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Back to School is the first episode of season two.


Summary[]

Frankie and Mike try to be proactive and explain Brick's eccentricities to his new teacher, but they end up getting accused by her of being overprotective. Meanwhile, Frankie, who is tired of trying to wake Axl up every morning, gives him an alarm clock, and Sue shows her support for the cross country team.

Plot[]

When you’re a mom, the most glorious day of summer is usually the last one. Just ask Frankie Heck. She desperately tried to quash the “I’m bored” cries that came from her kids all summer long by telling them to make use of their sweet above-ground pool. So they stuck a bull’s-eye on the side and started shooting arrows at it. Anybody got some duct tape?

It’s total chaos in the Heck house that first back-to-school morning. Frankie vows to change her ways. She longs to be like those “other” people. She wants to be a parent who doesn’t send her kids off with nail scissors and a lip pencil to use as school supplies. She vows to transform her disorganized ways. Think it’ll take?

The kids think grandma has come for a visit when they smell breakfast food cooking the next morning. But it’s the new Frankie Heck who’s makin’ that bacon. And that strange noise emanating from Axl’s bedroom clock is something called an alarm. It totally freaks him out. Brick is also freaked by the fact that Frankie got him a new backpack. His old one was such a trusted friend, which has now been tossed into the trash.

Frankie makes sure Sue has all that she needs to get her new cross country sweatshirt. She also freezes enough brownies to cover an entire year of bake sales. Frankie tries to do a preemptive strike with Brick’s new teacher, Mrs. Rinsky (guest star Doris Roberts), by briefing her on his “quirky” qualities. This doesn’t go well, as the teacher has some strong opinions about Frankie’s parenting. Anyone else feeling a little sitcom déjà vu?

The battle between Debra and Marie…er, uh…Frankie and Mrs. Rinsky continues with Brick getting caught in the middle. Mrs. Rinsky accuses Frankie of being a glommy mommy. The only way she’ll forget their conversations ever happened is if Frankie agrees to skip all school functions for the rest of the year. It’s a deal.

Change is met with varied responses from the Heck kids. Axl barbecues during the night because that alarm clock threw off his entire sleep system. Sue makes it known that she’s part of the fall athletic pep rally by always wearing her brand new cross country sweatshirt even though it’s still super summer hot in Orson. And Brick continues to struggle with the challenges of breaking in a new backpack.

Frankie realizes that she needs to get that backpack back to make her youngest son happy again. Too bad Axl has already taken the trash out to the curb. Axl never takes the trash out to the curb! He was just following Mike’s advice to support Frankie so that he can get what he wants somewhere down the road.

Speaking of roads, the trash truck is cruising down the one in front of the Heck house. Frankie takes off after it and dives into the back. She has to save that backpack from a smelly, grimy, dirty death. Victory! Frankie finds the backpack and brings it home. Too bad Brick has decided to keep his new backpack, as the old one smells pretty rank.

Trivia[]

  • Brick's teacher, Ms Rinsky, was portrayed by Doris Roberts, who portrayed Patricia Heaton's character, Debra's meddling mother in law, Marie, in Everybody Loves Raymond. The inside joke was that Ms Rinsky was criticising Frankie's parenting just like Marie constantly did to Debra throughout the nine seasons of Everybody Loves Raymond.
The Middle Episodes
Season 1
PilotThe CheerleaderThe Floating AnniversaryThe TripThe Block PartyThe Front DoorThe ScratchThanksgivingSiblingsChristmasThe JeansThe NeighborThe InterviewThe YellingValentine's DayThe BeeThe Break-UpThe Fun HouseThe Final FourTV or Not TVWorry DutyMother's DaySignalsAverage Rules
Season 2
Back to SchoolHomecomingThe Diaper IncidentThe QuarryForeign ExchangeHalloweenA Birthday StoryErrand BoyThanksgiving IIA Simple ChristmasTaking Back the HouseThe Big ChillSuper SundayValentine's Day IIFriends, Lies and VideotapeHecks on a PlaneThe Math ClassSpring CleaningThe LegacyRoyal WeddingMother's Day IIThe PromThe BridgeBack to Summer
Season 3
Forced Family FunHecking OrderMajor ChangesThe TestBad ChoicesHalloween IIHeck's Best ThingThe PlayThanksgiving IIIA Christmas GiftYear of the HecksThe MapHecking It UpValentine's Day IIIThe ConcertThe Sit DownLeap YearThe Paper RouteGet Your Business DoneThe Guidance CounselorThe CloverThe TellingThe Wedding
Season 4
Last Whiff of SummerThe Second ActBunny TherapyThe HoseHalloween III: The DrivingThe SafeThanksgiving IVChristmas HelpTwenty YearsLife SkillsOne Kid at a TimeThe FriendThe SmileValentine's Day IVWinners and LosersWheel of PainThe NameThe BachelorDollar DaysFrom Orson with LoveHallelujah HoedownThe DitchThe Graduation
Season 5
The Drop OffChange in the AirThe PotatoThe 100thHalloween IV: The Ghost StoryThe JumpThanksgiving VThe KissThe Christmas TreeSleepless in OrsonWar of the HecksThe CarpoolHungry GamesThe AwardVacation DaysStormy MoonThe WalkThe SmellThe Wind ChimesThe OptimistOffice HoursHeck on a Hard BodyOrlandoThe Wonderful World of Hecks
Season 6
Unbraceable YouThe Loneliest LockerMajor AnxietyThe TableHalloween V: The HangingThe SinkholeThanksgiving VIThe College TourThe Christmas WallPam Freakin' StaggsA Quarry StoryHecks on a TrainValentine's Day VIThe AnswerSteaming Pile of GuiltFlirting with DisasterThe Waiting GameOperation InfiltrationSiblings and SombrerosFood CourtingTwo of a KindWhile You Were SleepingMother's Day ReservationsThe Graduate
Season 7
Not Your Brother's Drop OffCutting the CordThe ShirtRisky BusinessLand of the LostHalloween VI: Tick Tock DeathHomecoming II: The TailgateThanksgiving VIIThe ConventionNot So Silent NightThe RushBirds of a FeatherFloating 50Film, Friends and Fruit PiesHecks at a MovieThe Man HuntThe Wisdom TeethA Very Donahue VacationCrushedSurvey Says...The LanaiNot Mother's DayFind My HecksThe Show Must Go On
Season 8
The Core GroupA Tough Pill to SwallowHalloween VII: The HeckoningTrue GritRoadkillThanksgiving VIILook Who's Not TalkingTrip and FallA Very Marry ChristmasEscape OrsonHoosier MaidPitch ImperfectOvary and OutSorry Not Sorry Dental Hijinks Swing and a Miss Exes and OhhhsThe Par-tayThe ConfirmationAdult SwimClear and Present DangerThe Final FinalFight or Flight
Season 9
Vive La HecksPlease Don't Feed the HecksMeet the ParentsHalloween VIII: Orson Murder MysteryRole of a LifetimeThe SetupThanksgiving IXEyes Wide OpenThe 200thNew Year's RevelationsThe Other ManMommapaloozaGuess Who's Coming to Frozen DinnerToastedThe Crying GameHecks vs. Glossners: The Final BattleThank You for Not KissingBat Out of HeckGreat HeckspectationsThe Royal FlushSplit DecisionA Heck of a Ride
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