This show is by far one of the best shows on television. In my opinion it is the best, however I'll let you decide for yourself how much you like it. I liked all of the episodes on these 3 DVDs (Some more than others, but overall they were all good). I instantly fell in love with this show, because it's one of the only shows ever that resembles real life. Istead of you sitting at home wishing your family were like the sitcom families on TV, when you watch this show you say somthing more along the lines of "Oh my family's just like that."

The acting in this show is great. All of the characters are really unique and show how people can be different. Take the character Reese for example: A bully who enjoys cooking, us there any other show on television with a charater like that. Then look at other shows where characters are exactly the same. For instance: The "8 Simple Rules" family and the family in "The War at Home" are exactly the same except Keri Henesy is a boy in "War @ Home." This show took a lot of actors who weren't well known in 2000 (Frankie Muniz was kind of well known then, but not as much as he is today) and made them into stars, and with made a T.V. show that won 5 emmys, won a peabody award, and is going into its 7th season!

I sure hope that after reading this you buy the DVD set too, or at least watch the show on TV. the Premiere is @ 8:30E/7:30C on Friday Sept. 23. Repeats are on Mon-Fri @ 6:30PM E/5:30PM C or at 12:30 AM (half hour after midnight)E/11:30 PM C.

P.S. people writing bad reviews for the show/ making fun of the actors:

You might look like you know what your talking about if you spell Frankie Muniz's name correctly.

Note the way I spelled it: It's Muniz not Munitz

and I bet Frankie MUNIZ gets an oscar long before you do

On top of that how can you justify the statement that the charaters look like geeks?

Or: They're as boring as dry meatloaf?

Where is the evidence behind any of those statements?

I have always been a fan of the show, but I missed the first season . Recently I bought this set, and season one has got to be one of the funniest seasons of this show. This show is so good because it relates to real life. Brothers fighting, parents yelling, and other real life adventures. This show deals with issues other shows refuse to touvh on, and I think that is an amazing reason to watch this show. It makes fun of all types of real things. Like missbehaving kids, money problems, stupid siblings, untrusting bosses, nerds and bullies, and the hell that some people call school.

This season includes:

Season 1

1.Pilot: Malcolm finds out he is smart, and is moved to the nerd class

2.Red Dress: Lois's big night is ruined when he beautiful red dress is found burned and noone will confess to doing it

3.Home Alone 4: Francis watches his brother, and all hell breaks lose

4.Shame: Malcolm beat up a seven year old

5.Malcolm Babysits: Malcolm babysits for another family, and tries to live his life there, because he thinks its better thathis house.

6.Sleepover: Stevie has his first sleepover and Malcolm gives him a night on the town.

7.Francis Escapes: Francis leaves boarding school, to meet up with his "Girlfriend"

8.Krelboyne Picnic: Everything goes wrong at their annual Krelbornye picnic

9.Lois vs. Evil: Lois gets fired after Dewy steals.

10.Stock Car Races: Hal lets the kids skip school and go to the race track with him

11.Funeral: The family plans to go to a family funeral, but nobody wants to go.

12.Cheerleader: Reese likes a cheerleader and doesnt know how to "woo" her, so he becomes a cheerleader

13.Rollerskates: Malcolm asks his dad for roller skating lessons, but Hal goes to far

14.The Bots and the Bees: Malcolm and friends build a killer robot while Lois is away, and Hal falls apart without her

15.Smunday: Lois is sick, and thinks that Monday is actually Sunday so the kids go along with it.

16.Water Park (1): The family visits a water park and everything goes wrong.

I first caught this show in it's final season...in late night reruns. And, goodness gracious, I was floored by the quality and consistency of the show. So, when these DVDs went on sale, I had to have them. And...I was speechless. Absolutely fabulous. Easily one of the greatest comedies of all time, and on the short list of best family shows of any kind.

Particularly fantastic was the episode "Smunday." They easily blew through 3 or 4 plot twists, and at the climax of the episode I was literally gasping from horror, laughter and shock. Hilarious! Also, the sight gags on this show are funny, slightly exaggeratedly (hence the humor) and always with a touch of tenderness that highlights why family relationships are complex and unique and beautiful, even when their shameless and dysfunctional. I think the episode "Malcolm Babysits" highlights this nicely, when Malcolm in babysitting for the "ideal" family, while his family is their own neighborhood's live Jerry Springer show, while camping in a trailer while their house is getting fumigated. Sure, we know the moral is that there is no place like home, but the lesson isn't forced and is very entertaining. Far from didactic, you barely notice between the humor. And the young cast together are astonishingly good actors. Muniz, in particular, handles his duplicitous "real-life" versus talking to the camera with a fluidity that I think most adults wouldn't be able to sell.

