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Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 24

Evacuation

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AIRED: 5/13/01

When Hal accidentally looses a couch while driving it to the dump, it causes a toxic chemical spill when it gets hit by a train. Everyone in town is forced to evacuate to the school gym. Hal, feeling guilty, tries to help people out, including a boy who lost his parents due to a toxic cloud, whom is none other then Dewey. Reese forces people to give up their possessions because he has supplies that they need. Malcolm, is grounded and Lois is determined to punish him despite not being at home. Meanwhile, Francis is on a double date with Eric. But his date is 12.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (6)

perfect

10

By futuramarama, Aug 19, 2010

everyone is evacuated to the school. little does anybody know, but it is hal's fault. What will happen when this is revealed?

francis and eric go on a double date with sisters. only problem with this, is francis' date is a mere 12 year old. But they actually do 'bond'...

good episode, one of my personal favorites from season 2. It is one of the funniest episodes of the show, I think, and it is overall a good episode. No real complaints and so because of all this the episode's grade will be an A+, simply a perfect episode from start to finishmoreless
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This would have been better as a 2 parter but it's still good!

9.5

By MewWinx96, Jul 17, 2009

I personaly would have thought that it would have better if this was a 2 part episode but it was still good! Especaily when Dewey was telling the people who had evacuated that his parents died in a toxic chemical cloud. Jerry Trainor did a good job playing a National Gaurd Personel. And Malcolm stands up to his Mother. Rease sells esentials to the evacuies. And Francis dates a 12-year-old kid! 2 best seens: # 2: When Francis realise he had alot in commen with the 12-year-old. #1: When Lois, Hal, Dewy and Rease were kiked out of the gym and beged Malcolm for blankets. Malcolm replies "Sorry. I'm not allowed to leave my cot."moreless
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Probably the best episode of the series!

9.0

By EddyBob15, Oct 09, 2008

Finally, an episode where Malcolm comes out on top! Even though he was doing his schoolwork, Lois grounds him for not helping with the new family couch (a stupid reason if you ask me). When Hal and Dewey are taking the old couch to the dump, it falls off and lands on a train track, causing a wreck that covers the entire town in a toxic cloud, forcing everyone to relocate to the school gym. Despite circumstances, Lois still has Malcolm grounded and publicly humiliates him (even when he tries to stand up to her). Meanwhile, Reese takes advantage of everyone's suffering by marketing all the essentials, while Dewey gets attention by pretending to be orphan who lost his family due to the toxic cloud. Hal, feeling guilty for causing all this, hears about the so-called orphan and starts a fund for him. When Reese and Dewey's schemes are revealed, Hal ends up in hot water. It gets even worse when Dewey admits that the train wreck was their fault! In the end, the boys are forced to stay outside, remaining inside a boxed area. It gets even better when Lois (who's actions angered lots of parents) is forced to join them. When the family asks Malcolm for help, he says he can't, saying he's still grounded, getting the best of Lois for the first time! LOL! This episode proves there is justice in the world!moreless
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I loved it!

10

By VGFreak8, Mar 03, 2008

After Hal and Dewey go to drop off a sofa, it falls onto the railroad tracks, which causes a toxic spill. The city is evacuated into the school gym. Malcolm is grounded and Lois keeps him grounded even in the gym. Reese decides to make money by getting essentials and selling them to people. Dewey tells everyone that his parents died in the accident and that he is alone. Hal hears about it, not knowing it was Dewey, and tries to raise money for the boy. When Dewey calls him dad, everyone thinks that Hal tried to hustle them. Reese is also caught. When Malcolm rebels against Lois, she wants to discipline him, but she gets punished, along with Hal, Reese, and Dewey. Francis goes on a double date with Eric, but his date is Eric's date's 12 year old sister. Francis actually has a good time.

This episode was fantastic! I loved everything! It was really funny! This episode gets a 10 out of 10!moreless
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Really fascinating episode!

