The Middle – Olivia and Brick sitting in a tree

Well, more like Olivia pushing Brick out of a tree. But Brick being Brick, I suppose it makes sense that he wouldn’t have wooed this young lady, or even been the active participant in instigating their relationship. And it makes sense, too, that Mike would ask, “So, this Olivia, is she here right now?” when Brick told his parents that he was dating someone.

But did you see it going where it did? Or doing so as well as it did? The relationship was only minimally mined for the interaction between the two kids — the best parts involved Brick and his family.

Although I could have done without the conference Brick had with a showering Axl, the older brother’s advice led to the best line of the night, “Great advice Axl; now I’m married, and we have a baby!” (imagine it in his whiny voice) said while Brick held a doll aloft by the leg. Who is this kid? I’m proud to say it: I love Atticus Shaffer.

Or, wait; maybe the best part was Mike, Axl, and Brick sitting at their kitchen counter, discussing Brick’s options in the entire sordid affair. The synchronized drinking was corny, but watching how the men in the family related to one another made me feel very at home with these people. And that’s also how I like Axl best. Sure, it’s funny to see him answering the door in his boxers, but there’s nothing wrong with him being a typical teen, displaying his inherent arrested development when confronted with being an adult while still very much a kid.

It is a little sad that the idea of divorce is such a natural one for young kids like Brick, a sign of how pervasive it is in our society. But his discussing of the “legal” side of a potential split with Olivia? The asset sharing, financial support, child custody arrangement? “I’m not even sure if Rainbow Bright is mine.” Wow … has it been confirmed recently that Patricia Heaton is still actually the star of this show?

Yes, she did have her own plot last night, though I would definitely call it the “B” plot. Sue failed to be included on a trip to the state capital for winners of a sales contest: cheese and sausage? People sell that stuff door-to-door out of cardboard boxes? That’s more disgusting to me than I can even describe to you. What’s wrong with cookies? Or Tupperware? Or even human heads, arms, or legs? But not meats and cheeses!

As sad a figure as Sue is, I find it sadder for Frankie, being the mother of a girl who has no notice paid of her. As Frankie herself says, “Nobody ever has a record of Sue.” And I’m not saying Sue’s life doesn’t suck, but how do you approach that type of a situation as a parent? The Middle isn’t really yet prepared to do so from a sensitive angle, sticking only to humor — and there’s a lot — in the Sue situation. And the Frankie side of things … even she didn’t really hear Sue yelling at her; she heard her daughter finally finding her voice.

Which The Middle has done, too. And if Sue’s trajectory is set, with Brick being brilliant, all that remains is a destination for Axl. A clothing store, perhaps?

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Oct 22, 2009 @ 09:33 EST5EDT