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Cynthia's Back is the fourteenth episode of the third season of Malcolm In The Middle, which was broadcast on February 17, 2002.


Plot[]

A moody Cynthia returns from Europe and Malcolm discovers it's because she was hiding more developed figure, in particular, her big breasts. When Reese finds out about this, he tries to date her with the objective of getting a peek at her breasts. Malcolm outsmarts him by asking him Cynthia's name in front of her, which Reese hadn't bothered to learn. Desperate, he grabs her breasts in a last attempt and Cynthia beats him up. Meanwhile, Lois' friend Karen tells her that she kissed Hal on New Year's Eve, but he denies it completely and also confesses to Lois that he doesn't even think about other women, and Lois realizes that Hal loves her more than she loves him. Dewey helps Hal overcome his fear of kite flying. In Alaska, after his drunken roommates steal a totem pole, Francis looks towards it for answers in his life.

Synopsis[]

A moody Cynthia returns from Europe and Malcolm discovers it's because she was hiding more developed figure, in particular, her big breasts during a study buddy date at his home when her sweater accidentally caught on fire. He tries to reassure her that he was just caught off guard by the breasts and he never intended to look inside her shirt. Cynthia makes Malcolm promise not to mention this to anyone and he agrees.

In Alaska, Francis isn't happy about his job and asks Eric if he ever regretted even coming here to work under Lavernia. Their cabin mates, Pete and Artie, in a drunken state comes back with a Totem Pole. Francis is cross by this and reprimands the two for doing such an act as it's considered sacred by the Native Americans.

Meanwhile, Lois' friend Karen tells her that she kissed Hal on New Year's Eve, but he denies it completely and also confesses to Lois that he doesn't even think about other women. This leads to an argument between them, even as Dewey helps him overcome his fear of kites.

The next day, Cynthia is back to her old self and she laughs at the jokes Malcolm is telling her about the other classmates in the Krelboyne class. Including a prank that he, Stevie, and Lloyd pulled on Dabney by using glue and sticking kitchen magnets all over him. That is until Reese appears and sours her mood by insulting her during their study date. Cynthia tells Malcolm she'll see him tomorrow. After she leaves, he is angered and confronts Reese for embarrassing her. He claims that he did it because he believes Cynthia is hiding her big butt. Reese plans to humiliate her by making a couple of truck jokes and even making truck sounds. Malcolm is irritated by his behavior and accidentally confesses that she's not hiding her butt, but rather her big breasts after being abroad in Europe. He realizes this mistake too late as Reese thanks him for telling him about it.

In Alaska, Francis looks to the pole for answers in his life much to the concerns of Eric, Pete and Artie. He is later confronted by a Native American man who demands the return of his totem pole. He mocks Francis for thinking it is a sacred item and explains his grandchildren made it simply to mark out the edge of his driveway in the snow. After reclaiming it, Francis watches in shock as the man leaves.

At the house, Hal finally convinces Lois that he still loves her and whatever Karen says is a lie. She realizes how much he loves her more than ever, even when she doesn't always love him. To Lois, it's enough balance between them.

Reese tries to date Cynthia with the objective of getting a peek at her breasts. However, Malcolm outsmarts him by asking him to say her name in front of her. This exposes Reese's idiocy in not learning Cynthia's name as she stands up. Desperate, he grabs her breasts in a last attempt and she hits his arm so hard, it causes him to fall down. Cynthia beats Reese senseless and berates him for his attempt, calling him "a creepy bully". Malcolm is smug and he leaves Reese to face her wrath.

At dinner time, Reese is holding an ice pack on his left side of his face and drinks his soup dinner. The family cracks jokes which even Cynthia enjoys. Hal and Lois gets one more visit from Karen who apologizes for lying to the two about what she said earlier in kissing Hal on New Years Eve. When she attempts to apologize for staying in their home for vacation, Lois points out that the Wilkersons never left town for vacation. This makes Karen realize that she went to another home and leaves.

