Shame is the fourth episode of Season 1 of Malcolm in the Middle and the fourth episode overall of the show.
Summary
Malcolm beats up an annoying 7 year old. Hal cuts down a tree in their yard, and the neighbors become angry. Malcolm, Reese and Dewey hold a funeral for their frog and send him up to space on a firework
Plot
Parallel stories pit Malcolm against Kevin, a bullying, obnoxious new kid who goads Malcolm into beating him up; and Francis vies with his intimidating military-school commandant, who's presenting sex-education lectures.
When Malcolm discovers that Kevin is only seven, he is guilt-stricken and tries to make amends by entering a charity marathon race. Meanwhile, Hal chops down the front-yard tree, alienating the neighbors (who can now see the house) but fascinating his sons with the wood-chipper. Francis tries to prank his authorities by switching the slides for the sex ed presentation but the Commander puts some very different slides in instead.
Trivia
- This episode marks the first appearance of Commandant Spangler (Daniel Von Bargen).
- The tree that Hal cut down appears in the next episode for some reason.
- A Winnie the Pooh doll gets thrown in the woodchipper.