Revival series are all the fashion in terms of beloved older sitcoms. Now, the newest show to return to the airwaves is none apart from “Malcolm within the Middle,” which aired on Fox for seven seasons. The brand new show, “Malcolm within the Middle: Life is Still Unfair,” is ready to premiere in April and can feature Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, and Christopher Masterson returning.
Erik Per Sullivan is the one original forged member to not return. Now, ahead of the premiere, reviews for the brand new show are mostly positive.
Early Reviews Heap Praise On The ‘Malcolm within the Middle’ Revival
The review embargo for “Malcolm within the Middle: Life Is Still Unfair” was lifted on April 9. Currently, the show sits at an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Although lower than many expected, this easily makes the show “certified fresh” on the platform. This is predicated on 27 reviews.
One reviewer, Akos Peterbencze from Looper.com, wrote, “I can’t speak for each fan, but ‘Malcolm within the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair’ is sort of every bit as delightful, bonkers, and mad fun as the unique was.”
Robert Lloyd from the LA Times stated, “It’s true to itself. It gets just a little sentimental and just a little serious within the clutch; there might be closure, self-realization, and ego death. And, as if embarrassed by the entire business, the show will do something crazy to blast the tear out of your eye.”
Lastly, Alan Sepinwall from What’s Alan Watching said, “If Boomer and the others desired to keep periodically returning to those misfits, I might grow wary. But within the short-term, there’s barely enough of that old ‘Malcolm’ feeling that I used to be glad, Mr. Cranston, to get more of this.”
Not All Critics Are Blissful With The ‘Malcolm’ Series
Regarding the reception to “Malcolm within the Middle: Life is Still Unfair,” there are also several negative reviews, with some stating that the show overall just doesn’t work the way in which the creators intended. In a negative review, Dave Nemetz from TV Guide wrote, “Family reunions are nice and all… but this one might only prove you actually can’t go home again.”
Nathan Chizen from Exclaim! said, “The unique Malcolm within the Middle looks like a product of its time, and, unfortunately, so does its revival.” Moreover, Aramide Tinubu said for Variety, “This finale actually has a heartfelt moment or two, however the show overall is wholly unnecessary.”
Lastly, Daniel Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter reviewed the show, saying, “Life’s Still Unfair is way from comfort food. It’s bizarrely discomfiting. It’s almost audaciously unpleasant.”
Still, a number of the negative reviews praised the performances, especially those of Cranston and Kaczmarek.
What To Know About The ‘Malcolm’ Revival Series
“Malcolm within the Middle: Life Is Still Unfair” has been within the works for quite a while now. Filming for the show reportedly began in April 2025 and concluded the next month. From there, Hulu and Disney+ announced in December that the show would premiere on April 10.
In total, the limited series will consist of 4 episodes. Regarding the plot, it involves Muniz returning to the role of Malcolm, this time estranged from his family, including Cranson’s Hal, Kaczmarek’s Lois, and Berfield’s Reece.
As mentioned, Sullivan won’t be returning to the show as Dewey. As an alternative, the role might be played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark as Sullivan is currently studying at Harvard and has left acting behind. The forged held the series’ premiere event in Latest York City on April 7.
Bryan Cranston Says Comedy Is Essential
Cranston has made a serious name for himself because the end of “Malcolm within the Middle” with more serious roles, corresponding to in “Breaking Bad.” Nonetheless, in a recent interview with The Guardian, the veteran actor opened up about why comedies, just like the recent show, are “essential.”
He told the outlet, “Comedy is important straight away. It’s not even essential. It’s essential. Since it’s a break from the bombardment of non-stop information. Individuals who have the news on 24 hours a day of their homes, I don’t think they realize the damage they’re doing. You may as well make a house filled with asbestos or simply have radiation continually emitting through your own home.”
He went on to joke about appearing naked on camera, including within the official trailer for “Malcolm within the Middle: Life is Still Unfair.”
The actor said, “Taking my clothes off appears to be my whole life. I assumed a nudity clause meant that it was circumspect as to when someone was going to be naked. I didn’t know my agent viewed a nudity clause as ‘nudity is important.’ So here I’m, a 70-year-old man parading around in his skivvies – or less.”
Frankie Muniz Recently Reflected On Getting Older
It has been almost 20 years since “Malcolm within the Middle” ended its original run in May 2006. Now, with the reboot, the chartacters are are all more advanced in life. Recently, Muniz spoke with USA Today, saying he can’t consider he’s now in his 40s, as Malcolm is on the show.
He told the outlet, “I ride a Peloton, and now it says ‘Frankie Muniz, 40s.’ I’m like, ‘Whoa, bro, my mom’s 40.’ She’s not; she’s 70, but in my head, I believe that.”
The actor also reflected on now being near the identical age as Cranston was when he began playing his dad on the unique show. Based on Muniz, “It’s pretty wild if you think that because I remember pondering he’s so old, you realize? I’m not that old!”