Malcolm in the Middle: Complete Collection [Region2] Requires a Multi Region Player

After several years apparently in legal limbo, the full TV series is at last available through an overseas outfit, and done well. If you have been looking for "Malcolm in the Middle", and have a DVD player that can handle Region 2 DVD's (non-US) -- and such players aren't very expensive -- you can stop reading and just get it, no worries. It was done right. Original music and even some "extra" scenes.The show was originally filmed and shown in the US from 2000-2006 in a 4:3 aspect ratio picture format, before the switch to digital TV. The source material is therefore not hi-def, and can visually seem a little dark in some scenes in the first couple seasons, soft-focused in some bright scenes. This DVD series presents the episodes in 16:9 widescreen format by zooming in a bit and trimming the top and bottom, but the reframing is well done and is not noticeable without original broadcast versions to compare with.But such nits aren't important. The set is professionally mastered with professional menus; select individual episodes or "play all".It looks good on DVD, though the show originated in the era of VHS tapes, just as DVD was emerging ... perhaps this is why the legal framework wasn't right for US release of the whole series.There are a few extras (which might have been on the Season One set that WAS released in the US long ago): - Extended Pilot episode - Commentary tracks for Season One episodes - Some blooper compilation, gag reel, some deleted scenes - A feature "Malcolm in the Middle: A Stroke of Genius" feature - A feature "Dewey's Day Job: A Portrait of Erik Per Sullivan" - Behind the scenes sneak-preview of Season Two.When the show first aired in 2000, I watched the first couple minutes and turned it off, repulsed by the opening scene: a very-hairy Hal standing nude in the kitchen as Lois shaved his entire body and the boys ate breakfast. It looked like some tasteless show dedicated to redefining the lowest common denominator.Never looked at it again; avoided it for years, thinking "yech!" the few times the remote landed on it for a moment. But years later, I happened to pause long enough to decide the opening scene was an unfortunately placed anomaly.The show went into reruns for a couple years after production ended, and it was possible to see the entire series digitally broadcast and even just-barely record it to computer before re-runs stopped. Have no idea if it has been showing on cable since then.But, with this DVD set, I discovered the broadcast reruns had NOT shown the prologue scene, 90% of the time starting with the show theme & credits. So the DVD was a nice surprise, providing a minute or two of additional comic preludes not seen before.Even within the show, there are times when the DVD appears to show longer scenes with additional material beyond what the broadcast reruns showed.Not much, and not often, but here and there. Your mileage may vary depending on how it was edited where you were for the broadcast.For those who haven't seen the show:Malcom in the Middle operates on a totally different level than most TV comedies.A typical comedy, say the currently-popular "Big Bang Theory", could be written by almost anyone (I could write it, even a computer could write it), following the typical sitcom formula: defined personalities trading "one-two" jabs ... a sentence or two to set up the joke, then a line to deliver the joke, which is usually some insult to another character. Then there is a laugh-track so the audience knows that something "funny" happened.By contrast, Malcolm in the Middle is NOT about trading thin jokes and insults. It is inspired genius, with characters and situations spinning off in ways that can't be predicted, but which manage to be extreme-yet-authentic.The playground is defined by bullies "carving out random spheres of influence", who take their role seriously, trading professional tips on how to get the most leverage in a head-lock.The teacher of the gifted class was formerly a student there, returning to teach after his dot.com failed and his net worth went from 240 million to $147. Since everyone in the class is gifted, everyone gets an A, "but some A's are worth more than others" and he institutes a ranking system, adjusting it moment-to-moment as the students talk. "We have names!" "Yes, I know #8."Everything matters passionately, to kids and parents, as the kids charge head-long into misbehavior. Mother Lois observes "They think MAYBE 2 minutes ahead; our job is to make sure reality crashes down on them in the time available".You have never seen a story of a teenager getting his driver's license until you have seen Reese's ...The chaos and combativeness drives each member of the family in different ways. The delinquent Francis to military school and a series of strange jobs where he ends up a natural leader to his surprise. Reese a talented cook/bully always on the edge of being a problem for the state, Malcolm a perpetually grumpy genius who wants to be normal, and the youngest, Dewey, a gifted musician driven into an inner world by the combat with his older brothers, secretly assembling a pipe organ in the garage from house-hold debris, leading to one of the most surreal scenes of the show -- of which there were more than a few (parking lot brawl on 50-foot stilts with Uncle Sam?)The show has plenty of heart, as Hal and Lois have a rock-solid marriage around which all the chaos revolves. The "Flashback" episode of Season Two gives a look at how the family developed into its current state, with Malcolm being born