I'm a fan of MITM for two reasons: because it's entertaining and because I can relate to it. Tonight, both goals were met superbly well.
I found myself a bit bored with the Lois/Abe storyline, but generally laughing non-stop with Hal and the boys.
At the same time, after watching the ep, I realized that my life related to it in more ways than one. You can think about your parents dying as much as you want, but to actually have it happen--it's pretty weird. You don't know what you're going to do. It's like if someone asked what you would do if you were on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. Would you be one of the people who calls their loved ones to say goodbye, or one of the people who sacrifices the goodbye's to try and stop the terrorists, like the people on the plane that crashed in Philadelphia?
Sometimes you have to have something taken away to see how much it really does mean to you.
The fact that Malcolm realizes there was a bigger problem is huge. It's even bigger that he tries to do something about it (at first). It means that Malcolm is an incredibly mature and mentally healthy person. He was able to confront his father about this admittedly very serious problem. Ultimately, he gave in to the pressure of the car, but what teenager wouldn't? It doesn't show his true character--it shows that he's a teenager. What did show his true character is that he cared enough to try and interfere--to help his father. He had to confront him about some very serious issues indeed, sure, but he managed to do that. And that makes me look like a coward--I keep saying I'll try, but I can't.
The fact that Dewey and Reese want to milk Hal for all he's worth goes back to the ideas circulated in Family Reunion. Back then, the boys--Dewey and Reese especially--planned to try and become Grandpa's favorite and get the giant inheritance. When the inheritance is lost, the boys are forced to turn elsewhere. They realize their father is weak and decide to milk him instead.
Abe failed miserably, but he too tried to help his friend. We know that these sorts of things really twist Mr. Kenarban up inside, and although he wasn't able to talk to Hal himself, he was able to work up the courage to try and help him out. Sometimes that's a major first step.
To my count, we've seen the following people die in MITM:
Aunt Helen in Funeral
Victor, but the episode escapes me
And Hal's dad in Hal Grieves.
No one really knew Aunt Helen, but the event still managed to bring the Wilkersons together. And the same thing happened with the newest episode, albeit in a different way. This is what MITM does best: taking an ultra-serious issue and dealing with it in a comical way. This episode has affected me personally more than any in recent memory.
I found myself a bit bored with the Lois/Abe storyline, but generally laughing non-stop with Hal and the boys.
At the same time, after watching the ep, I realized that my life related to it in more ways than one. You can think about your parents dying as much as you want, but to actually have it happen--it's pretty weird. You don't know what you're going to do. It's like if someone asked what you would do if you were on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. Would you be one of the people who calls their loved ones to say goodbye, or one of the people who sacrifices the goodbye's to try and stop the terrorists, like the people on the plane that crashed in Philadelphia?
Sometimes you have to have something taken away to see how much it really does mean to you.
The fact that Malcolm realizes there was a bigger problem is huge. It's even bigger that he tries to do something about it (at first). It means that Malcolm is an incredibly mature and mentally healthy person. He was able to confront his father about this admittedly very serious problem. Ultimately, he gave in to the pressure of the car, but what teenager wouldn't? It doesn't show his true character--it shows that he's a teenager. What did show his true character is that he cared enough to try and interfere--to help his father. He had to confront him about some very serious issues indeed, sure, but he managed to do that. And that makes me look like a coward--I keep saying I'll try, but I can't.
The fact that Dewey and Reese want to milk Hal for all he's worth goes back to the ideas circulated in Family Reunion. Back then, the boys--Dewey and Reese especially--planned to try and become Grandpa's favorite and get the giant inheritance. When the inheritance is lost, the boys are forced to turn elsewhere. They realize their father is weak and decide to milk him instead.
Abe failed miserably, but he too tried to help his friend. We know that these sorts of things really twist Mr. Kenarban up inside, and although he wasn't able to talk to Hal himself, he was able to work up the courage to try and help him out. Sometimes that's a major first step.
To my count, we've seen the following people die in MITM:
Aunt Helen in Funeral
Victor, but the episode escapes me
And Hal's dad in Hal Grieves.
No one really knew Aunt Helen, but the event still managed to bring the Wilkersons together. And the same thing happened with the newest episode, albeit in a different way. This is what MITM does best: taking an ultra-serious issue and dealing with it in a comical way. This episode has affected me personally more than any in recent memory.