The season finale of "The Middle" will feature Axl's (Charlie McDermott) Europe trip with his friend and roommate Kenny (Tommy Bechtold) in jeopardy, after his parents argue about whether this tour is needed in the first place.
While Axl's mother Frankie (Patricia Heaton) argues that it will be a good learning opportunity for him, as it will expose him to a new environment where he will learn new things, his father Mike (Neil Flynn) believes that it is just an extension of his son's slacking off, because he wants him to get a job since he just graduated from college.
Meanwhile, Sue (Eden Sher) will have a minor car accident, in which she scratches a parked SUV. She panics when the owner of the vehicle fails to respond even after she leaves several notes, including one large enough to cover the driver's window and several more practically serving as wallpaper on the windshield.
Finally, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) will discover the reason for his backaches: his lawn chair has been swapped with a normal kitchen-table chair.
The script for the season 8 finale titled "Fight or Flight" was written by Ilana Wernick, and the episode was directed by Eileen Heisler, the show's executive producer.
Meanwhile, Deadline reported early this year that "The Middle" was given an early season 9 renewal by the network. ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey described the show as "one of the network's most consistent performers." She also said, "The Indiana Hecks have found America's sweet spot with their authentic, acerbic, and always loving take on parenting, work, kids, marriage, and life."
According to the Deadline article, ABC is pushing the idea of better representation of working-class Americans, whom the characters of "The Middle" portray.
"The Middle" airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
