The Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle

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9.3/10(3004 votes)
#1 - Bowling
S2:E204/1/2001
Malcolm and Reese go to a bowling party where they vie for the attention of a cute girl.
Director:Todd Holland
Writer:Alex Reid
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Director:Todd Holland
Writer:Alex Reid
9.0/10(1988 votes)
#2 - Graduation
S7:E225/14/2006
Malcolm struggles with his speech when he's elected valedictorian of his graduating class at school. However, Lois refuses to listen to any of his complaints and reveals that she wants him to become President of the United States. Meanwhile, Reese does everything he can to get a permanent job as a high school janitor, which includes creating the most disgusting mess ever. In the meantime, Hal has problems with Malcolm's Harvard tuition, while Francis finally gets a real 9-5 job that he actually enjoys. Also returning for the family celebrations is Grandma Ida, as they all say goodbye to Malcolm when he leaves for college.
Director:Linwood Boomer
Writer:Michael Glouberman
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Director:Linwood Boomer
Writer:Michael Glouberman
8.8/10(1851 votes)
#3 - Family Reunion
S4:E311/17/2002
Christopher Lloyd adds to his gallery of eccentric characters, playing Hal's quirky, cranky and very wealthy father, Walter, in this rollicking episode. The occasion is a birthday celebration for the old man, but the snooty female in-laws seem more interested in offending Lois. Their shabby behavior initially goes unnoticed by Hal, who's desperately trying to bond with his self-centered dad; and by Dewey and Reese, who seek some of Grampa's dough by currying favor with him. But when Lois is reduced to tears after being excluded from a group photo, the family rallies to her side with an all-out counterattack that turns the party into pandemonium.
Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Alex Reid
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Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Alex Reid
8.7/10(2400 votes)
#4 - Rollerskates
S1:E134/30/2000
Roller-skating lessons from Hal bug Malcolm, who rebels against dad's discipline while mom agonizes in bed from a backache she blames on Reese. Francis avoids his squad's survival weekend.
Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Alan J. Higgins
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Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Alan J. Higgins
8.7/10(2229 votes)
#5 - Water Park (1)
S1:E165/21/2000
When the family goes to a water park for a day, Dewey is left home with an elderly, stern babysitter. Francis is hustled at pocket billiards by his military-school commandant.
Director:Ken Kwapis
Writers:Pang-Ni Landrum, Maggie Bandur
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Director:Ken Kwapis
Writers:Pang-Ni Landrum, Maggie Bandur
8.7/10(1707 votes)
#6 - If Boys Were Girls
S4:E102/9/2003
After being rattled by a battle among the boys, a pregnant Lois ponders the consequences of raising another brawling kid. So she fantasizes that her unruly sons have morphed into well-behaved young daughters. Malcolm becomes Mallory, Reese is transformed into Renee and Dewey turns into Daisy.
Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Unknown

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8.7/10(1391 votes)
#7 - Lois Strikes Back
S7:E163/19/2006
When four popular high school girls play an evil prank on Reese by pretending he has a secret admirer and then dropping a pig off at his front door, Lois comes to his rescue. She plots her revenge on the four unsuspecting girls and wreaks havoc on their adolescent lives. Meanwhile, Hal realizes Lois is at a dangerous emotional place so he decides to get some distance and stumbles upon the idea for making his own pitching machine out of stuff in the garage.
Director:Alex Reid
Writer:Gary Murphy
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Director:Alex Reid
Writer:Gary Murphy
8.6/10(2103 votes)
#8 - Traffic Jam (2)
S2:E111/5/2000
Hal, Lois, Malcolm, and Reese are trapped in a horrendous traffic jam. Francis enters himself in a bet that recalls the egg-eating wager in "Cool Hand Luke." Malcolm becomes smitten over a girl he meets. Dewey has his own little adventure--all over the world--before his family returns home.
