Ep 9. Reese's Job

In the episode "Reese's Job" from season 3 of Malcolm in the Middle, Reese finds himself unemployed after getting fired from his job at a fast-food restaurant. Desperate for money, he decides to start his own business, but things don't go as planned. Meanwhile, Malcolm and Dewey are assigned a science project that involves studying a cockroach, and they become immersed in the experiment. They even bring the cockroach home to observe it, much to the dismay of their mother, Lois. Francis, on the other hand, is dealing with his own problems at military school as he tries to escape from a disciplinary committee.

The episode begins with Reese getting fired from his job at a fast-food restaurant after he is caught stealing food. He is left with no source of income, and his family is not willing to give him any money. Desperate for money, he decides to start his own business by selling candy bars to his classmates at school. He buys several boxes of candy bars from a wholesale store and sets up a booth in the schoolyard. He manages to sell all of the candy bars quickly and makes a lot of money, but things quickly spiral out of control.

Reese becomes greedy and decides to buy more candy bars to sell. However, he ends up being scammed by a shady supplier who sells him a box of expired candy bars that no one wants to buy. Reese is left with a huge debt and no way to pay it back. He tries to sell the candy bars again but fails miserably, and his classmates start to make fun of him.

Meanwhile, Malcolm and Dewey are assigned a science project that involves studying a cockroach. They become fascinated by the insect and decide to do a detailed study on its behavior. They even bring the cockroach home to observe it, much to the dismay of their mother, Lois. She is disgusted by the idea of having a cockroach in her house and orders them to get rid of it. Malcolm and Dewey, however, are determined to continue with their project and hide the cockroach from their mother.

However, things take a turn for the worse when their pet cat, Lucky, attacks the cockroach. Malcolm and Dewey are devastated to find the cockroach dead and decide to bury it in the garden. Lois, who is unaware of what has happened, is relieved to have the cockroach out of her house.

Meanwhile, Francis is dealing with his own problems at military school. He is called before a disciplinary committee for breaking the rules and decides to escape by climbing over the fence. However, he injures himself in the process and is caught by the school's security guard. He is given a punishment of two weeks in solitary confinement and is left to ponder the consequences of his actions.

In conclusion, "Reese's Job" is a humorous episode that highlights the struggles of a young man trying to make a living. It shows how greed and desperation can lead to poor decision-making and how sometimes, even the simplest of things can become an obsession. The episode also explores the dynamic between siblings and the importance of teamwork in achieving a common goal.