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The Best Episodes of The Middle Season 9

Every episode of The Middle Season 9 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Middle Season 9!

Binge this in 8h 48m•Peaking at 9.4/10

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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Middle Season 9 Episode 1 - Vive La Hecks
    7.8/10(422 votes)

    #1 - Vive La Hecks

    S9:E1

    Axl returns home from his summer trip to Europe, sporting a man-bun and embracing a new, chill European outlook on life. Mike just wants him to clean up and look for a job, but Frankie thinks Axl will do this on his own and asks Mike to give him a little breathing room. Meanwhile, because Sue worked the entire summer at Spudsy’s and missed out on having any fun, she decides to cram in a whole summer of fun in two days before going back to college; Brick makes the decision to break up with Cindy because he doesn’t want to be tied down in a relationship when he’s about to embark on the revelry of his “big sophomore year”; and Frankie desperately tries to come up with an item for a time capsule that’s being buried under the Orson cow that will make the town remember the Hecks when it’s opened in 100 years.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Tim Hobert

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  2. The Middle Season 9 Episode 2 - Please Don’t Feed the Hecks
    7.8/10(381 votes)

    #2 - Please Don’t Feed the Hecks

    S9:E2

    After Frankie gives neighbor Nancy Donahue an old scarf that is just sitting around gathering dust, Nancy returns the favor by baking her a delicious apple pie. Believing she’s stumbled upon a way to get free and tasty meals, Frankie makes it her mission to find miscellaneous items around the house to give to her in exchange for some culinary delights. Meanwhile, Sue and Lexie prepare to move back into their college apartment but find that it’s been sublet to a man who refuses to leave; and Axl’s new job as the school bus driver gives him a chance to see how Brick’s high school sophomore year is treating him, and he discovers that Mike has refused to speak to Brick’s class on Career Exploration Day.

    Director:Phil Traill
    Writer:Ilana Wernick

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  3. The Middle Season 9 Episode 3 - Meet the Parents
    7.7/10(384 votes)

    #3 - Meet the Parents

    S9:E3

    Frankie is worried about meeting Lexie's rich parents. Brick discovers that he can't get arrested when he participates in the school's Sophomore Slammer fundraiser.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writers:Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter

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  4. The Middle Season 9 Episode 4 - Halloween VIII: Orson Murder Mystery
    7.8/10(380 votes)

    #4 - Halloween VIII: Orson Murder Mystery

    S9:E4

    Frankie discovers that a woman had died in the bathtub of the Heck house close to 50 years ago.

    Director:Phil Traill
    Writer:Rich Dahm

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  5. The Middle Season 9 Episode 5 - Role of a Lifetime
    7.8/10(377 votes)

    #5 - Role of a Lifetime

    S9:E5

    Axl tries to invent a new beverage; Mike asks Sue to put together a romantic evening for his and Frankie's 25th wedding anniversary; Sue declares she won't be the person who does everything expected of her without complaint.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Roy Brown

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  6. The Middle Season 9 Episode 6 - The Setup
    7.5/10(360 votes)

    #6 - The Setup

    S9:E6

    Frankie's mom stays with her after becoming ill; Sue suggests to Sean that they should set each other up on dates; Axl and Brick ponder what Mike actually does at the quarry.

    Directors:Victor Nelli, Jr.
    Writer:Tim Hobert

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  7. The Middle Season 9 Episode 7 - Thanksgiving IX
    7.9/10(369 votes)

    #7 - Thanksgiving IX

    S9:E7

    The Hecks take a hectic road trip to Frankie's sister's house for Thanksgiving; the kids must decide which one of them will lose their job at Spudsy's.

    Director:Phil Traill
    Writers:Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter

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  8. The Middle Season 9 Episode 8 - Eyes Wide Open
    7.7/10(358 votes)

    #8 - Eyes Wide Open

    S9:E8

    When Axl visits Hutch, he discovers his friend has turned into a responsible adult; Sue is unable to sleep after watching a horror movie by herself; Brick enlists Frankie and Mike's help to help convince a girl to give him a chance.

