‘The Middle’ Recap: "Unbraceable You" Reveals Sue’s New Smile Without Braces

The Middle returned tonight for its sixth season and kicked off ABC's comedy Wednesday. In "Unbraceable You," the Heck family is back and better than ever, but in typical Heck fashion everything that can go wrong does go wrong.

The season premiere began with all the Hecks lying in their outdoor inflatable pool enjoying summer. After their Disney World debacle last season, the Heck family had a surprisingly relaxing summer. Sue prepared for her senior year; Axl made money by cutting hedges and Brick took up croquet.

As Frankie relaxes in the pool, Mrs. Donahue stops by and asks them why they are in the pool in the middle of the afternoon. Frankie calmly responds that they are soaking up the sun on their last Friday of summer. Unfortunately, she quickly learns that school started on Monday and Sue and Brick both missed the first four days of class!

While his siblings try and make it to what little amount of class is left in the day, Axl plays a game of basketball with Mike. For the first time ever, Axl beats his dad at basketball and he can't help but show off when celebrating.

When Brick gets back from his first day of 7^th grade, he reveals that because he missed so much school, he now has to play Hitler in the school play. Sadly, that isn't the worst of his problems. Brick can't decide on what type of bag to carry his books in. First he tries out a messenger bag to which Axl responds, "Here's your first message, no one cares!" Later he tries a guitar case and even a baby carrier.

Meanwhile, Sue comes home and tells everyone that she is now the only girl in school that still has braces, plus she missed a ton of senior events already. So far the "year of Sue" is not going as planned. After seeing her orthodontist (played by Richard Kind) Sue and Frankie boycott his diagnosis and force him to take off her braces before her teeth are ready.

In a surprising turn of events, Sue's teeth look perfect. Even Axl, who always has a witty and mean thing to say about his little sister can't think of an insult. The whole family celebrates Sue's perfect smile by eating candy. Sadly, two days later Sue wakes up and her teeth have shifted... a lot.

When Sue goes back to the dentist, Axl tries to escape having to play another basketball game with his dad. He realized that he might have broken him and doesn't want to keep beating him, but cant fake losing either. Right before being forced to play against Mike, their neighbors come over and the four of them play a game. Axl and Mike bond while Axl does most the work, but Mike still makes a few shots.

Back at the dentist, Sue has given up hope and come to terms with the fact that the universe hates her. Luckily her orthodontist doesn't rub it in her face that he was right and instead comes up with a braces-free solution. Sue will now have a retainer for a year... the year of Sue!

The episode ends with the whole family in a dumpster. They are all looking for Sue's retainer, which she accidentally threw out when they were at dinner. Dinner at a pizza place and then dumpster diving? Seems appropriate for the Heck's first episode back.

What did you think of the season premiere of The Middle?

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