on the front lawn after the four-year old Francis locks his mother out of the car until she admits she is a "poopy face", which she will not do no matter what, preventing them from getting to the hospital.As husband Hal drives up sipping a soda, he sees the medics and ambulances spread out on his front law, rushes up and frantically asks a neighbor lounging by a tree "What happened?!". The neighbor laconically observes, "Your wife gave birth on the lawn..." He's seen it all before and worse with the Wilkerson's ... nothing unusual here!One might not want Malcolm's delinquent family as neighbors, but from a safe distance you have to admire the perseverance, optimism, willingness to challenge arbitrary authority (and accept the punishment if caught), no matter what it costs them. Malcolm asks his brother Reese in astonishment: "You don't read anything?! Ever?! Not even comics? Why not?!" Reese: "It makes it seem like They won".I see the show as sort of the last gasp of the Ritalin Generation, before such exuberance and energy was routinely medicated away to produce compliance with authority.Some shows that came afterward, like "My Name is Earl" and "Raising Hope", have similar comedic sensibilities though very different set-ups. Harry Harrison's science-fiction books on the "Adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat" always seemed a dead-ringer for the Francis character from MITM, all grown up.The DVD set offers 3323 minutes of material, and while people's sense of humor varies, there is a good chance that will be 3321 minutes of continuous smiling -- taking off two minutes for the opening episode's "full body shaving" scene ...

Malcolm in the Middle is my favorite TV show of all time. This DVD collection has all seven seasons, however it is region 2 You will just need to buy a region free DVD player for about $40. Just buy a region free DVD player and you can have Malcolm in the Middle in your collection. I'm not going to comment further on the show except it's an amazing performance by phenomenal actors with a brilliant comedic style.

I don't where to even begin. This show was so good, very accurate portrayal of many families in the United States including my own, all kinds of chaotic plots per episode, an absolutely superb cast, very addicting TV show, all of the before the show starts intros to show something funny, fantastic writing and acting and just basically everything you need to create a perfect family TV show.One of the things that makes this show so good is just how realistic this show can be displaying families with some exaggerated plots and use of materials that many may not have access to. For example, in 1 episode, Hal gets a steam-roller to crush things because he enjoys crushing things. The purpose is basically to show what would happen if you yourself actually had a steam-roller. Some of the before the TV show starts shows what almost everyone has done. In 1 episode, everyone's parents have said not to play ball in the house. In this segment, it shows what actually happens when you play baseball in the house. They naturally break something, they then say they should stop. Then Reese or Malcolm says OK, but you would have been out. They then proceed to keep playing. All of these things shown throughout this show, everyone can relate to at least 1 way or another. That is what separates 1 good show from something else.The bottom line is that if you missed this show when it was on TV, then you have no idea what you have been missing. Any viewer of this series will easily tell you that it is worth watching at least once. On American TV, I don't think this show comes on anymore, however, it still airs in other countries. This show was never available on US-NTSC formats, it is available on PAL only. Be careful when someone says that they do have a copy of this show on US-NTSC they are trying to sell. It will be a pirated version. I did some research as to why this was never released in the US except for the first 2 seasons, it had something to do with music rights. They were not sure if this show would do well enough to cover all the rights to the content to make it profitable.If you do not have a Region 2 PAL DVD player, then you still have options. Also, note that there is a big difference between Region 2 NTSC and Region 2 PAL. Region 2 NTSC is for Japan. Your Japanese DVD Player or Japanese PS2 will not play these discs.Options:-Import a PAL DVD player (cannot be from Australia, that is Region 6)-Get a region free DVD player-Import a European PAL Region 2 PS2 / PS3 (untested on PS4)-The most obvious solution is just use your computer. VLC Media player does not scan regions on discs, they will play everything from everywhere. If you use Microsoft Media Players, they will allow you to switch your regions 6 times and then lock it. This affects everything DVD rom in your computer.The only places I know this boxset was released are:UK (Region 2 PAL)Germany (Region 2 PAL)Australia (Region 6 PAL)The United States is Region 1-NTSC-U for DVD and Region A for blurays. Blurays can be multi-regioned (be able to play Regions ABC [all])

Funny funny funny

Region 2 will not play in the USA.You can use a ripper. An MKV file don't care about no stinkin' regions. Neither does MP4.That's the hard way.If you just want to watch the dvd on your dang PC, google: dvd region tool.Download. Install.This set is NOT made for television in the USA.I gave you a work around and a fix.Wait, wait...I just can't help myself!!!If you rip. Set it to rip by chapter.You'll thank me later.This is a GREAT show. You should do what you have to do to watch it.