Director:Todd Holland
Writer:Dan Kopelman
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Director:Todd Holland
Writer:Dan Kopelman
8.5/10(1679 votes)
#9 - Flashback
S2:E255/20/2001
Lois is two weeks late with her period, causing her and Hal to panic and start a big fight, while trying to keep it from the boys. And while Dewey is scared that his parents may split up, Hal and Lois remember the troubles of getting their previous four sons.
Director:Jeff Melman
Writer:Ian Busch
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Director:Jeff Melman
Writer:Ian Busch
8.4/10(2753 votes)
#10 - Red Dress
S1:E21/16/2000
Lois must take drastic steps to discover which of her sons ruined the special dress she bought for an anniversary dinner with Hal.
Director:Arlene Sanford
Writer:Alan J. Higgins
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Director:Arlene Sanford
Writer:Alan J. Higgins
8.4/10(1980 votes)
#11 - Lois's Birthday
S2:E311/12/2000
Crummy gifts rile birthday gal Lois, who suddenly splits from home, leaving confusion, anxiety and desperation in her wake.
Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Alex Reid
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Director:Ken Kwapis
Writer:Alex Reid
8.4/10(1604 votes)
#12 - Evacuation
S2:E245/13/2001
Hal is inadvertently responsible for a toxic chemical spill that forces a neighborhood evacuation; Malcolm deals with being grounded even in the emergency shelter; Francis suffers through a date with a geeky 12-year-old.
Director:Todd Holland
Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
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Director:Todd Holland
Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
8.4/10(1483 votes)
#13 - Reese Drives
S3:E132/10/2002
Highway horror: Reese gets a learner's permit, which he promptly proceeds to abuse by commandeering a driving-school vehicle.
Director:Jeff Melman
Writers:Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein
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Director:Jeff Melman
Writers:Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein
8.4/10(1192 votes)
#14 - Reese Joins the Army (2)
S5:E225/23/2004
Reese continues to be a great soldier in the Army until he finds himself in a situation where his Sergeant cannot help. But after comparing being captured to being grounded, he takes action and leads his team to victory. But being such a successful soldier has it's bad parts as well, as Reese prepares to jump from the plane - right into Afghanistan. Malcolm has his hands full as well as he attempts to prove Hal innocent. But being good with numbers helps as Malcolm notices all of the prosecutions given dates are on Fridays - which Hal hasn't worked on in over 15 years. And with Reese missing and Hal's case, Lois falls deeper and deeper into insanity.
Director:Peter Lauer
Writer:Andrew Orenstein
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Director:Peter Lauer
Writer:Andrew Orenstein
8.3/10(2170 votes)
#15 - Krelboyne Picnic
S1:E83/12/2000
The whole family attends a Krelboyne family picnic, and Malcolm dreads his performance in the event's Academic Circus will make him look like a freak. Disasters abound as stage acts bomb, families feud, and Malcolm's dad serves meat to vegetarians.
Director:Todd Holland
Writers:Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein
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Director:Todd Holland
Writers:Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein
8.3/10(1730 votes)
#16 - New Neighbors
S2:E131/21/2001
New neighbors, who turn out to be even more awful than Malcolm's family, move in next door; the Marlin Academy cadets prepare for a visit from Oliver North.
Director:Ken Kwapis
Writers:Pang-Ni Landrum, Maggie Bandur
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Director:Ken Kwapis
Writers:Pang-Ni Landrum, Maggie Bandur
8.3/10(1611 votes)
#17 - Traffic Ticket
S2:E162/18/2001
Lois gets a traffic ticket and immediately blames Francis and makes him get the money to her. To do this, Francis stages a stunt for the other cadets' amusement. Malcolm finds evidence that Lois was wrong about the traffic ticket.
Director:Jeff Melman
Writer:Larry Strawther
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Director:Jeff Melman
Writer:Larry Strawther
8.3/10(1394 votes)
#18 - Boys at Ranch
S4:E81/12/2003
On a visit to Francis' dude ranch Hal can't help being disappointed in Francis' success, Reese and Malcolm fear Francis has turned into an overly responsible grownup, and Gretchen punishes Dewey for breaking a valuable doll.
