Malcolm in the Middle: Season 4

2002 · 22 episodes · ★ 7.5

What Season 4 of Malcolm in the Middle

The family dynamics shift with the arrival of baby Jamie. Malcolm navigates teenage life, including romantic interests and school pressures, while Hal and Lois juggle parenting their growing brood.

22episodes

Nov 3, 2002Aired

May 18, 2003latest episode

8.1 hrtotal runtime

Season 4 Episodes

4x01 Zoo
Nov 3, 2002 · 22 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directed by: Todd Holland · Written by: Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein · Starring: Tim DeKay, Rocky McMurray, Daniel Roebuck, James Henriksen
4x02 Humilithon
Nov 10, 2002 · 22 min · ★ 7.5
High school's first day vexes Malcolm, who acquires an unfortunate nickname; and Hal, a parental "volunteer" running afoul of authority.
Directing: Jeff Melman · Writing: Michael Borkow · Starring: Deborah Harmon, Tania Raymonde, Theo Rossi, Kyle Sullivan
4x03 Family Reunion
Nov 17, 2002 · 22 min · ★ 8.5
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.
Directed by: Ken Kwapis · Written by: Alex Reid · Starring: Christopher Lloyd, Brenda Strong, Jeanine Jackson, Robert Alan Beuth
4x04 Stupid Girl
Nov 24, 2002 · 22 min · ★ 7.1
Acting dumb like Reese eases Malcolm's stress and lands him a date with the new light of his life, an attractive girl who's really a dim bulb.
Directing: Todd Holland · Writing: Dan Kopelman · Starring: Brittany Finamore, Randall Bosley, Carole Goldman, Roger W. Morrissey
4x05 Forwards Backwards
Dec 1, 2002 · 22 min · ★ 7.3
Brotherly love is lost on Malcolm and Reese, now out to sabotage his sibling's birthday in devilish strikes met with crafty counterattacks.
Directing: Levie Isaacks · Writing: Maggie Bandur · Starring: Timm Sharp, Tom Tartamella, Trieu Tran, Marquis Scott
4x06 Forbidden Girlfriend Mid-Season Finale
Dec 15, 2002 · 22 min · ★ 7.8
Malcolm starts to date Nikki. Meanwhile, Hal and Lois must take abstinence pills in an attempt to be better parents. At the ranch, Otto is furious with the other ranchers who keep destroying the fence that Francis is building to keep the cattle inside.
Directing: Jamie Babbit · Writing: Matthew Carlson · Starring: Logan A. Graham, Matt Battaglia, Blue Deckert, Jonny Acker
4x07 Malcolm Holds His Tongue
Jan 5, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.7
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.
Directed by: Jeff Melman · Written by: Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy · Starring: Brittany Finamore, Kevin Kilner, Jack McGee, David Burke
4x08 Boys at Ranch
Jan 12, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.8
On a visit to Francis' dude ranch Hal can't help being disappointed in Francis' success, Reese and Malcolm fear Francis has turned into an overly responsible grownup, and Gretchen punishes Dewey for breaking a valuable doll.
Directing: David D'Ovidio · Writing: Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy · Starring: Margie Loomis, Ben Livingston, Dale E. Turner, Andre Jamal Kinney
4x09 Grandma Sues
Feb 2, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.7
Grandma Ida is 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.
Directing: Jimmy Simons · Writing: Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein · Starring: David Rasche, Cloris Leachman, Mark Chaet, David Weisenberg
4x10 If Boys Were Girls
Feb 9, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 8.4
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.
Directing: Ken Kwapis · Writing: Nahnatchka Khan · Starring: Jennette McCurdy, Lisa Foiles, Mimi Paley, Lane Toran
4x11 Long Drive
Mar 2, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.6
A sex lecture from Lois rattles Malcolm; a ranch calamity unnerves Francis; disharmony among Hal's music group is a prelude to their concert. Also, a day in jail tests a defiant Reese, who faces a "Scared Straight" encounter.
Directing: Levie Isaacks · Writing: Michael Borkow · Starring: Lester Speight, Frankie J. Allison, Tom McCleister, David A. Kimball