    Director:Jaffar Mahmood
    Writer:Rich Dahm

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  9. The Middle Season 9 Episode 9 - The 200th
    8.2/10(383 votes)

    #9 - The 200th

    S9:E9

    Frankie remembers she has to come up with something to place in the time capsule; Bill Norwood informs Mike that he and Paula are separating; Brick tries to win Cindy back; Axl volunteers Sue to be his personal assistant.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Roy Brown

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  10. The Middle Season 9 Episode 10 - The Christmas Miracle
    7.9/10(413 votes)

    #10 - The Christmas Miracle

    S9:E10

    Frankie and Sue are devastated when Axl informs them that he's not going to church; Mike goes to war with the Glossner kids after they keep defacing his giant inflatable snowman; Brick attempts to wrap his first present.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Ilana Wernick

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  11. The Middle Season 9 Episode 11 - New Year’s Revelations
    7.8/10(390 votes)

    #11 - New Year’s Revelations

    S9:E11

    Sue admits to Frankie that she kissed Sean Donahue at the Christmas party; Mike forces Axl and Brick to take a drive with him and Mike's dad.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Tim Hobert

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  12. The Middle Season 9 Episode 12 - The Other Man
    7.2/10(436 votes)

    #12 - The Other Man

    S9:E12

    Axl starts to bond more with Mike now that he has a real job; Frankie feels ignored; Brad pleads with Sue to introduce him to Aidan's handsome friend.

    Directors:Victor Nelli, Jr.
    Writers:Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter

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  13. The Middle Season 9 Episode 13 - Mommapalooza
    7.8/10(367 votes)

    #13 - Mommapalooza

    S9:E13

    Frankie decides that she needs to find something new that she's passionate about—life's third act—and Reverend TimTom offers the perfect solution. Meanwhile, tired of hearing Sue and Brick argue because of the giant hole between their bedroom walls, Mike orders them to fix it; and after Axl refuses to let rich girlfriend Lexie pay for some extravagant outings, Lexie finds a way to fool him into thinking he's becoming lucky when money and other items suddenly make their way into his hands.

    Director:Phil Traill
    Writer:Roy Brown

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  14. The Middle Season 9 Episode 14 - Guess Who's Coming to Frozen Dinner
    7.7/10(375 votes)

    #14 - Guess Who's Coming to Frozen Dinner

    S9:E14

    Mike's wayward brother, Rusty, comes to town and presents Sue with an extravagant gift, which Mike thinks is stolen goods. Meanwhile, with Sue now older and living the college life, Mike feels like he's not as close to her as he used to be and tries to figure out a way to reconnect; Axl blows the money from his first paycheck on a big screen TV and blames his spending spree on years of learning from Frankie's lack of financial wisdom; and Brick is stumped, but delighted to discover mysterious, unmarked gifts being left at the front door of the house.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Ilana Wernick

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  15. The Middle Season 9 Episode 15 - Toasted
    7.9/10(363 votes)

    #15 - Toasted

    S9:E15

    Things don't go as smoothly as planned for the Hecks when Frankie helps Sue celebrate her 21st birthday by taking her to a bar close to the college, Mike begrudgingly accompanies Brick to a "Planet Nowhere" convention, and Axl and Hutch head to Ohio in the Winnebago to attend and make a toast at ex-college roomie Kenny's wedding.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:A.J. Blum

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  16. The Middle Season 9 Episode 16 - The Crying Game
    7.7/10(360 votes)

    #16 - The Crying Game

    S9:E16

    While Frankie feels the need to have a good cry after having a bad week, Mike shares the good news that, after 25 years as manager at the local quarry, he is being offered the job of regional manager but feels uncomfortable saying goodbye to his co-workers. Meanwhile, Brick suspects that he's being treated unfairly by his health teacher because of how horribly Axl treated her back when he was a student.

