In the discussion of what’s better, TV or movies, I’ve always been a big TV girl. I could, and embarrassingly probably have, sit and watch 10 hours of a show straight, but the idea of sitting down for a movie that’s over 90 minutes actually sounds like a chore. Something about the connection to the characters and the progression has just always felt very comfortable to me. One of the first shows I remember loving and feeling that connection to was “The Middle.” From 2009-18, every Wednesday night, my parents and I would sit down and watch “The Middle” after dinner. I always enjoyed those nights, but honestly I kind of forgot about the show altogether in the past few years. Recently my mind has been more consumed with reality TV and crime shows. So intellectual, I know.
However, recently in an attempt to not just rewatch the same three shows over and over, I perused Peacock and found “The Middle.” I was reminded of those nights watching with my family and decided to give it a go. From the first episode, I felt transported back in time while also having a whole new appreciation for the humor and heart behind the show. Rewatching a show you watched when you were younger provides a sort of comfort that I’m not completely sure can be described. I can remember my parents laughing at jokes that went over my head at the time, which I now catch myself laughing out loud at.
“The Middle” follows a family in rural Indiana that is dysfunctional, to say the least. The three kids, Axl, Sue and Brick, are all quirky in their own unique ways that are somehow both deeply relatable and absurd. Their parents, Frankie and Mike, struggle to make ends meet for their family, and Frankie, in particular, always finds herself in less than fortunate situations. I would be lying if I said watching this show didn’t make me feel seriously anxious at times with all the awful situations the family seems to get into. But somehow, at the same time, watching it feels like a big hug. The relatability of not having everything figured out and things seeming to never go your way, all while told in the most ridiculous and funny narrative, acts as both escapism and comfort.
I think “The Middle” is a must-watch. It’s impossible not to fall in love with the insane Heck family and all their antics. However, if that doesn’t sound like your thing, I recommend returning to a show you watched when you were young. No matter if it was a Disney Channel show or a family show that often went over your head, you can escape back into a simpler time.