This Item came all the way from the UK in perfect condition. I've gotten packages in shambles from one state over, so I'm pleased about that! Further more this package came two weeks earlier than expected so nice surprise, and the discs show well its the quality TV was at that time which is not as perfect as today, But! diffinetly watchable just make sure you have a region free DVD player or region 2 and your good to go. Let the late 90s nostalgia begin!

It's always nice to go right back to the start with TV shows, and with Malcolm in the Middle it's no different. The first thing I noticed was how young they all look, including Malcolm, Reese & Dewey. As for this DVD itself, there is full English subtitles, & also a documentary on the show along with a few other little extras.Disk 1Series 1 – Episode 1, Pilot, 9th January 2000Series 1 – Episode 2, Red Dress, 16th January 2000Series 1 – Episode 3, Home Alone 4, 23rd January 2000Series 1 – Episode 4, Shame, 6th February 2000Series 1 – Episode 5, Malcolm Babysits, 13th February 2000Series 1 – Episode 6, Sleepover, 20th February 2000Disk 2:Series 1 – Episode 7, Francis Escapes, 27th February 2000Series 1 – Episode 8, Krelboyne Picnic, 12th March 2000Series 1 – Episode 9, Lois vs. Evil, 19th March 2000Series 1 – Episode 10, Stock Car Races, 2nd April 2000Series 1 – Episode 11, Funeral, 9th April 2000Series 1 – Episode 12, Cheerleader, 16th April 2000Disk 3:Series 1 – Episode 13, Rollerskates, 30th April 2000Series 1 – Episode 14, The Bots and the Bees, 7th May 2000Series 1 – Episode 15, Smunday, 14th May 2000Series 1 – Episode 16, Water Park, 21st May 2000ExtrasMalcolm Vision (a few bloopers)A Stroke Of Genius (50min documentary on the show)Season One Promos (7mins of Fox trailers for the show)Dewey's Day Job - portrait of Erik Per Sullivan (5mins documentary on Erik away from the show)Cold Opens (4 alternate show openings)Season One Gag ReelDeleted ScenesBehind The Middle (preview of season 2)–Season 2 of Malcolm In The Middle has a total of 25 episodes, well 24 plus 1 Flashback episode. It's also the season we see Caroline Miller (Malcolm's "overly earnest" teacher) leave. It's a shame a I really liked & enjoyed her character.But on the plus side this season we also have the award winning Bowling Sliding Doors-style episode. While it can be a little bit confusing at first, stick with it. I really enjoyed watching how Lois & Hal both treat the boys when the other one isn't around.It's a shame this DVD has no subtitles & the picture quality is not "amazing", but it's watchable & those 2 small problems didn't take away my enjoyment of the show!Disk 1:Series 2 – Episode 1, Traffic Jam, 5th November 2000Series 2 – Episode 2, Halloween Approximately, 8th November 2000Series 2 – Episode 3, Lois's Birthday, 12th November 2000Series 2 – Episode 4, Dinner Out, 15th November 2000Series 2 – Episode 5, Casino, 19th November 2000Series 2 – Episode 6, Convention, 22nd November 2000Series 2 – Episode 7, Robbery, 26th November 2000Disk 2:Series 2 – Episode 8, Therapy, 29th November 2000Series 2 – Episode 9, High School Play, 10th December 2000Series 2 – Episode 10, The Bully, 17th December 2000Series 2 – Episode 11, Old Mrs. Old, 7th January 2001Series 2 – Episode 12, Krelboyne Girl, 14th January 2001Series 2 – Episode 13, New Neighbors, 21st January 2001Series 2 – Episode 14, Hal Quits, 4th February 2001Disk 3:Series 2 – Episode 15, The Grandparents, 11th February 2001Series 2 – Episode 16, Traffic Ticket, 18th February 2001Series 2 – Episode 17, Surgery, 25th February 2001Series 2 – Episode 18, Reese Cooks, 4th March 2001Series 2 – Episode 19, Tutoring Reese, 11th March 2001Series 2 – Episode 20, Bowling, 1st April 2001Series 2 – Episode 21, Malcolm vs. Reese, 22nd April 2001Disk 4:Series 2 – Episode 22, Mini-Bike, 29th April 