The Heck family in ABC’s sitcom “The Middle” is described perfectly by Axl Heck, the oldest of the three Heck kids, when he says, “I know it’s not pretty to look at, but we get the job done. It’s like a crappy looking football team that manages to win ten games every season. We win ugly, it’s just how we roll.”
Now available on Peacock, “The Middle” aired on Wednesday nights on ABC for 9 seasons from 2009-2018. With a total of 215 episodes, there is a reason this show ran for as long as it did.
The Hecks are a lower-middle class family who live in the small town of Orson, Indiana. Parents Frankie and Mike work numerous jobs throughout the series to keep themselves and their kids, Axl, Sue and Brick, on their feet. They do not attempt to make everything seem perfect like “The Brady Bunch.” Instead, they make do with what they have and live life at their own pace. There’s no better way to explain this than when Frankie, who narrates the show at times, says, “You know how in summer everyone takes those magical family bonding trips? Well, we take in their mail.”
What makes this show so special compared to others is the characterization and character development throughout the whole show, especially with the Heck kids.
Axl, the oldest son, is one of the popular kids in high school who always ends up having things go his way. He is often in over his head and finds himself getting into trouble, mostly with his parents. In one episode, while talking to his siblings, Axl says, “Together we are awesome, but alone, only I am still awesome.” This line shows Axl’s self-absorbed personality, as he sees himself as much better than his two siblings. As the series progresses, however, Axl matures and meets many new people who teach him life lessons.
Sue, the middle daughter, is the complete opposite of Axl in that nothing seems to go her way. She tries out for every activity, sport and club available but never gets chosen for any team. However, that never stops her from trying something new. As demonstrated by the cat posters and inspirational quotes filling her walls, Sue always has a positive attitude. Sue becomes more realistic about her opportunities as she grows up but never loses her positive attitude. Sue finds ways to get involved in whatever she can and takes advantage of her opportunities.
Brick, the youngest son, is a quirky kid who sometimes gets swept under the rug. Brick enjoys books more than he enjoys people, which led to Mike and Frankie putting him in a social skills class. Brick has several unique habits, including whispering to himself after sentences, repeating commercial slogans and creating a podcast about different fonts. Brick grows throughout the series but keeps many of these awkward tendencies.
These characters and many other aspects of the show allow the viewer to connect with the Heck family and feel invested in the show. Although “The Middle” never won any Emmys, it is a humorous show for all ages that still holds up today.