Ep 20. TV or Not TV

The Middle season 1 episode 20, "TV or Not TV," opens with the Heck family gathered in their living room, glued to the television during a thunderstorm. But when the power goes out, they are forced to find other ways to entertain themselves.

Frankie, the matriarch of the family, tries to rally her kids, Axl, Sue, and Brick, to do something together as a family. However, each member of the family has their own ideas of what constitutes a good time.

Axl, the oldest sibling, suggests that they play a game of basketball in the garage, but Sue is reluctant to participate. She suggests that they play a game of charades, to which Brick eagerly agrees. However, Axl is bored by the idea and retreats to his room to play video games.

As Frankie tries to wrangle her family together, she receives a call from her friend, Nancy. Nancy tells Frankie that the TV repair shop is having a going out of business sale, and encourages Frankie to buy a new television.

At first, Frankie is hesitant to spend the family's money on a new TV, but when she sees the sale prices, she can't resist. She decides to surprise her family with a new TV, hoping that it will bring them all together.

When Frankie brings the new TV home, she realizes that it's too big for their living room. She enlists the help of her neighbor, Mike, to install a new wall mount for the TV. However, the installation doesn't go smoothly, and the TV crashes to the floor, shattering the screen.

Disappointed but determined, Frankie takes the family on a trip to the store to buy a new TV. However, the store is crowded and chaotic, and the family quickly becomes overwhelmed.

As Frankie and her family struggle to navigate the store, they begin to argue over which TV they should buy. Axl wants a giant screen, Sue wants a TV with a built-in DVD player, and Brick is enamored by a TV with a camera that allows him to communicate with his friend from school.

As the family bickers, an employee from the store approaches them and offers to help. He shows them a TV that meets all of their specifications, and the family agrees to buy it.

As they bring the new TV home and set it up, the Heck family finally comes together to enjoy their new purchase. They cuddle up on the couch and watch their favorite show, realizing that spending time together as a family is more important than any TV show or gadget.

Overall, The Middle season 1 episode 20, "TV or Not TV" is a heartwarming exploration of family dynamics and the importance of spending time together. Despite some hiccups along the way, the Heck family learns to come together and appreciate the simple things in life.