The extras are very enlightening as well with the voice-over commentary (although Frankie Muñiz in real life is a long-winded gasbag). I also thought the Spanish dubbing (which I happen to speak) was well done also.

I could go on and on. It was worth every cent I spent on it. I just ache for the other seasons.

Other reviews have done a great job describing it, so here's another perspective on now good Malcolm in the Middle is:

We use Malcolm as a treat for guests. Because the episodes are less than half an hour, we're not locking them into a long commitment. Not to worry - after watching the pilot episode, they always beg for more. Even though as hosts we've seen Malcolm repeatedly - and usually I'm not much for repeat viewing - we still laugh like crazy, sharing our guests' delight. Only one couple was not amused, and we weren't surprised. (Thank God they're only once a year!)

Occasionally we watch the current episodes. I'm reluctant, because I hate to see the kids grow up. I know it's inevitable, but leaving that wonderful "first season" is kind of like leaving your own childhood - at the time you're glad you've finally grown up, but before long you're longing to return. Anyway, with that sentimental caveat, I just wanted to say, that the quality of the series has been maintained - it's still hilarious!

So I predict, that Malcolm in the Middle will take it's place, along with the Honeymooners and Andy Griffith and Mary Tyler Moore, in the pantheon of all-time television comedy classics. Yes, Folks, it's that good. And though the quality has indeed held up, this first season may be the best.

Malcolm in the Middle is one of the best and funniest sitcoms ever on TV. I only want to add my voice to that of others who wonder why the dvd of the complete seasons of this series is still not yet available in the U.S. Regions 2 and 4 have been available for years. Malcolm may still be in syndication in the U.S., but that's no reason to hold the complete series hostage for those who would like to have the whole shebang on dvd. It never ceases to amaze me that so often, for whatever reasons, release of some TV series are held up. These kinds of delays only frustrate us buyers and further, it hurts sales because, by the time a series IS released, no one cares anymore! This fiasco happened with The Wonder Years and the Happy Days series (why have only six seasons been released so far?). I don't understand it, but I sure hope more of the really decent TV series would get out on dvd more expeditiously and Malcolm in the Middle is one of them.

I just started watching Malcolm in the Middle during the 2005 season, and I wasn't even sure if I'd like it. It was one of those "nothing else is on and I've never seen this." I was very pleased I gave it a chance! This is one of the funniest family sitcoms on TV now. Some may not like to admit it, but this show does portray a family close to the 'norm'. I think that makes it even better!

This show centers around a middle-class 'All-American' family who has their share of dysfunctional moments. Both parents work to support their family of four boys. The oldest is sent to military school early in the first season, but he remains very much a part of each episode's plot. The other three boys are a handful to say the least. I guess this is just one of those shows that reminds you of so many people you know, and that adds to the humor!

Naturally, after watching from the 2005 season I wondered what started the craze, so I had to buy the Season 1 DVD set. If you're a fan of these TV seasons on DVD like I am, then this is for you! Even if you haven't seen the show on TV yet, this would be a great way to get into it!

The first season for Malcolm in the Middle was decidedly the best--when the boys where young enough so that the things they did were cute rather than delinquency, and when there were interesting concepts to explore.
And explore them they did. The expanded "Pilot" is classic comedy TV. (though it is a pity they don't give us the pilot as aired, for comparison) "Red Dress" shows us that Lois is capable of being played as being more than a harridan. And "Krelboyne Picnic", one of the few episodes beyond the pilot to really use Malcolm's genius for plot purposes, is hysterical while defying political correctness at every turn.
Of the added features, the director's commentary is the most useful. It isn't always just the director, the actors are given their shot at talking to us, as well. It is at least amusing, and often instructive, to listen. For example, the thick body hair on Brian Cranston in the pilot was yak hair, and he met the boys while wearing only a sock (er, in a strategic position, not on the foot).
These DVDs are further evidence that TV show producers are seeing DVDs as the means by which their works are going down to posterity, and they are giving us their best.

I was in the US for a home leave visit. I had to have surgery and was forced to stay for six weeks in my daughters home. I started watching Malcolm in the Middle on UPN 50 in Detroit, Michgan. I enjoyed it so much I had to have it, so I came back to Thailand and purchase the first series. It is such a funny story of a dysfunctional family, of which I think most of the World is. Malcolm and his brother's have me laughing all the time. Their parents are as hilarious as their children. I loved the the anniversary show. When Lois finds her red dress burned and forgets it's her annivesary and begins a rigid punishment for the boys. While Hal is at the resturant having to many drinks. The show is now being shown in Thailand on the Series Channel and I try not to miss it.

Our world is so messed up right now it is refreshing to watch t.v. and take my mind off of the madness and smile and laugh. Thank you Hal, Lois, Malcom and the rest of the family.