Malcolm in the Middle

10 Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle - Season 4

A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 04, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Malcolm in the Middle - S4E18

#15 - Reese's Party (Season 4 - Episode 18)

When Hal and Lois go out of town for a "last chance" getaway before the baby comes, Reese has a big bash that gets out of hand. College-age thugs show up, cancel the party and set up a drug-making operation in the garage. All Reese and Malcolm can do is knuckle under. The good news is, Dewey's not around. The bad news is, his baby sitter is Lois's annoying co-worker Craig (David Anthony Higgins). Meanwhile, Hal and his very pregnant wife are off at a romantic retreat---feuding.

The episode was rated 7.59 from 194 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E12

#14 - Kicked Out (Season 4 - Episode 12)

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After Lois is out of town, Malcolm and Hal got into a fight leading Malcolm to get expelled from his house. Malcolm lives with his girlfriend in her attic, as Hal put signs for "Missing Malcolm."

The episode was rated 7.59 from 209 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E7

#13 - Malcolm Holds His Tongue (Season 4 - Episode 7)

After joining the basketball team at school, Malcolm soon finds himself under the coach's skin due to his constant complaining, which eventually gets him kicked off the team. Determined to put an end to his horrible habit of talking before he thinks, Malcolm starts "holding his tongue" which solves all the problems with his coach, girlfriend, and parents, but it ends up causing more stress than before. Meanwhile, Hal takes up speed walking and is desperate to be the best while Reese gets Craig to take him and Allison to a concert and almost ruins his date.

The episode was rated 7.61 from 222 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E16

#12 - Academic Octathlon (Season 4 - Episode 16)

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An academic competition faces the Krelboynes in an event Malcolm derides. Especially when he learns his teacher has a cheating plan. Also: a commitment to a formal dance ruffles Reese, who's now trying to ditch his date.

The episode was rated 7.62 from 192 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E5

#11 - Forwards Backwards (Season 4 - Episode 5)

Brotherly love is lost on Malcolm and Reese, now out to sabotage his sibling's birthday in devilish strikes met with crafty counterattacks.

The episode was rated 7.63 from 232 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E6

#10 - Forbidden Girlfriend (Season 4 - Episode 6)

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The new light of Malcolm's life is a vivacious, rebellious girl (Reagan Dale Neis) who defies her overbearing dad---who terrifies Malcolm.

The episode was rated 7.63 from 218 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E2

#9 - Humilithon (Season 4 - Episode 2)

High school's first day vexes Malcolm, who acquires an unfortunate nickname; and Hal, a parental "volunteer" running afoul of authority.

The episode was rated 7.68 from 242 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E13

#8 - Stereo Store (Season 4 - Episode 13)

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Jessica, a sly, 16-year-old sitter outfoxes the boys while Lois is away and Hal's busy with a second job as a whiz of a salesman.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 212 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E1

#7 - Zoo (Season 4 - Episode 1)

Malcolm, whose frenetic home life is a kind of zoo, begins the fourth season by accompanying his family to the real thing. A visit to the zoo offers close encounters with creatures great and small. But Hal wishes he could have passed on an encounter with Lois's former beau, who lectures on rain-forest animals. Elsewhere, Reese butts heads with a goat; and Malcolm and Dewey take a tumble into a tiger den. Another storyline checks in on ne'er-do-well Francis, now the unlikely foreman of a dude ranch owned by a cheery German businessman.

The episode was rated 7.74 from 253 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E20

#6 - Baby (Part 1) (Season 4 - Episode 20)

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Hal and the boys are at a bridal expo, leaving a very pregnant Lois at home with Francis. They get two surprises: an unexpected visit from Grandma Ida (guest star Cloris Leachman) and Lois' water breaking.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 200 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E21

#5 - Baby (Part 2) (Season 4 - Episode 21)

While Lois is in labor, the house is hectic, and Hal, desperate to get home, has crashed the car on the way out of the expo.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 192 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E9

#4 - Grandma Sues (Season 4 - Episode 9)

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Cloris Leachman returns in her Emmy-nominated role as the spiteful and irascible Grandma Ida. She's even nastier than usual (if that's possible) because of a tumble down the front steps that resulted in a broken collarbone, prompting her to sue her daughter and son-in-law for pain and suffering. And there's more momentous news on the home front: Lois is pregnant. So she pleads with Ida to reconsider her lawsuit: "We're already stretched to the limit financially as it is. Obviously, a new baby is going to make things even harder on us." "Yes, yes, of course," Ida concurs. "You should settle."

The episode was rated 7.93 from 230 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E10

#3 - If Boys Were Girls (Season 4 - Episode 10)

After being rattled by a battle among the boys, a pregnant Lois ponders the consequences of raising another brawling kid. So she fantasizes that her unruly sons have morphed into well-behaved young daughters. Malcolm becomes Mallory, Reese is transformed into Renee and Dewey turns into Daisy.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 221 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E8

#2 - Boys at Ranch (Season 4 - Episode 8)

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Typically, the boys run amok at Francis's dude ranch; atypically, he disciplines them, setting the stage for their clever retaliation.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 218 votes.

Malcolm in the Middle - S4E3

#1 - Family Reunion (Season 4 - Episode 3)

Christopher Lloyd adds to his gallery of eccentric characters, playing Hal's quirky, cranky and very wealthy father, Walter, in this rollicking episode. The occasion is a birthday celebration for the old man, but the snooty female in-laws seem more interested in offending Lois. Their shabby behavior initially goes unnoticed by Hal, who's desperately trying to bond with his self-centered dad; and by Dewey and Reese, who seek some of Grampa's dough by currying favor with him. But when Lois is reduced to tears after being excluded from a group photo, the family rallies to her side with an all-out counterattack that turns the party into pandemonium.

The episode was rated 8.04 from 242 votes.

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