7.7/101,006 votes#1 - Houseboat
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 11/11/2001
The family takes a vacation with the Kenarbans, sharing a houseboat. And while Steve's parents are caught in a fight, Reese and Steve socialize with some cheerleader from a nearby spirit camp, Malcolm is stuck with Hal fishing. At the military academy, Eric turns eighteen and leaves for Alaska, inspiring Francis to do something about his situation too.
Director: Todd Holland
Writer: Bob Stevens
7.9/10988 votes#2 - Emancipation
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 11/14/2001
Being fed up with military school, Francis gets himself legally emancipated so he can go north to Alaska with his friend Eric and become a logger. This does not sit well at all with the family.
Director: James Simons
Writer: Alan J. Higgins
7.6/10957 votes#3 - Book Club
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 11/18/2001
Lois, in an attempt to get a break from the family, joins a book club that turns out to be a night off for frustrated housewives, but it all goes a little bit haywire. Meanwhile Francis tries to get to Alaska, learning something important about himself and about truck drivers. Hal, who tries to keep the boys out of troubles for the evening, is caught in an inner conflict about how to treat them.
Director: Todd Holland
Writer: Alex Reid
7.5/10964 votes#4 - Malcolm's Girlfriend
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 11/28/2001
Francis has to stay a couple of days in a small county jail and enjoys it more then he expected. Malcolm finds himself with a girlfriend, which add to his usual social anxiety. Dewey makes friend with a new kid in the area, helping the kid's mother to compose Dewey's dream birthday party for his new friend.
Director: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Ian Busch
8.1/10959 votes#5 - Charity
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 12/2/2001
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
Writer: Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
7.9/10949 votes#6 - Health Scare
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 12/9/2001
When Hal's doctor discovers something suspicious during his routine check-up, Lois and Hal become frantic, nervous wrecks as they wait for the test results. As a result of her anticipation, Lois becomes even stricter with the boys, leaving them to misinterpret the new house rules. Meanwhile, in Alaska, Francis comes to blows with his boss.
Director: Todd Holland
Writer: Dan Kopelman
8.0/10953 votes#7 - Christmas
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 12/16/2001
When Malcolm and his brothers destroy their Christmas tree ornaments, Lois punishes them by canceling Christmas and moves all the presents into the garage. The only way she will reinstate the holiday is if the boys behave impeccably up to Christmas morning. Her plan works better than expected, and Lois is touched that her family responded so well to her challenge. Meanwhile, the boys decide that Lois could use this tactic for future holidays and retaliate by breaking into the garage and opening up all the presents. Elsewhere, Francis is forced to visit his Grandma Ida for Christmas.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Maggie Bandur, Pang-Ni Landrum
7.9/10957 votes#8 - Poker
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 1/6/2002
Poker showdowns with Abe give Hal a flush; dance lessons turn Lois awhirl; an Alaskan blizzard entraps and rattles Francis. (TV Guide)
Director: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Michael Borkow
7.6/10881 votes#9 - Reese's Job
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 1/20/2002
Trouble finds Reese at his new fast-food job; a new Krelboyne tutors Malcolm; Hal and Lois sabotage Dewey's plan to get a dog.
Director: Todd Holland
Writer: Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
7.7/10913 votes#10 - Lois's Makeover
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 1/27/2002
A negative job-performance review riles Lois; hoops play with the boys energizes Hal; a vermin infestation busies rat-killer Francis.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein
8.0/101,005 votes#11 - Company Picnic (1)
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 2/3/2002
Juicy guest casting and ingenious plotting enliven an hourlong episode that airs in the plum post-Super Bowl slot. One storyline unfolds at Hal's company picnic, where Lois clashes with a blabby wife and her beleaguered spouse; and Hal runs afoul of his new boss and the big cheese. In Alaska, Francis's scheme to win a bet involves rigging a hockey game that pits loggers vs. a fearsome women's squad led by a blowhard coach.
Director: Todd Holland
Writer: Alan J. Higgins
8.0/10948 votes#12 - Company Picnic (2)
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 2/3/2002
After Hal is mistaken by his new boss, as that guy's boss, Hal plays along. Malcolm is in a three-legged scavenger hunt with the girl he likes, but becomes upset after he confesses he likes her, and she says she likes another boy. Reese is also the the scavenger hunt, and at first doesn't like the big dumb bully he is with, but they grow to like each other when they bond over beating up the other contestants and stealing their items. Lois continues to balance keeping Dewey intact and dealing with the crazy woman, but now must talk to the husband as well. Francis continues to sabotage his own team, this time on the ice.
Director: Todd Holland
Writer: Alan J. Higgins
8.3/10978 votes#13 - Reese Drives
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 2/10/2002
Highway horror: Reese gets a learner's permit, which he promptly proceeds to abuse by commandeering a driving-school vehicle.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein
7.7/10927 votes#14 - Cynthia's Back
Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 2/17/2002
The return of the smart and sassy Cynthia rattles Malcolm, who's astonished by her physical maturation. And so is drooling Reese.
Director: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Maggie Bandur, Pang-Ni Landrum
7.7/10900 votes#15 - Hal's Birthday
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 3/3/2002
The arrival of Francis's new bride on Hal's birthday sparks a fray that drives the younger siblings out---and into a posh hotel.
Director: Levie Isaacks
Writer: Alex Reid
7.4/10865 votes#16 - Hal Coaches
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 3/10/2002
Clever Hal invigorates Dewey's soccer team; sly Reese blackmails a philandering neighbor; obsessed Malcolm battles a computer program.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Ian Busch
7.9/10906 votes#17 - Dewey's Dog
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 4/7/2002
Dewey rules, thanks to his new dog that intimidates Malcolm and Reese; Hal and Lois hit the town with big plans---and flu symptoms.
Director: Bob Stevens
Writer: Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein
7.7/10898 votes#18 - Poker 2
Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 4/21/2002
Girls in the house spell trouble for the boys, who are on their own while Dad's hosting a poker game that's more about one-upmanship than cards.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: N/A
6.2/10884 votes#19 - Clip Show
Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 4/28/2002
An embattled psychiatrist probes the boys' naughty behavior patterns in a session framed by flashbacks to past episodes.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Writer: Alex Reid, Michael Borkow
7.4/10869 votes#20 - Jury Duty
Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 5/1/2002
Lois gets jury duty and Hal tries to figure out what case she's working on. Meanwhile, Malcolm and Reese saw Stevie's mom naked and brag about it, they also take Dewey to the sewers and get lost.
Director: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Pang-Ni Landrum
7.7/10881 votes#21 - Cliques
Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 5/5/2002
Back in the general school population, the Krelboyne whiz kids wind up in cliques with jocks, skateboarders and brooding "Goths."
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Michael Borkow
8.0/10926 votes#22 - Monkey
Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 5/12/2002
New monkey business occupies Reese, now a self-appointed law enforcer; a capuchin monkey has it in for Lois's co-worker, Craig.
Director: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Dan Kopelman
The Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle Season 3
Every episode of Malcolm in the Middle Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle Season 3!
A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.
Genres:FamilyComedyDrama
Network:FOX
Season 3 Ratings Summary
"Houseboat" is the best rated episode of "Malcolm in the Middle" season 3. It scored 7.7/10 based on 1006 votes. Directed by Todd Holland and written by Bob Stevens, it aired on 11/11/2001. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Emancipation".