Ataraxia
Malcolm, the cult series that defined a generation, is set to make its return. After following the wild adventures of Malcolm and his family, we hadn’t heard much about it in recent years. But now, 25 years after the first episode and 18 years after the last, the series is making its grand comeback on Disney+, and it’s bringing us all sorts of joy.
Malcolm, a Series Like No Other
Who doesn’t know the adventures of the little genius, Malcolm? We’ve all seen it, whether willingly or just flipping through TV channels, this show featured a somewhat chaotic family. And how could you not grow attached to them? I must have spent every summer watching this show over and over again. So, with a tear in my eye and a lot of excitement, I discovered that the series is returning with 4 new episodes to give us an update on Malcolm and his family. Although we don’t have many details yet, we do know that Frankie Muniz (Malcolm), Bryan Cranston (Hal), and Jane Kaczmarek (Lois) will be back. All that’s left is for the other brothers to return, because it’s hard to imagine Malcolm, Lois, and Halwithout Francis (Christopher Masterson), Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan), and Reese (Justin Berfield). In fact, there’s one secondary character we’d love to see as well: Craig Feldspar, played by David Anthony Higgins. He was such a regular on the show, and discovering what happened to Craig would warm our hearts.
An Unexpected Return
This return is even more impressive when you learn that Frankie Muniz lost most of his memories from the filming of the original series. Being a car enthusiast and a driver, Frankie Muniz (aka Malcolm) suffered several concussions and strokes after a serious accident, which resulted in a loss of memory from the show’s filming. Bryan Cranston (Hal) spent time with his on-screen son, rewatching the show to help him recover his memories.
Frankie Muniz, who has recently become a professional NASCAR driver, must certainly have a packed schedule.
The Humor Is Still On Point
In the video announcing the return, we see Bryan and Jane still very much in character. Bryan cracks a joke typical of Hal, while Jane announces that she can finally start yelling at the boys again. And we have no doubt that it’s something she’s missed. For a quick reminder, Lois had a tendency to be a little fiery, something her boys certainly didn’t help her manage. The end of the series left so many possibilities open, and it will be particularly interesting to see what the creators have chosen to do with the next chapter.
Malcolm, now accepted at Harvard, is pushed by his parents to balance work and school. Reese is still living with Craig but has managed to get a job as a janitor at school. Dewey has become a much more stable older brother to Jamie, the youngest, who will hopefully avoid the craziness of the rest of the family. Francis, still married and with a stable job, seems to have found balance in his life. As for Lois and Hal, they’re still bickering while loving and supporting each other—and they’re expecting their sixth child.
The Spin-Off Without the Whole Family
Unfortunately, although we mentioned earlier in this article that we’d love to see the whole family return, the latest information suggests that we’ll mainly be getting the return of the parents and Malcolm himself. Malcolm will return to the family home with his daughter to celebrate Lois and Hal’s 40th wedding anniversary. Let’s see if the creators and Disney have any surprises in store for us in these 4 new—and most likely final—episodes of Malcolm in the Middle.
While we wait for the release of the 4 new episodes, you can always revisit the original series of Malcolm in the Middle on Disney+.
And if you enjoy this kind of sitcom, I highly recommend checking out our Top 10 Favorite Sitcoms.
