The Middle: Season 5

2013 · 24 episodes · ★ 7.7

What Season 5 of The Middle

The fifth season opens with a farewell. Axl leaves for college, and Frankie doesn't know how to cope with the void he leaves at home. Meanwhile, Sue waits for an important call from school, and Brick gets a new cell phone. The episodes feature the celebration of Orson's centennial, the arrival of Halloween, and Sue's troubles with her friends and with Darrin. Frankie keeps selling cars with little luck, and Mike runs the quarry while trying to keep the family in balance. Everything revolves around a family with no time and no money that tries to laugh at its troubles.

24episodes

Sep 25, 2013premiered

May 21, 2014latest episode

8.4 hrtotal runtime

Season 5 Episodes

5x01 The Drop Off
Sep 25, 2013 · 21 min
Frankie becomes emotional as the Hecks send Axl off to college, Sue waits for an important call from school, and Brick gets a new cell phone.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: DeAnn Heline, Eileen Heisler · Starring: Jerry Van Dyke, John Mark Loudermilk, Tommy Bechtold, Rebecca Metz
5x02 Change in the Air
Oct 2, 2013 · 21 min
Mike tries to help after Frankie doesn't get a response to her texts to Axl, Sue gets an unexpected visit from Darrin, and Brick and his fellow classmates are afraid to use the school bathroom.
Directing: Blake T. Evans · Writing: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter · Starring: Bryce Hurless, Brock Ciarlelli, John Gammon, Jake Giles Netter
5x03 The Potato
Oct 9, 2013 · 21 min
Axl is fed up with his college roommate, Sue gets a job so that she can get a car, and Frankie and Mike get bad news about Brick from his middle school principal.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writer: Tim Hobert · Starring: Dierk Torsek, Tommy Bechtold, Rachel Dratch, Jimmy Bellinger
5x04 The 100th
Oct 23, 2013 · 21 min
During the Orson Centennial parade, Mike and Frankie volunteer to drive a float, Sue tries to make Darrin jealous, Axl tries to make some money, and Brick is upset over his town slogan not being chosen.
Directing: Blake T. Evans · Writer: David S. Rosenthal · Starring: Brian Doyle-Murray, Beau Wirick, Pat Finn, Brock Ciarlelli
5x05 Halloween IV: The Ghost Story
Oct 30, 2013 · 21 min
Sue holds a seance with her friends, the football team stops Axl from attending the Halloween party in his room, and the family tries to give Brick advice about girls.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Roy Brown · Starring: Grace Bannon, Jessica Marie Garcia, Katlin Mastandrea, Tommy Bechtold
5x06 The Jump
Nov 13, 2013 · 21 min · ★ 7.2
Frankie rescues a lost dog and takes solace in the unconditional love she receives; Sue surprises her parents when she makes the volleyball team; Axl asks Brick for help with school.
Directing: Elliot Hegarty · Writing: Robin Shorr · Starring: Tommy Bechtold, Ajay Mehta, Brooke Dillman, Dave Allen
5x07 Thanksgiving V
Nov 20, 2013 · 21 min · ★ 7.0
Axl looks for the right time to share news about his college classes; Frankie's dad reveals a gambling loss; Sue hides a secret; Brick determines to have lime-green Jell-O salad on Thanksgiving.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: David S. Rosenthal · Starring: Jerry Van Dyke, Mary Birdsong, Marsha Mason, Jack McBrayer
5x08 The Kiss
Dec 4, 2013 · 21 min · ★ 7.3
Mike and Frankie agree to house-sit for Frankie's sister in hope of having a romantic, kid-free weekend; Axl, Darrin and Sean go on a road trip.
Directing: Elliot Hegarty · Writing: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter · Starring: Beau Wirick, David Chandler, Parker Bolek, Gibson Bobby Sjobeck
5x09 The Christmas Tree Mid-Season Finale
Dec 11, 2013 · 21 min · ★ 7.0
Axl wants to spend time with his friends when he comes home for Christmas. Sue's allergies threaten to ruin her holiday and Brick's lie is uncovered.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Tim Hobert · Starring: Brittany Ross, Natalie Lander, Eddie Perino, Valorie Hubbard
5x10 Sleepless in Orson
Jan 8, 2014 · 21 min · ★ 7.4
Frankie and Mike start to worry when Brick begins developing irrational fears. Sue is conflicted about Derrick Glossner's behavior. Axl and Sean shut down Darrin's attempt to start a Boss Co spinoff.
Directing: Blake T. Evans · Writer: Roy Brown · Starring: Beau Wirick, David Chandler, Gibson Bobby Sjobeck, Brock Ciarlelli
5x11 War of the Hecks
Jan 15, 2014 · 21 min · ★ 7.2
Sue makes a discovery that leads to an ultimate prank battle with Axl; Brick tries to read a recommended biography on Debbie Reynolds.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writer: Robin Shorr · Starring: Jack McBrayer, Shane Palmerton
