Ep 3. Major Anxiety

In The Middle season 6 episode 3, titled "Major Anxiety," we find the Heck family adjusting to another year of school. As the children gear up for the new academic year, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) reflects on her own college experience. She might have not had the same opportunities and experiences her younger son Brick (Atticus Shaffer) was now having. Meanwhile, Brick's excitement of starting high school, his fear of forgetting his book at school, and his nervousness over being late, fuel his anxiety to alarming levels.

Brick is in seventh heaven on his first day of high school. It is the ultimate academic experience, complete with new friends, new books, and even new candy bars. Brick has even secured a unique look for himself, a button-down white shirt he dubs his "lucky shirt," to his mother's bemusement.

However, Brick is also profoundly anxious. He's going to worry every night about the odds of remembering his homework and whether or not his lucky shirt will still be clean for the following day. Frankie waits in the car after the school day is over when Brick's teacher comes out to tell her that Brick is not in class. Frankie is furious, stressing out over the fact that he is missing just because he was probably not able to find his book.

Besides Brick's anxiety issues, Sue (Eden Sher) finds herself consumed with guilt. This episode finds Sue weighing her numerous sports endeavours against her mental health concerns. She has taken on an unprecedented five clubs and athletic activities this year, so why does Sue feel like she is only accomplishing half as much?

Sue's restless nights, furrowed brow, and lack of appetite indicate that she feels like she's being pulled in too many directions. She confides to Axl (Charlie McDermott) that she's feeling overwhelmed, and under constant pressure to keep things organized and on track.

In the meantime, Mike (Neil Flynn) is facing his own career-related anxiety because his boss's retirement is forcing him to work harder than ever before. He is now mentoring a co-worker encouraging him to take the lead when it comes to their business building trip, in an effort to ease his own burden. Mike is also considering a promotion, but the next level of management comes with a substantial pay cut.

As the family takes on these issues - anxiety, guilt, and work-related stress - the episode explores how each character is affected by these stresses in their own way. The characters confront their personal demons and tackle them with varying levels of success and strategies. Although it isn't a perfect resolution for everyone, what's unique about this episode is how it explores and discusses the issue of anxiety and sources of stress openly. It's relatable, human, and unpredictable in the best possible way.

Overall, the episode is a compelling look at the difficulties of modern lives, where even small achievements can be wiped out by the overwhelming pressure to be perfect. With "Major Anxiety," The Middle delivers a moving, insightful, and empathetic portrayal of anxiety issues, highlighting how they manifest itself in different ways in its various characters. It's a must-watch episode for those who want to dive deep into the psyche of these relatable characters.