2001Series 2 – Episode 23, Carnival, 6th May 2001Series 2 – Episode 24, Evacuation, 13th May 2001Series 2 – Episode 25, Flashback, 20th May 2001–Season 3 of Malcolm in the Middle has one of my favourite episodes, Houseboat, where Malcolm's family and the Kenarbans vacation together on a houseboat. While it does sound pretty normal, it is a very funny episode.This season also has a Clip Show episode, where Believing the boys ruined the car, Hal forces them to see a psychiatrist to cure their bad behavior. Soon the three open up and tell him all about their family, which escalates into a big fight between the boys.Disk 1:Series 3 – Episode 1, Houseboat, 11th November 2001Series 3 – Episode 2, Emancipation, 14th November 2001Series 3 – Episode 3, Book Club, 18th November 2001Series 3 – Episode 4, Malcolm's Girlfriend, 28th November 2001Series 3 – Episode 5, Charity, 2nd December 2001Series 3 – Episode 6, Health Scare, 9th December 2001Series 3 – Episode 7, Christmas, 16th December 2001Series 3 – Episode 8, Poker, 6th January 2002Disk 2:Series 3 – Episode 9, Reese's Job, 20th January 2002Series 3 – Episode 10, Lois' Makeover, 27th January 2002Series 3 – Episode 11, Company Picnic – Part 1,3rd February 2002Series 3 – Episode 12, Company Picnic – Part 2, 3rd February 2002Series 3 – Episode 13, Reese Drives, 10th February 2002Series 3 – Episode 14, Cynthia's Back, 17th February 2002Series 3 – Episode 15, Hal's Birthday, 3rd March 2002Series 3 – Episode 16, Hal Coaches, 10th March 2002Disk 3:Series 3 – Episode 17, Dewey's Dog, 7th April 2002Series 3 – Episode 18, Poker 2, 21st April 2002Series 3 – Episode 19, Clip Show, 28th April 2002Series 3 – Episode 20, Jury Duty, 1st May 2002Series 3 – Episode 21, Cliques, 5th May 2002Series 3 – Episode 22, Monkey, 12th May 2002–It's a shame we have to say goodbye to Cynthia (Tania Raymonde) right at the start of season 4, as i really did enjoy watching Cynthia.I also enjoyed the two "Baby" episode where Lois goes into labor while Hal and the boys are at a bridal exposition (which Hal had mistaken for car exposition). Also, we have yet another clip show episode in this season which is nice as i enjoy clip show eps.Disk 1:Series 4 – Episode 1, Zoo, 3rd November2002Series 4 – Episode 2, Humilithon, 10th November 2002Series 4 – Episode 3, Family Reunion, 17th November 2002Series 4 – Episode 4, Stupid Girl, 24th November 2002Series 4 – Episode 5, Forwards Backwards, 1st December 2002Series 4 – Episode 6, Forbidden Girlfriend, 15th December 2002Series 4 – Episode 7, Malcolm Holds His Tongue, 5th January 2003Series 4 – Episode 8, Boys at Ranch, 12th January 2003Disk 2:Series 4 – Episode 9, Grandma Sues, 2nd February 2003Series 4 – Episode 10, If Boys Were Girls, 9th February 2003Series 4 – Episode 11, Long Drive, 2nd March 2003Series 4 – Episode 12, Kicked Out, 9th March 2003Series 4 – Episode 13, Stereo Store, 16th March 2003Series 4 – Episode 14, Hal's Friend, 30th March 2003Series 4 – Episode 15, Garage Sale, 6th April 2003Disk 3:Series 4 – Episode 16, Academic Octathalon, 13th April 2003Series 4 – Episode 17, Clip Show 2, 20th April 2003Series 4 – Episode 18, Reese's Party, 27th April 2003Series 4 – Episode 19, Future Malcolm, 4th May 2003Series 4 – Episode 20, Baby: Part 1, 11th May 2003Series 4 – Episode 21, Baby: Part 2, 18th May 2003Series 4 – Episode 22, Day Care, 18th May 2003–Right at the start of Malcolm in the Middle season 5 we find out the gender of baby Jamie, after leaving season 4 on that cliff-hanger.Also in this season we see the episode where Stevie finds out his mother has divorced his father & then gets himself into a depression and Malcolm tries to cheer him up. This is such a funny episode & Stevie plays the depression part really really well.Disk 1:Series 5 – Episode 1, Vegas, 2nd November 2003Series 5 – Episode 