    Director:Phil Traill
    Writer:Rich Dahm

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  17. The Middle Season 9 Episode 17 - Hecks vs. Glossners: The Final Battle
    7.8/10(442 votes)

    #17 - Hecks vs. Glossners: The Final Battle

    S9:E17

    It's the Orson showdown of the century when the Hecks - along with the Donahues and Bill Norwood - wage a war against the Glossners after they steal Sue's car.

    Director:Elliot Hegarty
    Writer:Tim Hobert

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  18. The Middle Season 9 Episode 18 - Thank You For Not Kissing
    7.6/10(364 votes)

    #18 - Thank You For Not Kissing

    S9:E18

    Dr. Fulton tells Frankie and Mike that Brick and Cindy have been making out all over the school. Mike tries to teach Brick proper dating etiquette; Sue attempts to give Sean the snow globe, and tell him how much she likes him; Frankie finds a box of unfinished thank you letters, she orders Axl to finish them, and mail them all out.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Middle Season 9 Episode 19 - Bat Out Of Heck
    7.8/10(359 votes)

    #19 - Bat Out Of Heck

    S9:E19

    Frankie is surprised but relieved when Dr. Goodwin agrees to buy all of the peanut brittle that Brick needs to sell for school. But the good doctor displays a bit of Mr. Hyde behavior when Frankie doesn't deliver the product in an expeditious manner. Meanwhile, Axl is getting sick and tired of having Mike tell him how to run his life; and things go off the rails when Axl attempts to trade in the Winnebago and buy a car. Sue is more determined than ever to win a very prestigious and competitive hotel scholarship; and Frankie swears that she's seeing something mysterious flying through the house.

    Director:Danny Salles
    Writer:Ilana Wernick

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  20. The Middle Season 9 Episode 20 - Great Heckspectations
    8.2/10(380 votes)

    #20 - Great Heckspectations

    S9:E20

    Frankie has to force Brick into asking Cindy to the high school prom but worries that his quirkiness could spoil the happy event; Lexie talks a clueless Axl into giving Sue a belated 21st birthday present; and Mike becomes frustrated over how to get used to a new TV remote.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Roy Brown

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  21. The Middle Season 9 Episode 21 - The Royal Flush
    8.0/10(384 votes)

    #21 - The Royal Flush

    S9:E21

    In an attempt to get Frankie the best Mother's Day gift ever, Sue and Brick enter a trivia contest where they could win a trip for two to London for the upcoming royal wedding; and Axl is offered a job interview that could change his life.

    Director:Phil Traill
    Writer:Rich Dahm

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  22. The Middle Season 9 Episode 22 - Split Decision
    8.2/10(384 votes)

    #22 - Split Decision

    S9:E22

    Frankie makes it her mission to sway Axl from taking the job in Denver; Sue is depressed over Sean leaving for Ghana; Brick buys a huge amount of lawn chairs to replace the one he's been using for nine years.

    Director:Danny Salles
    Writer:Tim Hobert

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  23. The Middle Season 9 Episode 23 - A Heck of a Ride: Part One
    9.4/10(867 votes)

    #23 - A Heck of a Ride: Part One

    S9:E23

    After nine hilarious and heartfelt seasons, a Heck leaves the nest as the family takes a road trip to Denver, where Axl will start his new job – and new life away from home.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writers:Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline

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  24. The Middle Season 9 Episode 24 - A Heck of a Ride: Part Two
    9.2/10(523 votes)

    #24 - A Heck of a Ride: Part Two

    S9:E24

    The series concludes as the family escorts Axl to Colorado. Meanwhile the long affair of the snow globe and its relation to Sean and Sue's relationship comes to a head.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writers:Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline

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Season 9 Ratings Summary

"Vive La Hecks" is the best rated episode of "The Middle" season 9. It scored 7.8/10 based on 422 votes. Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel and written by Tim Hobert, it aired on 10/3/2017. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Please Don’t Feed the Hecks".