Cast[]

  • Jane Kaczmerek as Lois
  • Bryan Cranston as Hal
  • Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis
  • Justin Berfield as Reese
  • Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey
  • Frankie Muniz as Malcolm

Recurring[]

  • Eric Nenninger as Eric
  • Craig Lamar Taylor as Stevie
  • Evan Matthew Cohen as Lloyd
  • Kyle Sullivan as Dabney
  • John Ennis as Artie
  • Sandy Ward as Pete
  • Amy Farrington as Karen
  • Tania Raymonde as Cynthia

Co-Starring[]

  • Ivan Naranjo as Native American Man
  • Robert Thomas Preston as Young Hal (as Bobby Preston)

Trivia[]

  • This episode was titled "Cynthia's Back" as an in-joke by the writers, who knew they could not call it "Cynthia's Front".
  • Hal tries kiting on this spot in the Van Nuys / Sherman Oaks Recreation Center.[1] Scenes involving Hal as a kid were also shot at the same location.
  • This episode ended up predicting Francis marrying Piama in Hal's Birthday. It's also the last episode where he's single.
  • The later episode of Lois's Sister would contradict her claims that she loves Hal a lot less after Karen confirmed she lied about sleeping with him. She admits to Susan that she loves him in the same manner as he does her.

References[]

Malcolm in the Middle episodes
Season 1 PilotRed DressHome Alone 4ShameMalcolm BabysitsSleepoverFrancis EscapesKrelboyne PicnicLois VS EvilStock Car RacesFuneralCheerleaderRollerskatesThe Bots and the BeesSmundayWater Park
Season 2 Traffic JamHalloween ApproximatelyLois' BirthdayDinner OutCasinoConventionRobberyTherapyHigh School PlayBullyOld Mrs. OldKrelboyne GirlNew NeighborsHal QuitsThe GrandparentsTraffic TicketSurgeryReese CooksTutoring ReeseBowlingMalcolm vs. ReeseMini-BikeCarnivalEvacuationFlashback
Season 3 HouseboatEmancipationBook ClubMalcolm's GirlfriendCharityHealth ScareChristmasPokerReese's JobLois' MakeoverCompany Picnic (1)Company Picnic (2)Reese DrivesCynthia's BackHal's BirthdayHal CoachesDewey's DogPoker 2Clip ShowJury DutyCliquesMonkey
Season 4 ZooHumilithonFamily ReunionStupid GirlForwards BackwardsForbidden GirlfriendMalcolm Holds His TongueBoys At RanchGrandma SuesIf Boys Were GirlsLong DriveKicked OutStereo StoreHal's FriendGarage SaleAcademic OctathalonClip Show #2Reese's PartyFuture MalcolmBaby Part 1Baby Part 2Day Care
Season 5 VegasWatching The BabyGoodbye KittyThanksgivingMalcolm Films ReeseMalcolm's JobChristmas TreesBlock PartyDirty MagazineHot TubIda's BoyfriendSoftballLois' SisterMalcolm Dates a FamilyReese's ApartmentMalcolm Visits CollegePolly in the MiddleDewey's Special ClassExperimentVictor's Other FamilyReese Joins the Army: Part 1Reese Joins the Army: Part 2
Season 6 Reese Comes HomeBuseys Run AwayStandeePearl HarborKitty's BackHal's Christmas GiftHal SleepwalksLois Battles JamieMalcolm's CarBillboardDewey's OperaLiving WillTiki LoungeIda Loses a LegChad's SleepoverNo MotorcyclesButterfliesIda's DanceMotivational SpeakerStiltsBuseys Take A HostageMrs. Tri-County
Season 7 Burning ManHealth InsuranceReese vs. StevieHalloweenJessica Stays OverSecret BoyfriendBlackoutArmy BuddyMalcolm Defends ReeseMalcolm's MoneyBride of IdaCollege RecruitersMonoHal GrievesA.ALois Strikes BackHal's DentistBomb ShelterStevie in the HospitalCattle CourtMorpGraduation
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