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The 200th

‘The 200th’

Season 9, Episode 9 -  Aired December 5, 2017

On the 200th episode of The Middle, Orson is named one of the top 200 most livable towns in Indiana ahead of a ceremony to unveil the newly rebuilt Orson cow. Mike is stunned when Bill Norwood reveals that he and Paula have split up. Meanwhile, Brick must complete three acts of bravery to win Cindy back, while Axl has Sue pretend to be his assistant to impress prospective employees.

Quote from Frankie

Frankie: Okay, we got to get serious about this time-capsule thing. I mean, they're putting them in the base of the cow in two days, and I got nothin'. Nancy even gave me an extra month, and I still blew it. What is the matter with me?
Mike: That's not a list we want to attack right before bed.
Frankie: No, I'm serious. What is the matter with my brain that I can't remember anything anymore? I need to be tested.

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Quote from Frankie

Mike: Oh, hey. Uh, Bill and Paula are separated.
Frankie: Wait, what?! Seriously? Why did you let me yap on about my brain when you were sitting on a story like that? Start talking, mister.
Mike: Uh, well, he says they're having problems. Apparently, she's on him about watching too much sports.
Frankie: Well, you know what, she's not wrong. He does watch a lot of sports.
Mike: No more than the next guy. Besides, Paula should appreciate the extra time to do her little landscape paintings.
Frankie: Her "little landscape paintings"? What does that mean?
Mike: I'm just saying, maybe she's, uh, distracted and not attending to his needs.
Frankie: "Attending to his needs"?! Where'd you get that from, the '50s? What, she's not allowed to paint?

Quote from Mike

Frankie: But I just feel so bad for them. Are they getting divorced?
Mike: I don't know. You'd have to ask Bill.
Frankie: Well, why didn't you ask Bill?
Mike: He started crying, so I came inside.
Frankie: Mike! You can't do that. He obviously sought you out because he needed your support, and you just come inside? Okay, I'm gonna call Paula and see how she's doing, but you need to reach out again to Bill. He needs you.
Mike: Hearing a lot of sympathy for Bill here. What about me? I had a friend cry in front of me today.

Quote from Brick

Frankie: [v.o.] So, Brick, realizing he didn't have the legs to pull off a Wonder Woman costume, performed what he hoped would be his first act of bravery.
Brick: My fair lady, I bring you the mop of the crabby afternoon janitor.
Cindy: Good. I needed a mop. How'd you get it?
Brick: Wit, skill, cunning... and $5.
Cindy: Hmm. I'll allow it. That's one.

Quote from Brick

Brick: [on recording] Okay, Cindy. I'm here in front of the Glossners' house. That's right... the Glossners' house. Pretty brave, huh? [yelps] Oh. That was a leaf. Anyway, I know you're convinced that the Glossners stole your backup safari hat, so I, Brick Heck, am going to get it back. I-I waited until everyone was out of the house. It's not breaking and entering, because, well, all the windows are already broken. All right, here we go. [dog growls] Good boy. [dog snarls] Good boy? [vicious barking] Good boyyyyyyyyy! [barking continues]
Brick: I'm sorry I wasn't able to recover your hat. However, I did sustain a rather nasty-looking scrape on my arm that I did not seek medical attention for.
Cindy: That looks infected. Okay. That's two.

Quote from Axl

Axl: Sue, come on! Please, no!
Sue: You are going in there, and you are getting that job!
Axl: I miss my old hair, Sue. My neck feels cold. It's weird.
Sue: Come on! Come on!
Axl: Oh, this is very insubordinate behavior! I'm your boss, for God's sake!
Sue: [grunting] No, you don't! [shoves Axl through the door]
Axl: Hi. Axl Heck. So nice to meet you. I'm here for my 2:00 appointment.
Frankie: [v.o.] So, while Sue may not have wanted to be his "official" assistant, she was there for Axl when he needed assistance the most.

Quote from Cindy

Brick: Cindy, I'm sorry. I choked. I couldn't come up with a third act of bravery, so I guess I blew it. Again. I never should have broken up with you in the first place. It's the dumbest thing I've ever done.
Cindy: Three.
Brick: What?
Cindy: That's the third act of bravery. It takes a brave man to admit he was wrong. That's all I was looking for.
Brick: Really? Wait, so this is it? We're really back together as a couple?
Cindy: Yes.
Brick: So... should we kiss?
Cindy: Sure. [they kiss]
Brick: Okay, I'll see you around.
Cindy: All right.

Quote from Axl

Axl: [o.s.] Someone get my phone!
Frankie: [mouth full] We're not getting your phone.
Axl: I know I said not to touch my phone, but touch my phone!
Sue: Why can't you get it?!
Axl: I'm in the shower! Come on, it might be important. It might be one of the people I sent my résumé to!
Mike: Then you should definitely get it.
Axl: If I get a job, I'll be moving out.
[Frankie, Mike and Sue rush over to Axl's phone]
Sue: [answers phone] Axl Heck's phone. How may I help you? And whom may I say is calling? One moment, please, Mr. McCollum.
Axl: [enters] Here, here, here. [takes phone] Hello, this is Axl Heck. Business is my business.

Quote from Mike

Frankie: Well, I think Orson deserves it. The people here are just really friendly.
Mike: I think it's dumb.
Frankie: Not everybody.
Mike: The whole thing's just a big money-maker. They just want the people in those 200 towns who never buy the magazine to buy the magazine.
Ron: I bought four!

Quote from Nancy Donahue

Nancy: Well, it's too late now, 'cause Orson's goin' "200" crazy! We're gonna incorporate the whole thing into the cow rededication ceremony... 200 balloons, 200 desserts, 200 coupons of goods and services from local vendors that will go into a gift basket to be awarded to the 200th visitor who crosses the city line that day!
Sue: Wait, 200 balloon?! That's like two bags' worth!
Ron: Yeah, it's a big deal.

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