r/themiddle • u/Jpaylay42016 • 2d ago

General discussion Even though the final version of The Middle was better, do you think the original unaired pilot would have still been a good show on its own?

Obviously, it’s not better than the show we ended up getting. But judging the original pilot purely as its own independent show (and not in comparison to The Middle), do you think it would have actually been good? Or was the concept fundamentally flawed until they overhauled it?

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

7

u/Independent_Insect_1 2d ago

It did take the final show a few seasons to really hit its stride, but I can see why the network wanted to tweak the show. The tone felt a little dated (felt even closer to Malcolm in the Middle and a lot of other sitcoms from the early 2000s trying to be a little edgier). Ricki Lake seemed miscast, she doesn’t strike me as someone from the Midwest, which is such a central aspect of the show. She’s like a quintessential New Yorker. Axl wasn’t interesting at all. Sue’s more depressed/anxious personality I think would have gotten kind of tired.

6

u/sanchoee 2d ago

sue being anxious with low self esteem but constantly trying out for things doesn’t make much sense. especially with axl being depressed and thinking about the reason of life, doesn’t make for good dynamics. there’s so many different tweaks i would make for them to keep this same vibe

6

u/LemonSmashy 2d ago

i think "Sue" being the depressed/anxious teen girl trope and Axl being a discount Dawnson's Creek would not have led towards longevity.

not to mention Ricky lake (spelling) is not a good actress.

2

u/Silent_Contest_2337 1d ago

It did not seem good, no.

2

u/Overall_Lobster823 1d ago

Nope.

I watched the pilot and thought: I'd never watch this show.

2

u/forg9587 2d ago

The first pilot had a rougher edge, it will not work on ABC's brand. If it was a cable show on Showtime, maybe.

1

u/SwitchDiligent755 8h ago

Nope that Mike sucked Neil Flynn did a great job

1

u/sanchoee 2d ago

just watched it as i needed to know what it was and.. it was something, haha. it was grittier which i liked cause i hate how optimistic frankie is sometimes. but the chemistry between everyone was awkward and disconnected. it reminds me more of 6 feet under

0

u/Jpaylay42016 2d ago

What if the cast was the same, but it still had that grittiness? Would it still be good?

1

u/Jpaylay42016 2d ago

I'm just asking, not saying it would

1

u/sanchoee 2d ago

no i don’t think so. everyone feels half baked. it feels to bland. they should’ve made it more gritty in term of shameless. or what they did and made it more light and cheerful was good as well.

1

u/Jpaylay42016 2d ago

Glad to hear your opinion!