2, Watching the Baby, 9th November 2003Series 5 – Episode 3, Goodbye Kitty, 16th November 2003Series 5 – Episode 4, Thanksgiving, 23rd November 2003Series 5 – Episode 5, Malcolm Films Reese, 30th November 2003Series 5 – Episode 6, Malcolm's Job, 7th December 2003Series 5 – Episode 7, Christmas Trees, 14th December 2003Series 5 – Episode 8, Block Party, 4th January 2004Disk 2:Series 5 – Episode 9, Dirty Magazine, 11th January 2004Series 5 – Episode 10, Hot Tub, 25th January 2004Series 5 – Episode 11, Ida's Boyfriend, 8th February 2004Series 5 – Episode 12, Softball, 15th February 2004Series 5 – Episode 13, Lois' Sister, 22nd February 2004Series 5 – Episode 14, Malcolm Dates a Family, 14th March 2004Series 5 – Episode 15, Reese's Apartment, 21st March 2004Disk 3:Series 5 – Episode 16, Malcolm Visits College, 28th March 2004Series 5 – Episode 17, Polly in the Middle, 25th April 2004Series 5 – Episode 18, Dewey's Special Class, 2nd May 2004Series 5 – Episode 19, Experiment, 2nd May 2004Series 5 – Episode 20, Victor's Other Family, 9th May 2004Series 5 – Episode 21, Reese Joins the Army: Part 1, 16th May 2004Series 5 – Episode 22, Reese Joins the Army: Part 2, 23rd May 2004–Malcolm in the Middle Season 6 starts off with "Reese Comes Home" - Reese, as soon as he lands in Afghanistan, panics and deserts the army. He dresses as an local tribe woman to help him get away, accidentally getting married in the process. Lois, having recovered from her mental breakdown and on a mission to find him, and travels to Kabul, selling the family car to afford the trip and hiring locals for the help.Disk 1:Series 6 – Episode 1, Reese Comes Home: Part 3, 7th November 2004Series 6 – Episode 2, Buseys Run Away, 14th November 2004Series 6 – Episode 3, Standee, 21st November 2004Series 6 – Episode 4, Pearl Harbor, 5th December 2004Series 6 – Episode 5, Kitty's Back, 12th December 2004Series 6 – Episode 6, Hal's Christmas Gift, 19th December 2004Series 6 – Episode 7, Hal Sleepwalks, 16th January 2005Series 6 – Episode 8, Lois Battles Jamie, 23rd January 2005Disk 2:Series 6 – Episode 9, Malcolm's Car, 30th January 2005Series 6 – Episode 10, Billboard, 13th February 2005Series 6 – Episode 11, Dewey's Opera, 20th February 2005Series 6 – Episode 12, Living Will, 6th March 2005Series 6 – Episode 13, Tiki Lounge, 13th March 2005Series 6 – Episode 14, Ida Loses a Leg, 20th March 2005Series 6 – Episode 15, Chad's Sleepover, 27th March 2005Disk 3:Series 6 – Episode 16, No Motorcycles, 3rd April 2005Series 6 – Episode 17, Butterflies, 10th April 2005Series 6 – Episode 18, Ida's Dance, 17th April 2005Series 6 – Episode 19, Motivational Speaker, 24th April 2005Series 6 – Episode 20, Stilts, 1st May 2005Series 6 – Episode 21, Buseys Take a Hostage, 8th May 2005Series 6 – Episode 22, Mrs. Tri-County, 15th May 2005–Malcolm In The Middle Season 7, the last ever season :(Don't really know what to say about this box set as i will give too much away. So instead I'll just sum-up the very last episode...Graduation: In the series finale, Malcolm struggles with his valedictorian speech, Hal finds out that the family may not have enough money to send Malcolm to college. Meanwhile Reese is moving in with Craig, and since they're both leaving they decide (along with Dewey) that Jamie should have the childhood they never got, one free of threats. As such, they destroy their "nuclear option," evidence of the worst thing they ever did: fake an X-ray of Lois having cancer to sneak away with bad report cards, and a way to destroy each other if someone had nothing to lose. Francis finds the 9-to-5 job of his dreams but won't let Lois know, Reese tries to be a permanent janitor, enlisting Ida's help. Malcolm is offered a dream job in lieu of college, however Lois (determined that Malcolm will get a full education) turns down