7.6/10381 votes#1 - Back to School
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2010
Frankie comes up with a plan to stay on top of her kids' schedules; Brick's new teacher (Doris Roberts) accuses Frankie of being overprotective.
Director: Wendey Stanzler
Writer: Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline
7.6/10375 votes#2 - Homecoming
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2010
Mike and Frankie must decide whether to attend Axl's football game or Sue's first cross-country meet; after raking the yard, Brick wants to set the leaves free in the forest.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
7.6/10364 votes#3 - The Diaper Incident
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2010
While shopping for baby diapers for Sue, who has run out of them on a baby-sitting job, Frankie is completely humiliated when a clerk assumes she's shopping for adult diapers. Meanwhile, after getting on Mike's case to get a physical exam because she thinks men tend to fall apart faster than women as they age, Frankie proceeds to throw out her back and hides it from Mike, who tells her he received a clean bill of health from the doctor; a clueless Sue falls for Axl's friend, Sean, who barely notices her existence; and Brick begins to test all of the age-old urban legends parents tell their kids - such as not to swallow a watermelon seed for fear one will grow in their belly - after discovering Frankie has used these white lies on him in the past.
Director: Wendey Stanzler
Writer: N/A
7.5/10355 votes#4 - The Quarry
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2010
When Axl is suspended for skipping school, Mike decides it's time to teach his son a lesson about life and makes him go to work with him at the quarry. But Mike's master plan backfires when Axl likes the job so much that he wants to quit school and lead the life of a quarryman. Meanwhile, Frankie is devastated when she fears that she accidentally prayed away Sue's cross-country team after it's cut by the school; and while practicing a magic trick, Brick makes the main TV remote disappear - and can't figure out how to make it reappear.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.3/10407 votes#5 - Foreign Exchange
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/2010
Against the family's wishes, Frankie invites a Japanese foreign exchange student to live with them, in the hopes of exposing him to American life; however, the Hecks get frustrated when he shows no interest in them or America.
Director: Paul Lazarus
Writer: N/A
7.5/10379 votes#6 - Halloween
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/2010
Frankie is excited over being invited to an adult neighborhood Halloween party. But will she be able to get Mike to dress up in a costume, or will he have his own idea of fun? Meanwhile, a melancholy Sue's spirits are lifted when she discovers that Reverend TimTom is back in town and hosting a Halloween church event; things don't go quite as planned for Axl, his friends or their dates as they head out to an exclusive haunted house party; and Brick chooses a unique Halloween costume that is not easily defined.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Writer: N/A
7.8/10386 votes#7 - A Birthday Story
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/2010
Frankie and Mike are speechless when, on his ninth birthday, Brick demands to hear the true story about the day he was born, which has remained a mysterious Heck family secret. Meanwhile, Axl's new manager at the movie theater turns out to be a conundrum - hot and dumb - which leaves a confused Axl wondering if her hotness trumps her incompetence.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
7.3/10360 votes#8 - Errand Boy
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/2010
Brick pleads with Frankie to leave him home alone when she runs errands.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.6/10365 votes#9 - Thanksgiving II
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/2010
Mike begrudgingly invites his brother, Rusty, who is temporarily living in a tent, and his father, Big Mike, who has recently broken his hip, to join him for the annual Heck family Thanksgiving. But when Frankie observes the macho Heck men's non-communicative nature, she encourages a not-so-receptive Mike to engage them in a real conversation and express their feelings. Meanwhile, Brick is ecstatic when he discovers that Bob is bringing his girlfriend, Linda - the local librarian who loves books as much as Brick does - to Thanksgiving; and Sue wants to start a mother-daughter tradition of baking a pie for the holiday, but ends up getting more sliced up than the crust.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
7.6/10365 votes#10 - A Simple Christmas
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/2010
While Frankie's parents Tag and Pat visit for Christmas, Mike is less than thrilled. To make matters worse, the Hecks have a disagreement with them over Frankie's idea on how to celebrate the holiday without exchanging presents
Director: Elliot Hegarty
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
8.0/10376 votes#11 - Taking Back the House
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 1/5/2011
After years of being at their kids' beck-and-call and never having time for themselves, Frankie and Mike decide to take charge of their lives and regain control over the Heck household. But Axl, Sue and Brick don't plan on going down without a fight.
