Now that all the Heck kids are back in school, the fun can really begin on The Middle. This was one of the rare episodes where Frankie and Mike had a prominent storyline.
Of course, everything they do is for their kids. With the reality of Sue’s dreams for college finally sinking in, Frankie and Mike need to take up second jobs. Frankie’s work-from-home travel agent position ends up keeping her from attending Sue’s play but somehow Mike found the time off from his new second job at a snack cake factory to attend. When they finally have to be honest with Sue about why they’re breaking their backs, her reaction was so sweet it nearly broke my heart.
“Look, I know. I know we can’t afford any of those schools. I was just talking, and dreaming and stuff, for fun. I would never want to do anything that would make you guys have to work harder. You guys work so hard already. I love you but honestly, honestly please don’t kill yourself for me. Whatever happens, I am gonna be fine.”
Awww! Knowing Sue and all that she’s been through, I really think and hope that something amazing is coming her way. Her positivity in the face of ordinary life is truly inspiring. In just one school week, she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in a senior play with Brad. Mike jokes about not letting her major in theater in college but she’s definitely cut out to work in a creative field. She also said it herself that her ACT scores went up dramatically the second time she took the test so maybe she’ll luck out with a scholarship.
Speaking of scholarships, Axl is only in college because of his skills on the football field. He has shown some steps towards becoming a mature young adult but this week he took five steps back. He decides to furnish his new apartment with his friend Hutch by taking random things from around his family’s house. Spoons and towels were notably missing, which really threw Frankie off as she wondered aloud if this was what dementia is like.
Brick had a silly storyline when he found boxes of his old (and extremely annoying) talking toys that Frankie once told him “disappeared”. He starts playing with them again just to spite her, but in classic Brick form, he soon loses interest in them again. It was interesting to see how he got hooked on books in the first place! Through a brief flashback, we saw Frankie take one of the loud toys that was getting on her nerves and hand him a book instead.
Television contracts are usually only good for six seasons before any further negotiations need to be made. I’m crossing my fingers that hopefully we get to see Sue go off to college next year because so far this Year of Sue is the most memorable season yet!
[Photo via ABC]
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