We very rarely see the whole family together, it is only twice we see the family together in this episode. Once when Reese is having a wresting match and also when the family is having dinner.
Hal and Lois both treat the boys differently, Lois makes the boys feel good about them self and Hal is very down to earth with them because he wants to be a kid again, but Hal and Lois defiantly care about what Malcolm, Reese, Dewey and Francis do with their lives.
Malcolm in the Middle starts off with a one minute introduction, this shows a mini movie of the boys. In this particular episode, we see Malcolm and Reese popping bubble wrap, a couple of seconds later we see Dewey walking in the room and asking “What ya doin?” Malcolm and Reese look at each other with an evil look, then the next thing you know they have Dewey wrapped up in the bubble wrap on a catapult standing there waiting to see what their going to do to him. Malcolm and Reese jump onto the other side of the catapult and Dewey goes flying over the fence. Malcolm then comes out the drama and says “I wish they could stay little forever.”
After that has finished it goes onto a title sequence which has been put together with lots of different home videos and photographs of the boys, also cartoons or wresting clips done by the boys or just on normal television.
The music while this is going on, is very loud rock music with the words ‘You’re not the boss of me now’ and ‘Life is unfair’ repeating it self. Just before the title sequence finishes you see Malcolm with his hands over his face and you can see that he is stuck in the middle and he gets blamed for everything because he is the middle person in his family, this is where they get the title of the television show from.
The camera/editing work is extremely good in Malcolm in the Middle as they use lots of different camera shots for the show, such as when Reese gets beaten up by a girl in his wresting match. The camera makes the girl look really huge and strong and makes Reese look like a small mouse, it does this by using ‘up shots.’
Also, another camera shot is a down shot, you can see this when Malcolm gets beaten up because he can be too sarcastic with his friends and sometimes his family.
When scenes change the camera uses a technique which swashes around and looks really good as not many other television shows show this.
The music in Malcolm in the Middle is all mostly loud, rhythmic rock music, when dramatic scenes are taking place, for example when Malcolm gets beaten up, when Reese gets beaten up and also when Reese becomes the school bully again. Additionally, the music acts as a counterpoint to what you see on the screen.
Interestingly, Malcolm is not always very popular amongst his friends, although they are all seen as ‘Geeks.’ He is seen as a ‘Boff’ a gifted teenager and some of his ideas are treated with contempt.
On these occasions Malcolm faces the audience or comes out of the drama to make his point. This unusual technique is very powerful because he is building up a relationship with the viewers and they are sympathising with him, also no other drama does this technique so it makes it even more affective. He comes across as a likeable character, which has a good sense of humour, with great self-knowledge.
At school, Reese is the big bully until he fails to beat up a girl in a wresting match. His whole personality changes completely by being nice to everyone even Dewey! Dewey gets very shocked by this and starts screaming. Reese also starts visiting people in hospital for Christmas. So, now there is no school bully and everyone starts to bully each other. After a while of everyone getting beaten up Malcolm talks to Reese to become the school bully again. Reese isn’t too sure and doesn’t realise they all like him being the school bully. He comes back and sorts everyone out, only then do we see a teacher pull Reese away from everyone to stop what he is doing.
All the time this goes on it is set in the playground with no teacher until Reese comes back to be the bully and there very few girls. Malcolm in the Middle was not set in the classrooms as people would find the show seem as being boring, only a few episodes are shown in the classrooms, but it is not for the whole episode. It has been known that about 90% of the time in schools is spent in the classroom, and 10% socialising with our friends.
Most people can relate to the relationship Malcolm has with his brothers. Reese who can be really mean but at home acts nice so he doesn’t get in trouble with his parents. Dewey is the smallest and youngest so Reese and Malcolm love messing around with him you can see them messing around with him at the beginning with the one minute introduction, however after all the fighting and screaming at each other has finished, they all stick up for each other at school.
American and British audiences say that “It is the best pre-washed family comedy in years!” Fox network also said “This is Fox Networks strongest family sitcom to date.”
One critic said “Malcolm in the Middle not only uses a strong family, who, despite their problems, support each other, but also that the family strongly represents family life as recognised by its audiences.”
In conclusion, I feel that Malcolm in the Middle appeals to a range of ages and it celebrates family life as well as humorous situations. It is a real shame that now, after six series it has to end. I can definitely relate to this programme and everything that goes on in it.
I’m sure everyone will remember Malcolm in the Middle. Hopefully Sky, Fox Networks and any other channels that show the television show will show repeats so everyone knows about Malcolm in the Middle.