Hey everyone,

I keep seeing a lot of posts and comments hating on Frankie Heck, and while I get that she can be chaotic, lazy, or make questionable choices, I have to be honest: she gives me such a weirdly comforting, grounded feeling.

There’s something so refreshingly real about her. She isn’t a polished TV mom who has everything under control; she’s just trying to survive the day-to-day chaos of a working-class family. It feels human and trustworthy in a way that modern "picture-perfect" TV households just aren't.

And speaking of moms on the show,

even Nancy Donahue! Normally, I can't stand hyper-organized, business-like helicopter moms or "perfect" neighborhood parents, but Nancy somehow feels different. Underneath all her baking and perfectionism, she actually cares.

Both of them, in completely opposite ways, give me this warm "safe space" vibe when I watch The Middle.

Am I the only one who feels this way despite all the Frankie hate? How do you guys view her?

Little Brick was so adorable in this ep lol but poor thing didn’t speak in fear of Santa not giving him any presents 😭

Anyway that aside, i’ve been avoiding this sub and the show for a HOT minute because i’m on season 9 episode 14 and i‘m trying so hard to delay the inevitable (ie the ending of the show). i’ve even gone as far as watching 1 ep every two weeks when i used to watch it daily. it’s so bad out here i’m in the trenches LOL

First time watcher and still only halfway through this episode.... but gosh this is a REALLY hard watch. I want to turn it off every time Frankie and Mike are on screen with Brick. I get that it’s a comedy and everything’s exaggerated for TV, but honestly their behavior this episode felt like straight up neglect and abusive.

Is it really okay to ask a 13 year old to let you not parent for a few months because you just sent your daughter to college?! Like I get Sue leaving is a lukewarm deal (not big because she isn't Axl obviously!!!!!!!!!) but Brick is under their roof and a MINOR. He asked to be fed and they just did not care.

Ya ya ya we all know deep down they love their kids and show up when it matters but I didn’t get any of that this time so it just felt really sad.

I’m usually a Frankie apologist (Mike is the WOAT and I will die on this hill - no further questions please) but they took their nonchalance to a really uncomfortable extreme here. I'm sure the ep is going to end with a lesson learned by Frankie (never Mike!) and she'll show appreciation for Brick but the bad taste in my mouth will linger.

Just finished the series.

Initially, I see them as relatable, a bit chaotic but doing their best to get by.
But as the series progresses, I find them neglectful, lazy and financially irresponsible.

Mike is useless and disinterested from the start but at least offers a grounding presence.
Frankie starts off well meaning and definitely tries but quickly develops into someone who is self-centred, manipulative and fails to take accountability for absolutely anything. She makes rash and embarrassing decisions that create problems for everyone.

I’m not sure how a 2 parent household in a nice area who seem to have enough free time to engage with their kids extracurricular activities seem to constantly neglect responsibilities that have dire consequences for the kids AND they struggle financially (yet eat takeout every night).

By the time Sue and Axl are adults, they are unequipped for the world and struggle to do basic things people their own age should be able to do. At one point, they are both essentially homeless while at college!
Meanwhile Brick is dismissed as a weird kid but his attitude is a carbon copy of Mike’s while Frankie consistently enables his bad behaviour.
Yeah, the kids have their own flaws but being raised by helicopter parents who are simultaneously neglectful and set bad examples definitely didn’t help.