Director: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline
7.7/10354 votes#12 - The Big Chill
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 1/12/2011
Mike freezes Frankie out because he can't fathom how she inadvertently paid $200 for a small bottle of eye cream that she thought was priced at $20. Meanwhile, Axl's fathering techniques are put to the test when he has to take care of a mechanical infant doll for health class, and Sue and Brick desperately search for a way to fix a hole that they caused in Sue's bedroom wall.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.2/10340 votes#13 - Super Sunday
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/19/2011
As the Super Bowl approaches, Mike is thrilled when Brick takes his advice and studies up on football in order to understand and talk the sport. But Axl thinks his little brother is taking over his turf by being Mike's football buddy - a position Axl used to cherish. Meanwhile, Frankie thinks her professional career is looking up when Mr. Ehlert chooses her to accompany him to a managerial seminar, and ex-boyfriend Brad asks Sue to be his dance partner for the school's annual Square Dancing with the Stars.
Director: Paul Lazarus
Writer: N/A
7.3/10364 votes#14 - Valentine's Day II
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 7/1/2011
Axl has a new girlfriend he wants to impress on Valentine's Day, while Brick has a crush on a fellow student and Mike accidentally lets the news slip out, humiliating his shy son. Elsewhere, Sue searches for a boy she kissed on a Halloween hayride.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.4/10343 votes#15 - Friends, Lies And Videotape
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 7/8/2011
Frankie looks for a friend for Brick; Sue sneaks into an R-rated movie against Mike's wishes; and Axl and his band need a hot female for their music video and try to get stealth footage of their sexy biology teacher.
Director: Alex Reid
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.3/10380 votes#16 - Hecks On A Plane
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 7/8/2011
Sue wins a family trip to New York, and the flight turns into a comedy of errors.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10348 votes#17 - The Math Class
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 7/15/2011
Frankie once again goes head to head with Brick's third grade teacher, Ms. Rinsky, when Brick gets a D on his math test and Frankie thinks poor teaching skills are to blame. But Frankie wonders whether or not she can make the grade when Ms. Rinsky requires that she and Mike attend a class to test their own math skills. Meanwhile, while begrudgingly watching over their crusty, old aunts, Axl and Sue mull over a plan to accompany Aunt Edie on a search for a time capsule she buried when she was young.
Director: Alex Reid
Writer: Mitch Hunter
7.6/10346 votes#18 - Spring Cleaning
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 7/15/2011
While the Hecks spend spring break trying to clean their house, Brick opens a stand where he shares his advice for commission.
Director: Barnet Kellman
Writer: N/A
7.5/10343 votes#19 - The Legacy
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 7/22/2011
Max punishes Axl by forbidding him from playing in the last basketball game of the season. Meanwhile, Brick begins wearing his cousins hand-me-downs, and Sue wins a trophy.
Director: Adam Davidson
Writer: N/A
7.3/10355 votes#20 - Royal Wedding
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 7/22/2011
Frankie gets swept up in the excitement of the upcoming royal wedding. Meanwhile, Mike has to make a few layoffs at the quarry, and Brick helps Sue with her audition for the school news team.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
7.4/10380 votes#21 - Mother's Day II
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 7/29/2011
Things don't go as planned when Mike and the kids give Frankie a day without the family as a Mother's Day gift.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.4/10339 votes#22 - The Prom
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 7/29/2011
After learning that Axl text-invited the wrong girl to prom and plans to solve the situation by standing her up, Frankie and Mike demand that he meet the girl face-to-face in a timely manner to gently break off the date - or face the music and take her to the big event. Meanwhile, Sue and her friend, Carly, try in earnest to fit in with the school's "B" crowd during lunch, and after a successful first show, Brick begins to bore Frankie and Mike with his impromptu one-man plays.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
7.3/10344 votes#23 - The Bridge
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 8/5/2011
Frankie and Mike attempt to cure Brick of his irrational fear of crossing over bridges. Meanwhile, Axl is pitted against nemesis Sean Donahue when a lifeguard position opens up at the local public pool, and Frankie is ready to pull her hair out when she tries to help an indecisive and emotional Sue pick out a two-piece bathing suit to wear on the pool's opening day.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.6/10329 votes#24 - Back To Summer
Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 8/5/2011
With only three days left until summer vacation, Frankie is ecstatic that she's made it through another school year with the family. But her happiness turns to panic when she and Mike learn that Brick needs to write a daily journal and turn it in to Ms. Rinsky or risk not moving up to the fourth grade; that Axl hasn't fulfilled his required 30 days of community service; and that, because of an error, Sue must prove that she never took a sick day from school in order to receive a perfect attendance award at her middle school graduation ceremony.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of The Middle Season 2
Every episode of The Middle Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Middle Season 2!
The daily mishaps of a married woman and her semi-dysfunctional family and their attempts to survive life in general in the city of Orson, Indiana.
Genre:Comedy
Network:ABC
Season 2 Ratings Summary
"Back to School" is the best rated episode of "The Middle" season 2. It scored 7.6/10 based on 381 votes. Directed by Wendey Stanzler and written by Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline, it aired on 9/22/2010. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Homecoming".