Malcolm In The Middle: The Complete Collection Box Set - Seasons 1-7 [DVD] [2000]

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!

Good price well packaged and fast delivery