#stinky things

I'll have to ask Bear what the process is to keep them smelling clean! Is it the helmet!? The pads!?

I love that Nicole was able to steer conversation so she and Rachel might end up in places like this!

PS: The quote is from Rachel's appearance on 'Why Won't You Date Me?"

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I’d count Friends as one of the shows from the early noughties that managed to age well. Sadly even Frasier didn’t manage the feat.

One thing that surprises me though...is ‘Malcolm in the Middle‘ ---- I have yet to watch every episode (and yes...I watch for Hal and Lois at this point in time)....but I was deeply and pleasantly surprised after catching the final episode.

It’s funny that the climax (Malcolm finding out that he’s the only one who didn’t know about the plan) applies very well to 2020. Though there isn’t a candidate in the American election for president who has Malcom’s background....I would think that in time...someone would (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez comes close --- but she isn’t in the running as of yet...it’s nice to imagine that she is likely going to be the future president of the US)

PS: The other episode of the series that surprised me was Francis admitting that his mother’s doting on him wasn’t all in vain (TBA for the link to the post).

PPS: I thought it was a bit interesting that there is an ad for ‘The Dark Knight’ during this episode! Is that a nod that Lois is also the ‘ultimate antagonist’?

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HIGHLIGHT:

EXT. MALCOLM'S HOUSE (BACKYARD) - DAY

The family is in the process of hosing of the stinky and sticky concoction of REESE that blew up.

MALCOLM You know what? I'm glad.

LOIS grunts as she flicks off some of the MYSTERY MIX off her. She needs serious hosing off...but...doesn't matter. It's a start.

MALCOLM This is appropriate. Now my life looks exactly how I feel. How could you screw me over like that?

LOIS Because you were going to take that job...

She takes a couple of steps towards him, stiffly.

LOIS ...and we're not gonna let you throw your life away.

MALCOLM How is being rick throwing my life away?

LOIS Because it's not the life you're supposed to have.

MALCOLM is speechless. What!? Is he missing something?

LOIS The life you're supposed to have is you go to Harvard. And you earn every fellowship and internship they have.

HAL joins her. He's taken off his shirt...and is clean...where the shirt was.

LOIS You graduate first in your class, and you start working in public service...

PIAMA and FRANCIS listen in while wiping off.

LOIS ...either district attorney or running some foundation...

MALCOLM just looks at his mother and breathes out. Huh? What?

LOIS ...and then you become governor of a midsize state and then you become President.

MALCOLM tries to make sense of his mother's tirade.

MALCOLM What!?

LOIS Of the United States.

MALCOLM Dad!

HAL I'm sorry, son. It's true.

REESE is in the process of mopping off DEWEY'S back. They both nod.

MALCOLM looks to his older brother.

FRANCIS I thought you knew.

FRANCIS tosses water on his wife.

HAL Our expectations started out much smaller, but you just kept upping the ante.

MALCOLM What if I don't wanna be president?

LOIS It's too late for that. You're gonna do it.

MALCOLM Oh, really?

He reaches into his pants and flings the gunk onto the ground.

MALCOLM Have you decided my position on capital gains tax cuts? What are my foreign policy objectives?

LOIS That doesn't matter! What does matter is you'll be the only person in that position who will ever give a crap about people like us.

MALCOLM just looks at his mother. Mouth agape.

LOIS We've been getting the short end of the stick for thousands of years, and I for one am sick of it. Now, you are gonna be president, Mister, and that's the end of it.

HAL looks at MALCOLM and nods along.

MALCOLM Did it ever occur to you that I could've taken this job, gotten really rick, and then bought my way into being president?

LOIS Of course it did! We decided against it.

MALCOLM What!?

LOIS Because then you wouldn't be a good president. You wouldn't have suffered enough.

MALCOLM I've beenm suffering all my life!

LOIS I'm sorry. It's not enough. You know what it's like to be poor, and you know what it's like to work hard. Now you're gonna learn what it's like to sweep floors and bust your ass and accomplish twice as much as all the kids around you. And it won't mean anything because they will still look down on you.

MALCOLM stares. Is she telling me the good news!?

LOIS And you'll want so much for them to like you, and they just won't. And it'll break your heart. And that'll make your heart bigger and open your eyes and finally, you will realise that there's more to life than proving you're the smartest person in the world.

A beat.

LOIS I'm sorry, Malcolm, but you don't get the easy path. You don't get to just have fun and be rich and live the life of luxury.

HAL That's Dewey.

DEWEY perks up.

DEWEY Really!?

MALCOLM This is unbelievable. You actually expect me to be president.

LOIS just looks at him. Need she say more?

MALCOLM No, no, I'm sorry. You expect me to be one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States.

LOIS You look me in the eye, and you tell me you can't do it.

MALCOLM is about to refute her....but realises she speaks the truth.

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My verdict of the episode: 7/10