When I re-watched “MalColm in the Middle”

I’m not sure how many of you remember this series, or even know about it, in fact; but it is a terrific show. Running from 2000 – 2006, the show is funny, clever and just great. Maybe it’s the show that represents childhood, or maybe it’s the show capturing the late 90s early 2000s era or maybe it’s me missing my own childhood but you’d really have to watch the show yourself to figure it out.

Most would remember Bryan Cranston as Walter White from “Breaking Bad”, but he did another great series before that: Malcolm in the Middle. Hal is this sort of adult child who is very much in love with his wife and tries to control and take care of his mischievous kids who get in all sorts of trouble. Hal and Lois have 4 kids at the beginning of the series: all boys. And Lois gets pregnant in the series again with surprise: another boy. One can only imagine how hard it must be for Lois to take care of them with Hal acting like a child himself, at times. No wonder she is arrogant, paranoid and controlling.

But, I am getting ahead of myself. While I’ve watched “Malcolm in the Middle” before and thoroughly enjoyed it, rewatching has made me see it in a different light. Who doesn’t miss their childhood? I read somewhere that when we remember how childhood, it’s not the 90s we miss but our childhood and our innocence. Because in our minds, it is just that beautiful messy time where we could do anything we wanted, be anything we wanted. It’s not about the era, but it’s all about the time.

And this is what “Malcolm in the Middle” captures perfectly. What I realized when I rewatched this time is how childhood actually was during those times. The guys got in all sorts of trouble, they were chaotic, they were curious, and they were naughty and sometimes just plain evil. They did all sorts of things; they were risk takers. And this is where children could have different childhoods. They wrestle, they experiment, they throw stuff and each other all around; they’re scared of their mother. But it doesn’t stop them from doing more. And because of this, they have this amazing childhood that they can remember and laugh about.

Comments

Rajamati

I think we’ve all heard the song of Rajamati growing up. It is so popular that many people in Nepal claim this is the only Newari song that they have heard. The song was written some 200 years back. The first few lines go like this, which I’m sure you must have heard of, unless you’ve been living under a rock: Rājamati kumati, jike wasā pirati Hāya bābā Rājamati-chā Rājamati mabila dhāsā Kāshi wane tela bubā Hayā biu Rājamati-chā. San dhāsā kuli kuli, mikhā dhāsā bālā bālā Sakumi yā mhyāy machā lā Khwā dhāsā tuyu khwā, khwālay niga tee du Tāhā Nani yā Rājamati-chā. It is said to be written by or rather from the perspective of a man who was infatuated and in awe of the beauty of Rajamati. He describes with great admiration: her hair, her eyes, her complexion and the little moles on her face. However it is unknown who the writer of this beautiful song is. The song rushed into popularity after it was played in England in 1850 when Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana vi...

The Leaving vs The Left Behind

I still remember, I was standing near the entrance looking out at the garden. I was at my best friend’s home and she had gone to get her ever famous chips chilly for me. I was to leave for Bangalore again, in a couple of days. While I waited, I looked out at the garden and this thought came into my head. “Who is it harder for? The one leaving or the ones left behind?” Is it going to be harder for me in a new place readjusting and exploring, or my best friend here, who will me miss me? Is it harder for a person to settle in a completely new place with a completely new lifestyle and have to find new people or for a person to see the same old places, the same old alleys and reminiscent the good times they had with their friend who are not around at the moment? It was a random thought that filled my mind a couple of minutes and then I got over it. Some time after resettling here in Bangalore, my best friend sent me a reel. The reel was about 2 close friends who used to lived ...

Most Asked Question

Coming back home after one year has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me the past month. Getting to see everyone again, embracing family and friends, working on an office desk again, walking through same old alleys and of course, devouring delicious food that I so dearly missed. I am actually almost through the food list that I have been saving. But the people have been asking me the same question a lot: do you like it here in Nepal or in Bangalore? And the answer has always been the same for me: I like it wherever I am. Kathmandu is home, it is warm, and it is where family is. Bangalore is a different vibe and freedom and excitement. Kathmandu is a different fun and Bangalore is different fun, which is why I live in the moment and enjoy where I am. My mother always tells me: “ La wani tha nya wani ma” in Nepal Bhasa meaning “ the fish must go where the water goes”. The meaning while very basic is also very deep. If the fish does not flow with the water, it cannot survive. I...

My World

Search This Blog