The Worst Episodes of The Middle
Every episode of The Middle ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Middle!
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.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "The Middle" is "Pam Freakin' Staggs", rated 7.1/10 from 309 user votes. It was directed by Elliot Hegarty and written by Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter. "Pam Freakin' Staggs" aired on 1/7/2015 and is rated 0.1 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "The Floating Anniversary".
7.1/10 309 votes#1 - Pam Freakin' Staggs
Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 1/7/2015
Frankie acts like a teenager when she hangs out with Pam Staggs, a former classmate who was popular in high school. Meanwhile, Brick surprises Mike by winning an athletic award; Sue pursues some odd hobbies; and Axl seeks a date with Devin Levin.
Director: Elliot Hegarty
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
7.2/10 503 votes#2 - The Floating Anniversary
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/14/2009
Frankie and Mike's romantic anniversary get-away is ruined by various family matters, including Brick being sick, Sue being lovesick, Axl just getting his learner's permit, and two psychotic aunt's and their dogs.
Director: Gail Mancuso
Writer: Rob Ulin
7.2/10 327 votes#3 - 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
7.2/10 292 votes#4 - From Orson with Love
Season 4 Episode 21 - Aired 5/1/2013
Frankie tries to make Sue appear more popular on Facebook; Frankie's dad (Jerry Van Dyke) makes Mike listen to long-winded life stories; Brick and Axl try to create a viral video.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Robin Shorr
7.2/10 279 votes#5 - Homecoming II: The Tailgate
Season 7 Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/2015
At the annual homecoming tailgate, Frankie worries that her mother will ruin things, Sue takes a familiar role, Axl is sick as a dog, and Mike asks Brick to help him win the cornhole tournament.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Ilana Wernick
7.2/10 331 votes#6 - The Other Man
Season 9 Episode 12 - Aired 1/9/2018
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.
Director: Victor Nelli Jr.
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
7.3/10 373 votes#7 - The Final Four
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/31/2010
Mike's dream comes to fruition when Frankie's boss, Mr. Ehlert, offers him two tickets to the Final Four. Unfortunately, Frankie's uncle dies and the funeral is set for the same day, leaving the two in a battle and Frankie making Mike chose what life event is more important to him. Meanwhile, Sue gets Brick out of going to a birthday party by impersonating Frankie over the phone, but the plan hits a bump when Frankie needs to call and tell them that Brick cannot attend because of the funeral.
Director: Alex Reid
Writer: Rob Ulin
7.3/10 393 votes#8 - 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
7.3/10 348 votes#9 - 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
7.3/10 351 votes#10 - 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
7.3/10 367 votes#11 - 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
7.3/10 338 votes#12 - 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
7.3/10 345 votes#13 - 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
7.3/10 334 votes#14 - 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
7.3/10 360 votes#15 - Forced Family Fun (1)
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2011
Frankie insists that the family go on vacation together before school starts; Mike and Frankie remember their honeymoon, which was ruined by Nicky (Ray Romano), a guy Mike knew in high school.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 351 votes#16 - Forced Family Fun (2)
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/2011
Frankie insists the family take a few days of vacation before school starts. But Mike's suggestion of a camping trip brings back bad memories of their honeymoon camping trip.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 331 votes#17 - Get Your Business Done
Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 4/11/2012
Frankie is inspired by the pastor's sermon at the new church the family is attending. She decides to make it her mission that every family member completes their life's destiny before they die. As Mike, Sue, Brick and Axl come up with ideas as to their destiny, Frankie has a hard time figuring out what exactly she should be doing.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 295 votes#18 - The Second Act
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/2012
After being fired from the car dealership and vowing not to take any job that comes her way, Frankie goes to tech school to get a real career; Axl begins his senior year of high school; sophomore Sue mentors a freshman.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 282 votes#19 - Dollar Days
Season 4 Episode 20 - Aired 4/10/2013
Frankie has a difficult time describing herself during a job interview; Sue dispenses unwanted advice to Axl and his band mates; Brick joins the Prairie Scouts.
Director: Phil Traill
Writer: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter
7.3/10 277 votes#20 - The Ditch
Season 4 Episode 23 - Aired 5/15/2013
While dressed in a lab coat for her dental assisting job, Frankie is mistaken for a doctor and receives special treatment; Axl talks Sue into ditching school for the day; Mike and Axl's fishing trip goes awry.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Roy Brown
7.3/10 295 votes#21 - 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
7.3/10 294 votes#22 - 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
7.3/10 315 votes#23 - 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
7.3/10 282 votes#24 - 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
7.3/10 288 votes#25 - 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