Ep 13. Reese Drives
- TVPG
- February 10, 2002
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8.2 (964)
Malcolm in the Middle season 3 episode 13, titled "Reese Drives," follows the misadventures of Reese, the second-eldest of the four brothers in the Wilkerson family. Reese is infamous for his low IQ and his propensity for causing trouble, and this episode is no exception.
The episode begins with Reese getting his driver's permit, and he is ecstatic about the newfound freedom this will give him. However, his excitement soon turns to frustration when he realizes that he can't legally drive by himself until he gets his license. His attempts to bribe his parents into letting him take the driving test early are unsuccessful, so he turns to his older brother Francis for help.
Francis, who is living on a dude ranch in Alaska at this point in the series, sends Reese a fake driver's license in the mail. Reese is thrilled to have the license and immediately takes the family car for a joyride, but things quickly take a turn for the worse. He crashes the car into a fence, knocking over a mailbox and destroying a neighbor's prized lawn ornament in the process.
Panicking, Reese turns to Malcolm for help, and the two of them hatch a plan to fix the damage before their parents find out. They enlist the help of their youngest brother, Dewey, and their friend Stevie, and together they try to patch up the fence and replace the lawn ornament before their parents come home from a trip.
However, their efforts are complicated by a nosy neighbor who keeps interfering in their repairs and the fact that the replacement lawn ornament they find is even more outrageous than the original. As the day goes on, things go from bad to worse, and the boys end up in a precarious situation that could land them all in trouble.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Francis is dealing with his own drama. His girlfriend, Piama, has been deported back to her home country of Canada, and Francis is determined to reunite with her. He enlists the help of the other ranch hands to build a makeshift boat and set sail across the Bering Sea to get to her.
The episode is filled with the classic Malcolm in the Middle humor, from Reese's bumbling attempts at driving to Francis's ridiculous plan to rescue Piama. The show's trademark slapstick humor is on full display, with plenty of hilarious mishaps and pratfalls that will have viewers laughing out loud.
But beneath the comedy, there is also a touching story about brotherhood and family. Despite their constant bickering and fighting, the Wilkerson brothers always have each other's backs when it counts. This is especially evident in this episode as Malcolm, Dewey, and Stevie come together to help Reese fix his mistake and keep their family out of trouble.
Overall, "Reese Drives" is a standout episode of Malcolm in the Middle that showcases the show's unique blend of irreverent humor and heartfelt storytelling. It's a must-watch for fans of the series, and a great introduction for those who are new to the show.