Director:David D'Ovidio
Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
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Director:David D'Ovidio
Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
8.3/10(1366 votes)
#19 - Burning Man
S7:E19/30/2005
The family attends the counterculture Burning Man festival in the desert.
Director:Peter Lauer
Writer:Michael Glouberman
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Director:Peter Lauer
Writer:Michael Glouberman
8.3/10(1263 votes)
#20 - Dewey's Opera
S6:E112/20/2005
When Lois buys a brand-new king-sized bed, Hal thinks that her motive is to put more distance between them and refuses to sleep in it. Moved to tears by an opera he sees on television, Dewey is inspired to write his own operatic masterpiece, "The Marriage Bed," which is based on his parents' fight and turned into a school production. Meanwhile, Malcolm and Reese build their own street luge board; and Jamie falls head over heels for the baby girl across the street.
Director:Linwood Boomer
Writer:Eric Kaplan
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Director:Linwood Boomer
Writer:Eric Kaplan
8.3/10(1247 votes)
#21 - Billboard
S6:E102/13/2005
When Lois catches the boys vandalizing a trashy billboard for a strip club, Malcolm alters the vandalism into a women's rights protest, which sparks a colossal media circus. In no time, feminists, conservative religious groups and national new reporters descend on the scene. After Hal grants a TV interview, a woman from his past turns up at the faux protest; and Reese, inspired by the giant billboard stripper who comes to life in his dreams, gives an impassioned speech about the objectification of women.
Director:Bryan Cranston
Writer:Rob Ulin
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Director:Bryan Cranston
Writer:Rob Ulin
8.3/10(1171 votes)
#22 - Reese Joins the Army (1)
S5:E215/16/2004
Reese's new girlfriend Beth is about as dumb as he is. Malcolm initially dislikes her but they soon get to like each other too much and Beth breaks up with Reese. Devastated, Reese runs away and joins the army under the false surname.
Director:Steve Love
Writer:Andy Bobrow
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Director:Steve Love
Writer:Andy Bobrow
8.2/10(3131 votes)
#23 - Pilot
S1:E11/9/2000
Malcolm finds his life as the middle brother in an eccentric family made even more difficult by his being placed in a class for gifted students at school where he reluctantly befriends another boy with a high IQ and stands up to a bully.
Director:Todd Holland
Writer:Linwood Boomer
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Director:Todd Holland
Writer:Linwood Boomer
8.2/10(1677 votes)
#24 - Krelboyne Girl
S2:E121/14/2001
Lois and Hal try to end Dewey's dependence on his stuffed animal Domingo by convincing him that it is too dirty. Strangely attracted, Malcolm finds himself in emotional confusion about the new weird Krelboyne girl Cynthia. At the academy Commandant Spangler re-institutes old Hickory into the school's disciplinary system and Francis tries to convince his father Hal to lie for him to avoid punishment.
Director:Arlene Sanford
Writer:Bob Stevens
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Director:Arlene Sanford
Writer:Bob Stevens
8.2/10(1438 votes)
#25 - Charity
S3:E512/2/2001
In an effort to contribute to society and to make her boys useful at the same time, Lois "volunteers" Malcolm, Reese and Dewey for charity work at a local church. The boys are assigned to sort giant piles of donated clothing, game, appliances etc. Initially irritated at their new task, they realize the donated stuff is a lot nicer than their own possessions, and they begin swapping out their old stuff with the second-hand items. The boys soon make a enterprise out of their charity assistance, going as far as to sell things to the neighborhood kids - that is until Hal finds out. Meanwhile, Francis must come to grips with the fact his fabulous job in Alaska is not quite what he expected.
Director:Jeff Melman
Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
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Director:Jeff Melman
Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy