The Middle Wiki

- Welcome to the home of all things related to The Middle from the Polyurethane Cow to the Pioneer Galaxy Mall!

READ MORE

The Middle Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Foreign Exchange is the fifth episode of season two.


Summary[]

Against the family's wishes, Frankie invites a Japanese foreign exchange student to live with them in the hopes of exposing him to American life; however, the Hecks get frustrated when he shows no interest in them or America.

Plot[]

People in The Middle strive to have the perfect American family. In Orson, everyone in the Heck house is still striving. Currently, there’s a raging debate over who does what in the household. Axl and Sue argue over who is supposed to do chores while Frankie and Mike fight about who should deal with the “check engine” light in the car.

Perfect neighbor Nancy Donahue tells Frankie that the local foreign exchange program is rewarding for the entire family, especially the kids. Being immersed with someone from another culture makes them more tolerant and mature. So Frankie signs up to take in a Japanese student named Takayuki. She says, “Okay, Takayuki, get ready ‘cause we’re gonna show you America!” Actually, they will show him how to watch reality TV while eating fast food from a bag on the sofa. Sadly, Takayuki isn’t a burger and fries kinda guy.

Frankie slides Axl and Sue a few bucks to get them to stop feuding with each other, so their houseguest won’t think they act like this all the time, which they do. She then sends Takayuki off to school after presenting him with a traditional American breakfast. Guess the kid doesn’t like Pop-Tarts either, as he hands his breakfast entrée back to Frankie after a less-than-stellar first day in America.

No one seems to be bonding with the exchange student. Brick is exhausted after trying to give Takayuki a little history lesson about national birds. Sue spends three hours singing karaoke. As for Frankie, she’s still having trouble feeding their guest. Her frozen waffles and French toast sticks don’t go over well, even though they come with a convenient container of dipping syrup.

Mike believes they’ve been saddled with a dud. Frankie wants the family to change their attitude pronto. She says, “I know Takayuki doesn’t say how disappointed he is, but his vacant stare speaks volumes.” Frankie is shocked to learn that the foreign exchange student at the Donahue house cooks exotic meals and is teaching them flamenco dancing.

Frankie is beginning to believe that her family may be right. Maybe they did get a dud. Frankie says, “I wanted a cultural exchange, and instead, I get another sullen teen. I mean, what’s with his parents sending him over here? I would never saddle some poor Japanese family with Axl.” She’s a fine American.

A follow-up chat with Nancy Donahue leads Frankie to change her tune once again. She now believes Takayuki is so shy and distant because they aren’t doing anything fun. All they do is work, eat dinner and watch The Bachelor. Frankie believes they are lazy ambassadors. What they need is a burst of Americana. So the entire family heads off on a road trip to Brown County. They churn butter there!

The Hecks plus one head down the open road to experience the best of the U.S. until the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Someone really should have done something about that “check engine” light. To make matters worse, Sue has to go to the bathroom big time. That’s because Axl switched her aspirin with a laxative. It’s payback for the time Sue tossed his pillow on the roof.

Frankie wants Axl to return the 20 bucks she gave him to get along with his sister. Sue’s miffed because she only got five. Brick didn’t get a dime! This leads to a big family brouhaha right there on the side of the road. Everyone is yelling at each other except for Takayuki, who calmly says he can fix the car. Woo hoo!

As it turns out, Takayuki is a whiz when it comes to fixing things. He repairs the toaster, fixes the lawnmower, and shows the family how to get picture-in-picture on the TV. Takayuki really did enrich their lives. Frankie only hopes that a little bit of her family rubbed off on him, too. The fact that Takayuki now sits around in his underwear watching TV and whispering to himself leads us to believe that he did, indeed, take a little bit of Orson back to Japan.

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
Advertisement