the offer for him. Furious, Malcolm demands to know why and Lois explains that she and the family expect him to become president, but it's important he struggles enough so that he understands what people like them go through. Malcolm, amazed at just how much the family expects of him, agrees. Three months later Malcolm is working his way through college, Reese and Francis are happy in their new jobs (although Francis still refuses to tell Lois), Dewey feels closer than ever to Jamie as the two cause havoc around the house and Lois discovers she's pregnant again.Disk 1:Series 7 – Episode 1, Burning Man, 30th September 2005Series 7 – Episode 2, Health Insurance, 7th October 2005Series 7 – Episode 3, Reese vs. Stevie, 21st October 2005Series 7 – Episode 4, Halloween, 28th October 2005Series 7 – Episode 5, Jessica Stays Over, 4th November 2005Series 7 – Episode 6, Secret Boyfriend, 11th November 2005Series 7 – Episode 7, Blackout, 18th November 2005Series 7 – Episode 8, Army Buddy, 2nd December 2005Disk 2:Series 7 – Episode 9, Malcolm Defends Reese, 16th December 2005Series 7 – Episode 10, Malcolm's Money, 6th January 2006Series 7 – Episode 11, Bride of Ida, 13th January 2006Series 7 – Episode 12, College Recruiters, 29th January 2006Series 7 – Episode 13, Mono, 12th February 2006Series 7 – Episode 14, Hal Grieves, 19th February 2006Series 7 – Episode 15, A.A., 5th March 2006Disk 3:Series 7 – Episode 16, Lois Strikes Back, 19th March 2006Series 7 – Episode 17, Hal's Dentist, 26th March 2006Series 7 – Episode 18, Bomb Shelter, 2nd April 2006Series 7 – Episode 19, Stevie in the Hospital, 9th April 2006Series 7 – Episode 20, Cattle Court, 16th April 2006Series 7 – Episode 21, Morp, 23rd April 2006Series 7 – Episode 22, Graduation, 14th May 2006

"Malcolm in the Middle" was a truly great show, with a lot of appeal. Despite being an American show, it doesn't push "American values", isn't pretentious, pompous or Ameri-centric and lacks religious undertones, being set in the Los Angeles area and not a lacklustre Bible Belt state. It mostly identifies with family values, focusing on the daily lives of a regular - though somewhat large - family, struggling to meet the demands of social expectations, running into all sorts of financial difficulties and failing to conform with what their neighbours and colleagues expect of them. Despite being named after Malcolm, the show does not revolve purely around him and over its 7-year run manages to produce episodes focusing not only on every member of the family, but on a handful of interesting supporting characters.The unique style of "Malcolm in the Middle", with its lack of a laugher track, how Malcolm breaks the fourth wall to address us - the audience - and a number of cleverly written episodes which are very well edited to give different perspectives (notably S02E20 "Bowling" S07E07 and "Blackout") makes for a diverse set of production values. There are very few, if any, "weak" episodes in the series. The short gag which precedes each episode were an excellent idea, playing out like a short comic strip.Acting-wise, there are no poor performers in this show. The principle actors for Malcolm, his three brothers and both parents are excellent, believable and no one can fault the chemistry between them. The way they speak to each other, the eye contact, the body language, every hug, kiss, punch and kick is perfectly done. As the cast gets older, most noticably Malcolm, Reese and Dewey, they mature as characters in a consistent way, the results of puberty shaping their individual personalities in very different ways. Their initial "cuteness" as young and innocent kids gradually fades as they grow up and become teenagers.Regular appearances from support actors, meaning Stevie and his dad, the Krelboynes, Spangler, Craig, Ida, and a number