Malcolm in the Middle ran for seven seasons from 2000 to 2006.  Airing 151 episodes in its original run, the show enjoyed critical acclaim and popularity with audiences.  It won seven Emmys and a Peabody Award, in addition to more than 25 further Emmy and seven Golden Globe nominations.  To say this show was a hit is an understatement; in addition to launching Frankie Muniz to stardom, it introduced much of the world to the great Bryan Cranston.  So in the world of reboots, reunions, and sequels, it’s surprising that Malcolm in the Middle hadn’t had one yet. But now there’s Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair. And the good news is that the legacy sequel is very much the same show that it always was, and that is meant in the most complimentary way possible. 

The story picks up with Malcolm (Muniz) purposefully keeping his family at arm’s length to avoid their hijinks.  He is a single father to a daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten), who has inherited her father’s genius IQ, stunted social skills, and ability to speak directly to the audience.  He’s also in love with his girlfriend, Tristan (Kiana Madeira), who has yet to meet either Leah or his parents. Lois and Hal (Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek) are in the midst of planning their 40th wedding anniversary party, with Lois attempting to be the one to plan a grand romantic gesture for a change.  The rest of his family is back too, and everyone is pitching in, including Francis (Christopher Masterson), Piama (Emy Coligado), Reese (Justin Berfield), and their youngest child, Kelly (Vaughan Murrae).  

There isn’t that much to say about the performances in these first four episodes: if you remember the series, you will be happy to know that everyone slips right back into character. The writers are clearly familiar with large-family dynamics, so while the stakes have changed, they really haven’t at all.

Where the show really shines is in the same places it always did: its sense of humour and its heart.  The former remains just as sharp as it ever was, delivering big laughs in each episode, with both subtle jokes like wordplay and innuendo and the big slapstick moments the show was known for.  As a society, we have forgotten how talented a comedic performer Bryan Cranston is, and this series gets right to work, reminding us. In the first episode alone, we get him naked and being shaved, and a big musical number. And that’s only really scratching the surface of where he’s willing to go.  Barfield, as well, really shines as the now adult Reese, who isn’t quite the screw-up that fans of the series may have been expecting, but also isn’t quite the adult they may have been hoping for.

Muniz also slips right back into character, but the real standouts here are Karsten and Murrae as Leah and Kelly, who fit right into the universe. If the show were to continue, they would easily take the places in the story that the original kids did 20 years ago. 

The story we have in these first four episodes is very sweet as well.  Malcom, as stated above, has been avoiding his crazy kin, but the end result is just that his anxieties manifest in different ways rather than disappearing entirely. At the same time, the very things he is hoping to avoid exposing Leah to end up manifesting in his own actions.  The core of the story is that family, while a little off-kilter, is well-meaning and important. You cannot be your whole self if you’re cutting a part of yourself off, and that’s a message some of us could likely take to heart. 

Malcom in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is, in a word, great, and fans of the original series will be very happy with it. The series is a direct continuation of the original, but also provides more than enough context for new viewers to dive right in.  It’s smartly written, hilariously performed, and most importantly, entirely full of heart. The only major thing wrong with it is that four episodes simply aren’t enough.

Malcom in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is streaming now on Hulu on Disney + in Canada.