8.7

By _sciencegenius_, Jul 14, 2007

This event all started out when Hal and Dewey went to the dumpster to get rid of their old couch, but they were too lazy, so they just dropped it off on the railway, but thanks to them, a train derailed, forming a toxic cloud, which had forced the entire neighborhood to evacuate into the gymnasium of Malcolm's school. Malcolm was already grounded at that time, so in here, Lois forced him to stay on his cot at all times, and this caused a boy that was much smaller than him, totease him, and Malcolm couldn't do anything about it because Lois was grounding him. Meanwhile, Dewey pretended that his parents were killed by the heavy smoke, so the people could donate more money to him, and Francis dates a 12-year-old girl. This episode is really interesting!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Jane Kaczmarek	Lois Wilkerson
Bryan Cranston	Hal Wilkerson
Chris Masterson	Francis Wilkerson
Justin Berfield	Reese Wilkerson
Erik Per Sullivan	Dewey Wilkerson
Frankie Muniz	Malcolm Wikerson

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Casey Sander	Captain James	Guest Star
Jerry Trainor	Guardsman	Guest Star
Cristina Kernan	Didi	Guest Star
Eric Nenninger	Cadet Eric	Recurring Role
Evan Matthew Cohen	Lloyd	Recurring Role
Kyle Sullivan	Dabney	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- While Francis is in the diner, you can see Dewey in the background on the television screen (upper left of the screen) on what appears to be a news broadcast that says Toxic Orphan.
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- In a flashback scene, Francis says "Now we know, pigs can swim, cows can't". Cows can, in fact, swim.
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QUOTES (13)
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- Hal: Is that pepper spray?
  Cadet Edwards: I also have a whistle and I'm prepared to use that as well.
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- Malcolm: What are you gonna do? Spank me?
  Lois: Okay. (grabs Malcolm and spanks him lightly, Malcolm is embarrassed)
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- Reese: I guess when people are miserable and suffering, it brings out the best in me.
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- Malcolm: We could all die!
  Lois: When that happens, you're off the hook. But until then, I want those buns on that cot.
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- Reese: That'd be so cool! "My name is Reese, what are you lookin' at?"
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- Reese: Mmm, ice cream. What a wonderful unexpected treat, for SOME of us.
  Malcolm: Yes, Reese. You get ice cream and I don't. Thank you for subtlety illustrating that point.
  (door bell rings)
  Hal: I'll get it.
  Reese: Mmm, sprinkles. Aren't those you're favorite, Malcolm?
  Malcolm: I'm rubbing my butt on your pillowcase.
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- (the family tries to get Malcolm's attention)
  Malcolm: I can't. I'm not supposed to leave my cot.
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- Dewey: I can smell colors!
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- (Dewey and Hal are driving to dump, singing to the tune of "A Partridge in a Pear Tree")
  Dewey & Hal: When we get to the garbage dump, this is what we'll see.
  Dewey: Five broken toilets.
  Hal: Four flaming cheeseburgers.
  Dewey: Three fat maggots.
  Hal: Two giant rats.
  Dewey & Hal: And a stench that will buckle your knees.
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- Police Guard: If I wasn't in full uniform I'd take a swing at you myself.
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- Hal: Now you two are going to apologize for what you have just done.
  Dewey: We're sorry we left the couch on the tracks and broke the train.
  Person: Oh for the love of God.
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- Man: This is ridiculous. The man before me didn't have to pay this much.
  Reese: It's a cold, hard world. It's getting colder by the minute.
  Man: (rips watch off) You're an evil, little punk.
  Reese: (shakes finger in what man just said) Uh, uh. Now it's socks, too.
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- Lady with Chocolate: I'd be happy to give you some, but you should really ask your parents first.
  Dewey: I can't. They're dead. They were killed by the cloud. Can I have some?
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NOTES (3)
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- Cold Open: The boys have Dewey try to beat a record of riding the washing machine spin cycle like a mechanical bull.
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- First time ever that Malcolm one-ups Lois, as her and the rest of the family is stuck outside while he remains inside while still "grounded."
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- Reagen Dale Neis would later appear in year four as Nicki, Malcolm's sociopathic girlfriend.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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