Life’s Still Unfair Review: Malcolm in the Middle Revival Nails the Chaos and the Heart

It has been over 26 years since Malcolm In The Middle had its broadcast debut. I was 8 years old, lying on the carpet of our family living room, as the iconic theme song by They Might Be Giants made my whole family sing along in anticipation for another episode of what we didn’t realize then would become one of the top family sitcoms of all time.

We return to the family that started it all, but this time, Malcolm is doing well now. Has a girlfriend, a daughter, Leah, and has figured out a way to rise above the mess that is his siblings and parents by one simple trick. Avoiding them at all costs. But when Lois and Hal’s 40th wedding anniversary has Malcolm re-integrate with his past, old habits and new dynamics form, forcing him to come to terms with whether his approach to peace wasn’t peaceful at all.

It’s very difficult to return to any show decades after it went off the air. We’ve seen it be somewhat successful with Arrested Development, which ironically would air right after Malcolm in the Middle on my local station, and we’ve also seen big misses like Friends: The Reunion.

I’m happy to report that Life’s Still Unfair finds its bearings immediately, like the show never skipped a beat. It has all the same heart, humor, and wacky situations that made you love the original, minus a few sticking points that feel like a correction rather than what was originally planned.

Lois and Hal have a new kid, Kelly (Vaughan Murrae), seemingly replacing the role of Dewy and perhaps Jamie. Both brothers were severely underutilized and felt like afterthoughts to the bigger story surrounding Malcolm, his daughter, and his parents. Reese and Francis also have bigger roles but still more supporting, but you can only do so much with just 4 episodes and this many characters. I do wish we got more with Dewy, particularly, but the story and heart bursting from this wonderful reunion more than make up for it.

Keeley Karsten, who plays Leah, does a great job of tying herself to the family and being every bit like her dad, Malcolm. Typically, I don’t really enjoy bringing in new characters if there’s not a good reason, but not only was this a surprising and welcome addition, but one that could continue if everyone were on board to make more.

You can expect loads of returning characters and heartfelt tributes to those who have passed. The ending has me bawling my eyes out and laughing at the same time. If you were a fan of the show, especially growing up with it yourself, this is going to be a breeze to watch and enjoy.

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