Ep 19. Tutoring Reese

In the season 2 episode 19 of "Malcolm in the Middle" titled "Tutoring Reese," things take a turn for the worse when Reese, the middle child of the Wilkerson family, learns that he is failing his classes and will have to attend summer school to pass. Despite his reputation as a troublemaker and slacker, Reese is determined to avoid the embarrassment of summer school and becomes obsessed with getting his grades up. In an attempt to help Reese, Malcolm, the clever and academically successful oldest brother, agrees to tutor him.

However, Malcolm quickly realizes that tutoring Reese is easier said than done. Reese is completely resistant to learning and is more interested in goofing off and causing trouble. As a result, Malcolm decides to take a different approach and tailors his teaching style to Reese's specific interests. He uses examples from Reese's favorite TV shows and movies to make the material more engaging and relatable, and even brings in his own friends to help.

Despite Malcolm's efforts, Reese's bad behavior continues to escalate, and he begins causing trouble not only in school but at home as well. To make matters worse, Malcolm's own grades start to slip as a result of the time he spends focusing on Reese. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, the two brothers have a heart-to-heart conversation that leads to a breakthrough. Reese begins to understand the importance of education and decides to take learning seriously, much to the surprise of his family.

As with every episode of "Malcolm in the Middle," "Tutoring Reese" is packed with both comedy and heart. The interactions between Malcolm and Reese are particularly amusing, as the two brothers have such wildly different personalities. Meanwhile, the struggles that both brothers face in school are relatable to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the pressures of academia. Ultimately, the episode reinforces the importance of education and the idea that it's never too late to turn things around.