The Middle: Season 1

Everyone in our family LOVED "The Middle" as soon as we saw it. Maybe it's because we lived in Indiana for 10 years...the setting for the show. Maybe it's because there's someone for anyone to associate with on the cast - the well-meaning but severely overworked and stressed mom, the hardworking and largely clueless yet effective dad, the egocentric HS aged son, the socially invisible JHS daughter who tries her hardest to be include by trying out for everything, but making nothing, and the brilliant, yet socially challenged elementary aged younger son who proves again and again that the act of giving someone a cool name, "Brick" in this case, does not guarantee that they will be at all cool.I had the brilliant idea of giving Seasons 1 and 2 of The Middle to my wife for Valentine's earlier this year... and it was a solid gold hit! My wife was thrilled nearly beyond words, and her friends were deeply jealous that all they got was a card and flowers. Take that other husbands! Ha! Anyway, this show is a total hit at our house. In fact, whenever we can we load up our dinner, haul it over by the TV and watch an episode...just one per evening...of The Middle while we eat. My wife rations the episodes out so they last longer...so we can savor them and look forward to them.Just in case you don't know about The Middle - it's a show about the most average family you can imagine living the most ordinary life you can imagine in the most ordinary place you can imagine. Frankei and Mike, the parents, struggle to make ends meet, Axl, the HS-age jock son, plays the teenager role brilliantly, usually painfully so, Sue is the sweet forgotten middle child who is self-sufficient and self-reliant, and Brick is the youngest, a child who loves NOTHING more than books and reading...to the exclusion of the world around him.5 stars...and may the series run as long as the magic is there.

Love this show

This is one of those great sleeper shows that seems to live in the shadow of other shows on the air - mainly Modern Family: The Complete First Season which has been one of ABC's crown jewels. I am glad that ABC moved it to the front of their line-up and it is finally getting the recognition it deserves.I was introduced to this show through a lunch conversation with my sister. She was laughing hysterically as she explained the various characters (example, whispering to herself when describing "Brick"). The show sounded interesting and I had always loved Patricia Heaton in Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Series, so I had to find this little advertised show and give it a watch.It was LOVE at first sight! Even though I hadn't had the background of the show, I saw one or two episodes from season 2 and fell in love with the wonderful cast of characters. Brick, Sue, Frankie, Mike and Axl. A perfect blend of characters, the show is gut-wrenchingly funny.After seeing 1-2 episodes I quickly ordered the first season on DVD so that I could catch up. This is one of the few shows where "out of the box" the series is funny. The first episode sets the framework up beautifully and does not leave the viewer wanting anything except more episodes. We watch these over and over and are waiting with baited breath for season 2 to hit DVD.If you want a refreshingly funny comedy that is family friendly, this is it. The characters are clever and funny. I am hoping this series lasts many, many seasons. It's a winner!

This is one of my all time favorite shows. I have caught episodes off and on throughout the years mostly reruns on ABC family but I decided to treat myself to seasons 1-4 so I could enjoy the heck family and all of their crazy life shenanigans.This family is just so funny and so relatable to me. I am able to relate to their house disasters, their kids being a little weird or annoying. I can especially relate to their paycheck to paycheck life style. The show never leaves me disappointed. I laugh and laugh at all of Bricks quirks and Axel's laziness. Sue is just such a refreshing sweet natured girl, I love that her character really comes in to her own as the show progresses.Season one is by far one of my favorite seasons. They overcome many obstacles, and the comedy along the way is just perfect. The first episode where Frankie gets stranded by the woman who claimed to be buying a car just cracks me up. One of my favorite episodes and yet I had NO IDEA that it was the first ever episode. So excited to progress through the first four season!You absolutely can't go wrong buying this show either streaming or DVD because it is absolutely hilarious fun family show!

I don't watch television - too many laugh tracks and reality shows and shows that look the same as the one before and after. I check out the interesting stuff when/if it gets to dvd. No commercials, wheee! People at work usually talk about the various things they watch, and The Middle is frequently discussed. I watched an episode and decided I'd be interested to see more of these folks. (A big commitment for me.) This show doesn't force laughs or situations. We spend time with the Heck family, choose a favorite character in an episode and watch to see how they will solve/resolve issues that are familiar to us all. After a few episodes, these folks become part of our thoughts and we are curious to see (show after show) how they are doing. I think about the characters as neighbors or relatives - they are familiar.Each has his/her own issues and concerns and we are there for them and with them. The first season dvd brings it all together and the extras are informative and fun. The cast is well-cast; occasional guest stars are fun to see in a Mid-West setting.Give the Heck Family some of your time. Get to know them. They grow on you in the nicest possible way. (They'd watch you...)

Great gift idea