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The Worst Episodes of The Middle

Every episode of The Middle ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Middle!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Middle Season 6 Episode 10 - Pam Freakin' Staggs
    7.2/10(427 votes)

    #1 - Pam Freakin' Staggs

    S6:E10

    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
    Writers:Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter

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  2. The Middle Season 9 Episode 12 - The Other Man
    7.2/10(448 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. The Middle Season 1 Episode 3 - The Floating Anniversary
    7.3/10(707 votes)

    #3 - The Floating Anniversary

    S1:E3

    Frankie and Mike's romantic plans for their anniversary are thwarted by a sick Brick, a lovesick Sue, a learner's permit-toting Axl, two crazy aunts and their diaper-wearing dog.

    Director:Gail Mancuso
    Writer:Rob Ulin

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  4. The Middle Season 2 Episode 13 - Super Sunday
    7.3/10(463 votes)

    #4 - Super Sunday

    S2:E13

    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:Unknown

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  5. The Middle Season 2 Episode 20 - Royal Wedding
    7.3/10(472 votes)

    #5 - Royal Wedding

    S2:E20

    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:Unknown

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  6. The Middle Season 4 Episode 21 - From Orson with Love
    7.3/10(414 votes)

    #6 - From Orson with Love

    S4:E21

    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

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  7. The Middle Season 7 Episode 7 - Homecoming II: The Tailgate
    7.3/10(383 votes)

    #7 - Homecoming II: The Tailgate

    S7:E7

    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

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  8. The Middle Season 1 Episode 18 - The Fun House
    7.4/10(554 votes)

    #8 - The Fun House

    S1:E18

    Frankie fears for her job when a motivational consultant comes to get the sale team into shape. While Frankie is putting in many extra hours, Mike has to deal with the children and their issues, including making the house more fun for Axl and his friends, giving advice to Sue's ex-boyfriend and helping Brick with a school project.

    Director:Chris Koch
    Writer:Roy Brown

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  9. The Middle Season 1 Episode 19 - The Final Four
    7.4/10(517 votes)

    #9 - The Final Four

    S1:E19

    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

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  10. The Middle Season 2 Episode 5 - Foreign Exchange
    7.4/10(538 votes)

    #10 - Foreign Exchange

    S2:E5

    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:Unknown

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  11. The Middle Season 2 Episode 8 - Errand Boy
    7.4/10(481 votes)

    #11 - Errand Boy

    S2:E8

    Brick pleads with Frankie to leave him home alone when she runs errands.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Tim Hobert

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  12. The Middle Season 2 Episode 14 - Valentine's Day II
    7.4/10(487 votes)

    #12 - Valentine's Day II

    S2:E14

    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:Unknown

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  13. The Middle Season 2 Episode 16 - Hecks On A Plane
    7.4/10(505 votes)

    #13 - Hecks On A Plane

    S2:E16

    Sue wins a family trip to New York, and the flight turns into a comedy of errors.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Middle Season 2 Episode 17 - The Math Class
    7.4/10(467 votes)

    #14 - The Math Class

    S2:E17

    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

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  15. The Middle Season 2 Episode 22 - The Prom
    7.4/10(452 votes)

    #15 - The Prom

    S2:E22

    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:Unknown

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  16. The Middle Season 2 Episode 23 - The Bridge
    7.4/10(464 votes)

    #16 - The Bridge

    S2:E23

    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:Unknown

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  17. The Middle Season 3 Episode 1 - Forced Family Fun (1)
    7.4/10(489 votes)

    #17 - Forced Family Fun (1)

    S3:E1

    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:Unknown

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  18. The Middle Season 3 Episode 2 - Forced Family Fun (2)
    7.4/10(479 votes)

    #18 - Forced Family Fun (2)

    S3:E2

    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:Unknown

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  19. The Middle Season 4 Episode 3 - The Second Act
    7.4/10(414 votes)

    #19 - The Second Act

    S4:E3

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Middle Season 4 Episode 20 - Dollar Days
    7.4/10(397 votes)

    #20 - Dollar Days

    S4:E20

    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
    Writers:Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter

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  21. The Middle Season 4 Episode 23 - The Ditch
    7.4/10(395 votes)

    #21 - The Ditch

    S4:E23

    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

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  22. The Middle Season 5 Episode 3 - The Potato
    7.4/10(412 votes)

    #22 - The Potato

    S5:E3

    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

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  23. The Middle Season 5 Episode 5 - Halloween IV: The Ghost Story
    7.4/10(411 votes)

    #23 - Halloween IV: The Ghost Story

    S5:E5

    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

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  24. The Middle Season 5 Episode 8 - The Kiss
    7.4/10(427 votes)

    #24 - The Kiss

    S5:E8

    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
    Writers:Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter

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  25. The Middle Season 5 Episode 15 - Vacation Days
    7.4/10(397 votes)

    #25 - Vacation Days

    S5:E15

    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

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Pam Freakin' Staggs" is the worst rated episode of "The Middle". It scored 7.2/10 based on 427 votes. Directed by Elliot Hegarty and written by Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter, it aired on 1/7/2015. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Other Man".