7.7/10332 votes#1 - The Drop Off
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2013
Frankie becomes emotional as the Hecks send Axl off to college, Sue waits for an important call from school, and Brick gets a new cell phone.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline
7.5/10325 votes#2 - Change in the Air
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2013
Mike tries to help after Frankie doesn't get a response to her texts to Axl, Sue gets an unexpected visit from Darrin, and Brick and his fellow classmates are afraid to use the school bathroom.
Director: Blake T. Evans
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
7.3/10309 votes#3 - The Potato
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2013
Axl is fed up with his college roommate, Sue gets a job so that she can get a car, and Frankie and Mike get bad news about Brick from his middle school principal.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.6/10323 votes#4 - The 100th
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/2013
During the Orson Centennial parade, Mike and Frankie volunteer to drive a float, Sue tries to make Darrin jealous, Axl tries to make some money, and Brick is upset over his town slogan not being chosen.
Director: Blake T. Evans
Writer: David S. Rosenthal
7.3/10309 votes#5 - Halloween IV: The Ghost Story
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/2013
Sue holds a seance with her friends, the football team stops Axl from attending the Halloween party in his room, and the family tries to give Brick advice about girls.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Roy Brown
7.5/10301 votes#6 - The Jump
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2013
Frankie rescues a lost dog and takes solace in the unconditional love she receives; Sue surprises her parents when she makes the volleyball team; Axl asks Brick for help with school.
Director: Elliot Hegarty
Writer: Robin Shorr
7.7/10321 votes#7 - Thanksgiving V
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/20/2013
Axl looks for the right time to share news about his college classes; Frankie's dad reveals a gambling loss; Sue hides a secret; Brick determines to have lime-green Jell-O salad on Thanksgiving.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: David S. Rosenthal
7.3/10328 votes#8 - The Kiss
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 12/4/2013
Mike and Frankie agree to house-sit for Frankie's sister in hope of having a romantic, kid-free weekend; Axl, Darrin and Sean go on a road trip.
Director: Elliot Hegarty
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
7.8/10335 votes#9 - The Christmas Tree
Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 12/11/2013
Axl wants to spend time with his friends when he comes home for Christmas. Sue's allergies threaten to ruin her holiday and Brick's lie is uncovered.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.4/10312 votes#10 - Sleepless in Orson
Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 1/8/2014
Frankie and Mike start to worry when Brick begins developing irrational fears. Sue is conflicted about Derrick Glossner's behavior. Axl and Sean shut down Darrin's attempt to start a Boss Co spinoff.
Director: Blake T. Evans
Writer: Roy Brown
7.6/10311 votes#11 - War of the Hecks
Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 1/15/2014
Sue makes a discovery that leads to an ultimate prank battle with Axl; Brick tries to read a recommended biography on Debbie Reynolds.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Robin Shorr
7.6/10327 votes#12 - The Carpool
Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 1/22/2014
Principal Barker (Rachel Dratch) asks the parents to form carpools while the bus drivers are on strike; Axl becomes an astronomy expert so he can tutor an attractive student; Mike receives two tickets to a basketball game.
Director: Julie Anne Robinson
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
7.4/10321 votes#13 - Hungry Games
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 2/5/2014
Reverend Deveaux interferes with the Hecks' plan to use their coupon for an all-you-can-eat buffet after church.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: David S. Rosenthal
7.4/10298 votes#14 - The Award
Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 2/26/2014
Frankie tries to persuade Mike to attend a dinner honoring his dedicated service at the quarry; Sue forms a plan to build connections between students; Axl hopes to track down a girl who left a message on his phone.
Director: Phil Traill
Writer: Katy Ballard
7.3/10298 votes#15 - Vacation Days
Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 3/5/2014
Brick makes it hard for Mike to relax during the vacation he was forced to take; Frankie is furious when she learns that Axl was in town without letting her know; Sue tries extra hard to please her customers after receiving a bad review.
Director: Phil Traill
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.3/10302 votes#16 - Stormy Moon
Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 3/12/2014
When Frankie is arrested over an unreturned library book, she thinks Brick is at fault; Cassidy and Axl are reunited during spring break.
Director: John Putch
Writer: Robin Shorr
8.1/10340 votes#17 - The Walk
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 3/26/2014
Frankie and Mike run into old acquaintances, Sue gets several dates to the prom, and Brick gets Axl's help for a book report.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: David S. Rosenthal
7.7/10311 votes#18 - The Smell
Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 4/2/2014
Bill backs out of coaching the girls soccer team, Frankie tries to teach Brick better hygiene, and Cassidy's painting confuses Axl.
Director: Phil Traill
Writer: Roy Brown
7.4/10307 votes#19 - The Wind Chimes
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 4/23/2014
Frankie begs Rita Glossner to take down her noisy wind chimes; Axl and Hutch try to figure out a way to retrieve a couch they found on the side of the road; Brick tries to come up with a new pretzel snack idea; Sue announces she is back with Darrin.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
7.3/10287 votes#20 - The Optimist
Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 4/30/2014
Sue frantically tries to earn a college scholarship for when she graduates high school in two years; Frankie hopes to correct a mistake at work without her boss finding out; Brick demands a formal apology from Mike after a misunderstanding.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.4/10286 votes#21 - Office Hours
Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 5/7/2014
Frankie limits the hours during which the kids can voice their needs; Mike watches to make sure Darrin doesn't take advantage of Sue; Brick invites new friends over.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Ben Adams
7.7/10302 votes#22 - Heck on a Hard Body
Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/14/2014
Sue enters a contest to win a car; Mike and his brother bond on a road trip to Chicago for Brick's spelling bee; Frankie goes to Axl's dorm to help him find a missing desk.
Director: Blake T. Evans
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
8.0/10330 votes#23 - Orlando
Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 5/21/2014
Sue looks forward to the trip to Walt Disney World; Brick begs his parents to take him to meet his online girlfriend; Axl waits to learn his final grades.
Director: Eileen Heisler
Writer: David S. Rosenthal
8.3/10385 votes#24 - The Wonderful World of Hecks
Season 5 Episode 24 - Aired 5/21/2014
A series of unfortunate events threaten to spoil the trip to Walt Disney World.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
The Best Episodes of The Middle Season 5
Every episode of The Middle Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Middle Season 5!
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 5 Ratings Summary
"The Drop Off" is the best rated episode of "The Middle" season 5. It scored 7.7/10 based on 332 votes. Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel and written by Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline, it aired on 9/25/2013. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Change in the Air".