybody Loves Raymond" did previously. But after watching ABC's "The Middle" I realize how "sitcom" that earlier show was. My family shares the exact same dynamic of the Hecks; the same distribution of kids in the same ages and genders. More than that, "The Middle" portrays an honesty that a regular studio audience sitcom could never convey.

Unlike the over hyped "Modern Family," this show doesn't play to stereotypes, but has its finger on how children actually behave and the realities of middle class life without being sarcastic, mean, or condescending. It's as though real people sneaked into Hollywood and produced this show. The cast is spot on and Patricia Heaton shows she can easily lead a series all on her own.

My family never misses "The Middle" and are happy to see it doing well in the ratings. Let's hope it stays on the air for years to come; can't wait to own this series on DVD.

I've waited a long time to really love a television show since the greats; Friends and Frasier. ;o) Finally here comes The Middle. My husband and I have not missed an episode nor will we. The moment it's out on DVD we are buying it. It's uniquely funny and I think a lot of full time working Moms will really "get it". The youngest child, Brick is lovable and hilarious and Sue the daughter is so akward you could cry and laugh at the same time. Kudos to the writers of this great comedy.

i think this is one of the best new comedies. i love it and cannot wait for the DVD release! a must buy for sure.

The little kid on this show is just wonderful, Brick. I am not a parent myself but he has utterly captivated me. He is an odd kid, doesn't fit into anyone's niche but that is what makes him irresistible. So even if the rest of this show was a disaster, I doubt I could give up seeing Brick each week. But the rest is not a disaster, just the opposite in fact. Patricia Heaton plays a middle class mother in Indiana holding it all together despite being the Mom in a family of true eccentrics. Between juggling her full duties as mother of three and wife, she also works at a car dealership where she is the absolute worst salesperson. Even if the economy were booming, I could not see her zooming ahead in this field. The other two kids are teenagers. The daughter, Sue, is awkard in the extreme but the soul of an optimistic good nature. Her older brother is every teen parent's model of apathy and cynicism. He could be the poster boy of the teenage years. The actor playing Mike the father also does a good job. He and Heaton mesh believably as a couple.

I am a Patricia Heaton fan. I have enjoyed her work since Everybody Loves Raymond. I loved the short lived show she did with Kelsey Grammar a couple years ago called "Back to You." I was so mad when it was cancelled. Then came "The Middle." This show is a gem. I love Brick, the little guy with an inquisitive mind and that oddball way he repeats his comments to himself in a whisper. I love Axel and Sue. Each kid has their own unique personality. And Heaton and Neil Flynn are great as the parents. The stories are quick, smart and endearing. The focus is family togetherness in a small Indiana town. I even get a giggle out of the Heck's horribly gawdy decorated home. But they all love each other and their affection for one another is precious. I do hope this show stays on for a long time as it is high quality, original and a joy to watch. It is followed on Wednesday nights by "Modern Family", another great new comedy. ABC has finally hit two right out the ball park. I can't wait for their DVD releases.

I am not a big fan of TV sitcoms. The characters are unreal and don't speak the truth when it comes to family life. When a friend suggested this show I was skeptical to say the least. After one viewing I was hooked. The writing is true to life and the characters are real people who have flaws, but like most families, they make it work. Thank you to the producers for renewing my faith in the American sitcom.

I have 3 boys ages 10, 7 and 6. They love The Middle as much as I do. Finally! A prime time show the whole family can watch without having to provide explanations about the sexually explicit content (2 1/2 Men, for example) or occasional swear words. Axel reminds my boys of their older cousin, Sue reminds me of me, and all the kids have started the Brick-whisper after watching the DVRed shows over and over. My pre-order is in and we can't wait until season 2 begins.

Patricia Heaton's talent was over-shadowed all the years she played second fiddle to Ray Romano. In The Middle, her talent really has a chance to shine. She carries the lead amazingly and is the perfect person to do so. Neil Flynn, who plays her husband on the show, is also the right actor for that part. He delivers his lines in a funny, typical fatherly way! Eden Sher, is the teenage daughter, but over-plays her part quite a bit. Still, she comes across loveable and funny. Charlie McDermott, the lazy teenage son, also tends to overact, but he, too, still makes you laugh. And, of course, Atticus Shaffer, playing the youngest son, has a way of stealing your heart and making you want to see more of him.

Whoever is responsible for casting does a marvelous job of selecting actors to play the additional characters in the episodes. Watching each one a second time around made me laugh twice as much, because I picked up funny lines I can't believe I missed the first time. This show has good writers with excellent material, and if you want to laugh - and laugh some more, this is the series to watch. It is TOO funny for words!

I found this show by accident during the summer repeat season and initially thought it interesting but a little flat. It wasn't ELR nor even (the cancelled way too early) "Back to You". It's different from Patricia Heaton's earlier shows, but makes up for the lack of fireworks with a subtle social undercurrent that runs through the episodic plot lines. Never grating or in your face, you never forget that the Heck family is living the day to day struggle to hang onto a middle class lifestyle that is tragically slipping away from so many in the real world.

The title itself is sly and descriptive meaning either middle class, middle age, mid-America or mid-point in Heaton's career depending on how one wants to interpret it. The plot lines are a little predictable and bland, but the cast, is more than up to the task of raising the scripts to a higher level than they deserve. The kids are suitably nutty enough to endear them to viewers without their personalities reaching the cloyingly sweet level. The quarry closing where "hubby" worked, the kids need to fit in and "Frankie's" daily grind of holding it all together present a charming and realistic sit-com that has great potential to become a staple for years to come. My only reservations are some of the weaker scripts and whether or not this show will be allowed the time to "blossom". If ABC has any brains left in it's corporate offices, they'll give it the time.

UPDATE: Fortunately "The Middle" has been given time to mature and has taken on a "Rosanne for the 21st century" patina which wears pretty well as the ratings seem to be up. "Mike" is back at work and they've dropped quite a bit of the social commentary and focused on the dysfunctional family story lines which is probably what network TV viewers want to see. The two younger kids ("Brick" and "Sue") have emerged as standouts and portray a comic reality not seen in sitcoms since the emergence of Bart Simpson and the Bundy kids 2 decades ago. Not the greatest comedy ever broadcast, but enjoyable and quirky.