5x12 The Carpool
Jan 22, 2014 · 21 min · ★ 6.8
Principal Barker asks the parents to form carpools while the bus drivers are on strike; Axl becomes an astronomy expert so he can tutor an attractive student; Mike receives two tickets to a basketball game.
Directing: Julie Anne Robinson · Writers: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter · Starring: Greg Cipes, Pat Finn, Laura Ann Kesling, Jen Ray
5x13 Hungry Games
Feb 5, 2014 · 21 min · ★ 8.2
Reverend Deveaux interferes with the Hecks' plan to use their coupon for an all-you-can-eat buffet after church.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writer: David S. Rosenthal · Starring: Keegan-Michael Key, Anthony Gioe
5x14 The Award
Feb 26, 2014 · 21 min
Frankie tries to persuade Mike to attend a dinner honoring his dedicated service at the quarry; Sue forms a plan to build connections between students; Axl hopes to track down a girl who left a message on his phone.
Directing: Phil Traill · Writer: Katy Ballard · Starring: Greg Cipes, Blaine Saunders, Galadriel Stineman, Brock Ciarlelli
5x15 Vacation Days
Mar 5, 2014 · 21 min · ★ 7.0
Brick makes it hard for Mike to relax during the vacation he was forced to take; Frankie is furious when she learns that Axl was in town without letting her know; Sue tries extra hard to please her customers after receiving a bad review.
Directing: Phil Traill · Writer: Tim Hobert · Starring: Beau Wirick, Laura Ann Kesling, Brock Ciarlelli, Jen Ray
5x16 Stormy Moon
Mar 12, 2014 · 21 min
When Frankie is arrested over an unreturned library book, she thinks Brick is at fault; Cassidy and Axl are reunited during spring break.
Directing: John Putch · Writer: Robin Shorr · Starring: Beau Wirick, Paul Hipp, Galadriel Stineman, Casey Wilson
5x17 The Walk
Mar 26, 2014 · 21 min
Frankie and Mike run into old acquaintances, Sue gets several dates to the prom, and Brick gets Axl's help for a book report.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: David S. Rosenthal · Starring: Beau Wirick, Julie Brown, Pat Finn, David Chandler
5x18 The Smell
Apr 2, 2014 · 21 min
Bill backs out of coaching the girls soccer team, Frankie tries to teach Brick better hygiene, and Cassidy's painting confuses Axl.
Directing: Phil Traill · Writing: Roy Brown · Starring: Pat Finn, Galadriel Stineman, Tommy Bechtold, Alphonso McAuley
5x19 The Wind Chimes
Apr 23, 2014 · 21 min
Frankie begs Rita Glossner to take down her noisy wind chimes; Axl and Hutch try to figure out a way to retrieve a couch they found on the side of the road; Brick tries to come up with a new pretzel snack idea; Sue announces she is back with Darrin.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter · Starring: David Chandler, Gibson Bobby Sjobeck, John Gammon, Tommy Bechtold
5x20 The Optimist
Apr 30, 2014 · 21 min
Sue frantically tries to earn a college scholarship for when she graduates high school in two years; Frankie hopes to correct a mistake at work without her boss finding out; Brick demands a formal apology from Mike after a misunderstanding.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Tim Hobert · Starring: Jack McBrayer, Alphonso McAuley, Brian Scolaro, Thomas Crawford
5x21 Office Hours
May 7, 2014 · 21 min
Frankie limits the hours during which the kids can voice their needs; Mike watches to make sure Darrin doesn't take advantage of Sue; Brick invites new friends over.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Ben Adams · Starring: Brian Doyle-Murray, Chris Kattan, John Gammon, Rebecca Baxter
5x22 Heck on a Hard Body
May 14, 2014 · 21 min
Sue enters a contest to win a car; Mike and his brother bond on a road trip to Chicago for Brick's spelling bee; Frankie goes to Axl's dorm to help him find a missing desk.
Directing: Blake T. Evans · Writers: Mitch Hunter, Jana Hunter · Starring: Brian Doyle-Murray, Norm Macdonald, Brock Ciarlelli, John Gammon
5x23 Orlando
May 21, 2014 · 21 min · ★ 8.0
Sue looks forward to the trip to Walt Disney World; Brick begs his parents to take him to meet his online girlfriend; Axl waits to learn his final grades.
Directing: Eileen Heisler · Writer: David S. Rosenthal · Starring: Keely Wilson, Dale Dickey, Courtney Gains, Teresa Ornelas
5x24 The Wonderful World of Hecks Season Finale
May 21, 2014 · 21 min · ★ 8.4
A series of unfortunate events threaten to spoil the trip to Walt Disney World.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Tim Hobert · Starring: Mindy Cohn, Connor McCabe, Jeremy Palko, Mitch Silpa