4x12 Kicked Out
Mar 9, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.3
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."
Directing: Jeff Melman · Writing: Alex Reid · Starring: Reagan Dale Neis, Alex Boling, Michael Shamus Wiles, Sam Lerner
4x13 Stereo Store
Mar 16, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directing: Bryan Cranston · Writing: Matthew Carlson · Starring: Jeremy Howard, Hayden Panettiere, Todd Holland, Angela Little
4x14 Hal's Friend
Mar 30, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.3
Malcolm tries to emancipate Dabney from his overbearing mother while Hal invites his ne'er-do-well old buddy to the house. At the ranch, Francis is forced to share a room with Otto.
Directed by: Jeff Melman · Written by: Dan Kopelman · Starring: Beth Grant, Brittany Finamore, Brendan Walsh, Kyle Sullivan
4x15 Garage Sale
Apr 6, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.2
A garage sale that's entrusted to Reese (yikes!) yields treasures near and dear, like Hal's old radio transmitter, which he makes operational. And a PC dating back to 1976 that Malcolm plans to sell to Craig for $1300.
Directing: Levie Isaacks · Writing: Maggie Bandur · Starring: Cody Arens, Connor Swanek, Jay Collette, Kirk Ward
4x16 Academic Octathalon
Apr 13, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.1
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.
Directed by: Todd Holland · Written by: Rob Hanning · Starring: Ana Gabriel, Tucker Smallwood, Brittany Finamore, Joe O'Connor
4x17 Clip Show 2
Apr 20, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 6.1
Hal and Lois are penning their will, and think back to all the trouble their sons put them through. It is there that Lois' problems with Francis are finally revealed and how her inability to admit when she is wrong lead to a lot of the problems the family has been dealing with.
Directed by: Levie Isaacks · Written by: Dan Kopelman, Maggie Bandur
4x18 Reese's Party
Apr 27, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.3
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. Meanwhile, Hal and his very pregnant wife are off at a romantic retreat---feuding.
Directing: Levie Isaacks · Writing: Andy Bobrow · Starring: Danielle Panabaker, Nick Wechsler, Bill Lee Brown, Dominic Colón
4x19 Future Malcolm
May 4, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.6
Leonard, a cynical, genius chess player with no friends or job, makes Malcolm think he could grow into a similar adulthood. Determined to prevent this undesirable fate, Malcolm tries to help Leonard change his life by lining him up for a job interview with the obnoxious Craig. Meanwhile, Francis finds employ as a nude model and begins to delight in the exposure.
Directing: Ken Kwapis · Writing: Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein · Starring: Vernee Watson, Jeremy Roberts, Jason Alexander, J. Paul Rogen
4x20 Baby (1)
May 11, 2003 · 23 min · ★ 7.7
Lois goes into labor while Hal and the boys are at a bridal exposition. Ida moves in after her apartment burns down and she refuses to stay with Susan.Dewey reveals the date his parents chose for the baby's planned delivery is his birthday in an announcement at the exposition to humiliate Hal.
Directed by: Jimmy Simons · Written by: Rob Hanning · Starring: Cloris Leachman, Evan Matthew Cohen, Brian Stepanek, Dan Martin
4x21 Baby (2)
May 18, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 8.4
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.
Directed by: Jamie Babbit · Written by: Michael Borkow · Starring: Cloris Leachman, Evan Matthew Cohen, Dan Martin, Michael Rothhaar
4x22 Day Care Season Finale
May 18, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.4
With the arrival of their fifth child, Lois and Hal search for a "creative" daycare solution.
Directing: Steve Love · Writing: Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy · Starring: Nancy Lenehan, Jim Jansen, Jackie Harris Greenberg, Dylan Capannelli