of teachers and students from the Malcolm world keep us on familiar ground so that each episode doesn't have to rely on one-off guest appearances who we never get to know. We're given a group of characters that we can associate with again and again.The show is rated as 12, though I personally think a PG-rating would be more reasonable. Sure, there are a lot of moderate sex references, the parents are randy as hell, but it is never distasteful or crude. The show also contains dozens of jokes which target race, age, sexuality, women, yet they're never offensive and it tends to come across as observational humour, people speaking their mind, or surrealism. For example, Hal joins his friend Abe for a game of poker and he becomes the only white man in a group of six friends - no one comments on this, but his reaction and obvious initial surprise is pure comedy genius."Malcolm in the Middle" rarely involves U.S. politics or religion. Only a couple of episodes focus on these things and are treated carefully, unoffensively and without an agenda. No one faith or denomination is named. The father is clearly semi-religious, the mother appears atheist, Malcolm identifies himself as a "hopeful agnostic" and makes a couple "please God" prayer gestures; the parents never force their children to choose and there are no Sunday Church requirements. This is what real families should be like and what many are realistically like - because the series is not set in a Southern state amongst Bible Belt evangelists it is never necessary to promote religion and spoil the comedy with religious morals. All the morals in this show come from the heart: concerned parents, brotherly love, friendships and bonds - all of which are challenged and tested throughout the series. There are some wonderful emotional moments (such as S2E3 "Lois's Birthday" and S7E14 "Hal Grieves") which really captivate what this show is all about.I don't like to describe this show as being about a "dysfunctional family" too much because the term has too many negative vibes, it implies levels of abuse and conflict which are not really present here. There is a ton of dissonance, mostly due to the mother's influence as she is extremely authorative and unbending. Yet, as the series goes on and her character unravels, it is not hard to side with many of her decisions, to sympathise with her position and accept her actions as being reasonable. Despite being a show about a family made up of five males and one female, initially, it does not create a male-dominant experience.If you haven't seen this show, or have seen a couple of episodes on TV, it is really worth getting the lot. After waiting 8 years for a complete boxset to be released in the UK since the series ended, I have thoroughly enjoyed the last few weeks of marathoning through all 151 episodes in order, seeing the characters grow and evolve, understanding the psychology behind their behaviour, and most of all, having a bloody good laugh whilst doing it! There aren't many modern TV shows I claim to appreciate, British or American, but this is easily a 10-out-of-10 series that remains charming and consistent with good scripts, well-timed humour, and lacking the clichés and undeveloped characters which cause many other shows to be shelved a lot sooner - its 7-year run is a credit to its success.It would have been nice if the show had followed with a Malcolm movie or two once it ended its TV run - that would have made much more sense than giving that talentless muppet "Fred" from YouTube a series of carbon-wasting flops. Sadly, Fox has never been a network to exploit real potential. Perhaps that explains the considerable gap between this series ending and finally getting a complete DVD release.Grab a box and enjoy nearly 50 hours worth of fantastic down to Earth comedy!

