The Middle

10 Best Episodes of The Middle - Season 3

The daily mishaps of a married woman and her semi-dysfunctional family and their attempts to survive life in general in the city of Orson, Indiana.

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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The Middle - S3E3

#15 - Hecking Order (Season 3 - Episode 3)

Mike learns that Brick has been skipping gym class, and goes to meet with his fourth grade teacher. Meanwhile, Axl plans a prank on Sue, who is now in high school with him.

The episode was rated 7.75 from 430 votes.

The Middle - S3E1

#14 - Forced Family Fun (1) (Season 3 - Episode 1)

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Frankie insists that the family go on vacation together before school starts; Mike and Frankie remember their honeymoon, which was ruined by Nicky (Ray Romano), a guy Mike knew in high school.

The episode was rated 7.76 from 437 votes.

The Middle - S3E2

#13 - Forced Family Fun (2) (Season 3 - Episode 2)

Frankie insists the family take a few days of vacation before school starts. But Mike's suggestion of a camping trip brings back bad memories of their honeymoon camping trip.

The episode was rated 7.77 from 163 votes.

The Middle - S3E18

#12 - Leap Year (Season 3 - Episode 18)

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Sue wishes for a big birthday bash for her Leap Year birthday. Meanwhile, Frankie learns that Mike has been taking care of a stray cat, Brick develops a crush at school, and Axl becomes fascinated with vacuuming.

The episode was rated 7.78 from 370 votes.

The Middle - S3E12

#11 - Year of the Hecks (Season 3 - Episode 12)

After realizing that no one keeps their New Year's resolutions, Frankie decides that they will be assigned anonymously to each family member, and an all-you-can-eat buffet feast will be the reward for those who can abide by their chosen resolution for a week. But chaos soon ensues when Frankie must spend more time with Brick, Mike needs to smile more, Axl has to keep his bedroom clean, Sue needs to stop trying out for things she'll never make, and Brick must stop reading all of the time.

The episode was rated 7.78 from 370 votes.

The Middle - S3E21

#10 - The Guidance Counselor (Season 3 - Episode 21)

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Sue finds a kindred spirit in her awkward school guidance counselor, Jane Marsh (Whoopi Goldberg), who inspires her to reinvent herself. Meanwhile, Frankie is ecstatic when she and Mike buy a much needed new bed but is gobsmacked when her stubborn husband insists on assembling it himself; and Brick attempts to call the President to outlaw the Presidential Fitness Challenge, which would force him to accomplish some strenuous physical exercises at school.

The episode was rated 7.78 from 348 votes.

The Middle - S3E6

#9 - Bad Choices (Season 3 - Episode 6)

As the Heck home begins to literally fall apart, Frankie and Mike consider leaving homeownership behind and moving the family to an apartment. Meanwhile, Axl tries to fake Frankie out by pretending that he's sick in order to get out of taking a school test - and must later convince her that he's well enough to attend a party that evening; Sue and her ex-sort-of-boyfriend, Brad, volunteer to prepare a school skit about showing the dangers of texting and drinking while driving; and Brick tries to offer a little bit of levity by spouting off Shakespearian quotes.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 402 votes.

The Middle - S3E22

#8 - The Clover (Season 3 - Episode 22)

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Misfortune plagues Brick after he finds a four-leaf clover; Frankie seeks a caregiver for her aunt; Axl struggles with a prom-date dilemma and is also dismayed to learn that Sue is Darrin's prom date.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 368 votes.

The Middle - S3E7

#7 - Halloween II (Season 3 - Episode 7)

After being embarrassed over wearing a childish costume at a high school Halloween costume party and being ignored by the guys, Sue asks a flabbergasted Mike for his advice on what boys want when it comes to girls. Meanwhile, Frankie reluctantly volunteers to take Brick's socially awkward school social skills group trick-or-treating, and Axl and his friends devise a plan to trick rather than treat the neighborhood kids on Halloween.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 388 votes.

The Middle - S3E20

#6 - Get Your Business Done (Season 3 - Episode 20)

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Frankie is inspired by the pastor's sermon at the new church the family is attending. She decides to make it her mission that every family member completes their life's destiny before they die. As Mike, Sue, Brick and Axl come up with ideas as to their destiny, Frankie has a hard time figuring out what exactly she should be doing.

The episode was rated 7.81 from 322 votes.

The Middle - S3E9

#5 - The Play (Season 3 - Episode 9)

Frankie is thrilled when she learns that the Orson Community Theater is putting on a production of "The Wizard of Oz," and that kids don't need to audition to be munchkins, as they will be automatically cast - which is a perfect scenario for a hapless Sue. But things quickly go awry when Frankie is cast in a singing role and learns the director is not happy with Sue's performance and may cut her from the play. Meanwhile, Brick asks his unreliably quirky Uncle Rusty to attend his school's Special Friends Day - with disastrous results.

The episode was rated 7.81 from 372 votes.

The Middle - S3E15

#4 - Valentine's Day III (Season 3 - Episode 15)

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Frankie and Mike decide to try a fresh approach to Valentine's Day by having dinner out with friends. But a clueless Mike angers Frankie by refusing to present her with a simple romantic gesture. Meanwhile, Axl can't think of a life-changing moment that's occurred in his life when he's assigned to write a school paper on the subject, Brick is tasked with writing a report on love, and a hapless Sue doesn't understand why her new boyfriend has suddenly turned into a bad kisser.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 353 votes.

The Middle - S3E5

#3 - The Test (Season 3 - Episode 5)

Frankie learns that Axl's PSAT's are fast approaching and he hasn't been preparing for them. Sue sets her sights high and decides to try out for cheerleading, while Mike decides that Brick needs to toughen up when he gets bullied at school.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 411 votes.

The Middle - S3E24

#2 - The Wedding (Season 3 - Episode 24)

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The Hecks are pleased to learn that Mike's brother, Rusty is getting married. However, the joy is short-lived, when they discover that the wedding is to be held at their house. Meanwhile, Brick cannot attend a party that same day, due to the nuptials.

The episode was rated 7.90 from 319 votes.

The Middle - S3E13

#1 - The Map (Season 3 - Episode 13)

Aunty Ginny's funeral is the catalyst for Frankie's vow to begin celebrating all of the family's major life achievements. Axl mistakenly eats Brick's school map project and Sue finds out that a boy on the wrestling team has a crush on her.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 364 votes.

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