Malcolm in the Middle

 It's hard to say what the problem with this series is.  It is simultaneously brilliant and rubbish. But why is it like this, is even harder to say.  I think the main problem is that the writers always choose what is funny, rather than what makes sense for the characters, and allowing the humour to spring from what the characters would actually do or say.  Then there is the baffling lack and at the same time commitment to continuity.  The series follows the lives of the members of a family of five boys and two parents.  Malcolm, is the narrator of sorts, and he (at least in the show) is claimed to be a genius. Because of the size of the family, they are not wealthy. The second-oldest child, Reese, in the show is portrayed as being a bit of a doofus, and in the end, he ends up at a menial job....and this is an example of what is frustrating about the show.  He's a brilliant cook, so why wouldn't he get a job in a restaurant?  Hal, the father figure, nearly goes to prison when he loses his job, and discovers that he is a genius at cutting people's hair. So why not open a salon? But this is forgotten after the episode. Then there's the episode where they steal 10 000 from Malcolm who won it in a scholarship....and then a few episodes later he needs money for Harvard, and he needs 8000 dollars and none of the characters remember this theft.  Malcolm is show to be a genius at three things, maybe.  Math, programming, and surprisingly, dancing.  But the finale of the show is when his mother says that he will be President of the United States some day, and he needs to learn to suffer to appreciate the suffering of the little guy.  But the series makes it clear that he would be a horrible president....he has no people skills.  The writers either were that oblivious or they were throwing in these hints for people to see.  It's full of great acting and humor, but I still have so many questions.  I appreciate that Malcolm is presented like a real boy and not given some kind of undiagnosed condition (Sheldon anyone?) but is he an actual genius?  There's little evidence in the show. You'll laugh if you watch this, but if you think too much about it will make your brain hurt.  

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