Etwas Erstaunliches aus meiner Kindheit. Viele Male habe ich zugesehen und es wird nie langweilig. Wer liebt diese eine Serie nicht. Eine wirklich tolle und lustige Serie aus meiner Kindheit, ich liebe sie. Und ich bin so glücklich, diese Sammlung bei mir zu haben. Ich bin total zufrieden!Something amazing from my childhood. Many times i have watched and never gets boring. Who doesnt love this one series. A really amazing and funny series from my childhood i love it. And i am so happy to have this collection with me. Im totally pleased!

Generally, I'm not keen on the types of style that most US sitcoms use: the laughter track, the studio sets, the live audience. It's for this reason that I don't like shows such as How I Met Your Mother, Two And A Half Men and a The Big Bang Theory, all of which I believe could of been much better had they used the same style as FOX's Malcolm In The Middle, which ran for seven season between 2000 and 2006 (of course, I appreciate that all the mentioned programs are hugely successful, and that my opinion is merely that). Malcolm ditched the conventional sitcom hallmarks and, by doing so, kind if reinvented the genre. This a typical dysfunctional family setup: Mom Lois is loud, authoritative and yells louder than a herd of elephants; Dad Hal is eccentric and a little dim, and likes to stay on his wife's good side; eldest sibling Francis is nothing more that a degenerate, who has been packed of to military school for his sins; youngest Dewey is just as scheming as his brothers, but uses his cuteness to appear innocent; older brother Reece is heading the same way as Francis; and, in 'the middle', Malcolm, the only one who seems embarrassed by his family's antics and realises that they are dysfunctional. Malcolm is also a child genius, meaning that he is in the gifted class at school and therefore can't even maintain some level of normality whilst away from his family.In earlier episodes, most of the comedy is observational. In season one's Red Dress, Lois spends the entire evening punishing the boys for burning her favourite garment. The execution of the episode is brilliant. The boys ring brother Francis for advice and, knowing all his mother's tricks and schemes, is able to advise them on where she's going next. The end twist that it was actually none of the boys who burned the dress, it was Hal, is a fitting end to the episode. Other early highlights include Bowling - in which we see two versions of the same night: one if Hal had taken the boys out, and one if Lois had - and New Neighbours, where the family clash with a family who've just moved in next door (except Hal, who gets on great with the father).Later episodes saw the surrealism and cartoon slapstick turned up, whilst fantasy scenes replaced background stories. But, the fun never stopped. Even when it wasn't laugh out loud funny (and a lot of the time it was), Malcolm was always an entertaining 22 minutes of escapism. All of the core cast put in exceptional performances, but special mention has to go to Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston, who brought something really memorable to their roles of Lois and Hal. Malcolm in the Middle should be remembered as true gem of American comedy. Once you get to know the premise and the characters, you'll be able to watch the episodes again and again and smile every time. A must buy.

Even now, so many years after it finished airing, this is still one of the truly funniest and smart shows to be shown on TV - the premise is so simple an average American family has a distinctly above average genius level intellect middle child, yes he is a genius but he is still a stupid kid and it is how true it seems in the family relationships that makes this one of the really funny shows and featuring a pre Walter White Bryan Cranston as the put upon dad and general fall guy with a mind blowingly awful mum in Jane Kaczmarek who portrays her with such tenderness and venom that it makes you feel for the boys who are pretty much little monsters, it is of no real surprise that none of the boys have gone in to any other success as they are defined by the roles they took here, Frankie Muniz as Malcolm was always going to be hard to escape from but a similar fate befalls all the kids - Christopher Masterson as Francis plays the habitual schemer with such ease it becomes hard to picture him any other way and Justin Berfield and Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey and Reese respectfully are also brilliant with Dewey not being a genius but being very street smart compared to his brothers and Reese as the dim-witted bully who never gets why it does not work for him, there is barely any flab in this show, all killer, no filler.