There's an odd bit during a graduation bit where he mumbles to himself or to the kid who's graduating. It's more curious than amusing. He also didn't do much with his reaction shots to the Wrestlerettes' Cheer-Off.

I don't know that they couldn't refer to any site they wish, but for nine bucks a year this is an easy route to take.

Really? "You have a desperate need for our van and we're happy to lend it to you but we've committed it on Wednesdays for a few hours, so you're welcome to the van but have to fulfill that commitment."

"Ever since the two eldest Heck kids reached a point in their
educational endeavors where they began attending the same school, we've
seen several plots revolve around how desperately Axl loathes the idea
of even being in the same building as Sue,…

That's precisely why I despise the direction the show has taken in featuring Charlie McDermott (easily the weakest actor in the cast) and making Axl a brute and bully and at times an abuser. Until the end of season three the writers had largely avoided turning The Middle into the awful, bitter, loveless dreck that was…

That's precisely why I despise the direction the show has taken in featuring Charlie McDermott (easily the weakest actor in the cast) and making Axl a brute and bully and at times an abuser. Until the end of season three the writers had largely avoided turning The Middle into the awful, bitter, loveless dreck that was…

Yup. Seeing Axl abuse Brick (and Sue, and Frankie) is painful and pointless. It also (as I wrote upthread) pushes Mike to the margins in those scenes where he's present but required by the script to merely observe his son's viciousness. A big mistake for this show.

Yup. Seeing Axl abuse Brick (and Sue, and Frankie) is painful and pointless. It also (as I wrote upthread) pushes Mike to the margins in those scenes where he's present but required by the script to merely observe his son's viciousness. A big mistake for this show.

While I agree wrt the first two, I loathe "arrogant Axl." The show's much the worse for his hostility, which also hurts Mike's character as it requires him to stand idly by while his idiot son harasses, bullies, and abuses his brother, sister, and even his mother.

While I agree wrt the first two, I loathe "arrogant Axl." The show's much the worse for his hostility, which also hurts Mike's character as it requires him to stand idly by while his idiot son harasses, bullies, and abuses his brother, sister, and even his mother.

A surprising lot of ugliness in this episode, and it's interesting that the writers chose this ep to cap off the abusive trajectory Axl's character has been on since late in season three.

A surprising lot of ugliness in this episode, and it's interesting that the writers chose this ep to cap off the abusive trajectory Axl's character has been on since late in season three.

Speaking of which, in the process of driving 7,000 miles in two weeks, that took me from the midwest up to James Bay and down to Virginia, I drove through Montreal and as we discovered later within a couple of miles (and possibly a couple of blocks) of the woman I would get into a long-term relationship with. She also…

Speaking of which, in the process of driving 7,000 miles in two weeks, that took me from the midwest up to James Bay and down to Virginia, I drove through Montreal and as we discovered later within a couple of miles (and possibly a couple of blocks) of the woman I would get into a long-term relationship with. She also…

I'd expect nothing else from a woman who thought Wings of Desire was a solid ingredient for a first or second date. Definitely a keeper.

I'd expect nothing else from a woman who thought Wings of Desire was a solid ingredient for a first or second date. Definitely a keeper.

Don't bother. Vicki's one of those loons who interprets everything that happens to girls as exploitative.

Don't bother. Vicki's one of those loons who interprets everything that happens to girls as exploitative.

A terrific episode packed with wonderful bits. I think you're wrong, btw, wrt to the possibility of Mike permanently booting Rusty from his life. The writers did right to potentially involve a passel of police in Rusty's theft of a cop's stuff. That gave Mike motive, certainly, and bite to that particular subplot.

A terrific episode packed with wonderful bits. I think you're wrong, btw, wrt to the possibility of Mike permanently booting Rusty from his life. The writers did right to potentially involve a passel of police in Rusty's theft of a cop's stuff. That gave Mike motive, certainly, and bite to that particular subplot.