Ep 21. Reese Joins The Army (1)

In season 5, episode 21 of Malcolm in the Middle, titled "Reese Joins The Army (1)", the eldest and most mischievous of the Wilkerson siblings, Reese, makes a shocking decision to join the United States Army.

The episode begins with Reese feeling aimless and dissatisfied with his life. He's working a dead-end job at a slaughterhouse and feels like he's not going anywhere. His mother Lois is too busy with work to pay much attention to him, so he turns to his brothers for advice. Malcolm, being the intellectual one, tells Reese that he's too smart to waste his life in the army, while Dewey, being the innocent one, begs Reese not to leave him.

Despite their protests, Reese makes up his mind and enlists in the military. He tells his family, who are all shocked and upset, but ultimately supportive. Lois secretly blames herself for not being a better mother to Reese and fears that he's making a mistake. She tells her husband Hal, who is equally worried but tries to be positive for Reese's sake.

As Reese prepares to leave for basic training, he realizes that he's in over his head. He's never been a disciplined person and doesn't know how to follow rules. He tries to bribe his commanding officer, Sergeant Pearson, with a pack of gum, but quickly learns that this is not the way things work in the army. He's berated, humiliated, and assigned menial tasks, but he keeps soldiering on.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family tries to cope with Reese's absence. Lois becomes obsessed with sending care packages and letters to him, while Malcolm and Dewey worry that they won't be able to survive without Reese's protection. They try to bond over shared interests, but soon find that they don't have much in common and end up bickering.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger as Reese is given his first real mission. He's terrified and unsure of himself, but determined to make it through. Lois and Hal wait anxiously for news and Malcolm and Dewey try to distract themselves, but they all know that Reese's decision will have consequences for all of them.

"Reese Joins The Army (1)" is a tense and emotional episode that explores Reese's character in depth. It's a departure from the show's usual comedic tone, but it's handled with sensitivity and nuance. It also sets up the plot for the next episode, "Reese Joins The Army (2)", which promises to be just as intense and dramatic. Fans of the show will enjoy seeing the Wilkerson family facing their biggest challenge yet and will be eager to see how they cope with it.