The Middle

- Season 9

(2017)

Axl returns home from his summer trip to Europe, sporting a man-bun and embracing a new, chill European outlook on life.

Frankie gives away unused items from the house in the hope of getting food in return. Sue and Lexie find their apartment is being inhabited; Axl's new job as a bus driver gives him the opportunity to look after Brick.

Frankie is stoked when Axl invites her and Mike to meet and have dinner with girlfriend Lexie's rich parents, Tammy and Bennett (guest stars LISA RINNA and GREGORY HARRISON). But Frankie is worried that their less then luxurious lifestyle may put a damper on their meeting. Meanwhile, Brick is excited to be a part of the Sophomore Slammer fundraiser, in which fellow classmates fake arrest each other and friends come to pay money - which will go to charity - to bail them out. But Brick soon discovers that no matter how hard he tries, he just can't get arrested.

Frankie and Brick find out that almost 50 years ago a woman died in their bathtub, as they continue to investigate, they find out she was murdered.

Brick joins the school orchestra to find himself a new girlfriend.

Pat has to stay at the Hecks House for a few days, while Axl and Brick ponder what it is exactly that Mike does at the quarry.

The Hecks' hectic family drive to Frankie's sister's home for Thanksgiving is delayed by numerous obstacles and other diversions. Meanwhile, just when Axl takes a job at Spudsy's alongside Sue, budget cuts may force the manager to lay off one of the Heck siblings.

Axl heads to Chicago to visit Hutch for the weekend but discovers that his friend. Meanwhile, Sue's excitement over having the apartment to herself over the weekend turns to horror when she is unable to sleep after watching "Silence of the Lambs"; and Brick enlists Frankie and Mike's aid to help convince Lilah, a new student.

When Orson is named as one of Indiana's Top 200 Most Livable Cities, Frankie is reminded that she must come up with something to place in the time capsule that will be buried in the base of the newly-rededicated Orson Cow. Meanwhile: when Bill Norwood informs Mike that he and Paula are separating, gobsmacked Mike starts to appreciate Frankie more; Brick must complete three acts of bravery to win back Cindy; and Axl volunteers Sue to be his personal assistant to impress prospective employers.

It's Christmastime, and Frankie and Sue are devastated after Axl informs them that he's not going to church this year because he's beginning to question his faith. Meanwhile, Mike goes to war with the Glossner kids after they keep defacing his new, giant inflatable snowman; and Brick goes all out in an attempt to wrap his first present for a planned Christmas Yankee Swap.

As New Year's Eve approaches, Sue admits to Frankie that she likes Sean Donahue and that she kissed him at the Christmas party. But she's still trying to figure out if her kiss with Sean was a fluke or if it actually meant that he likes her. Meanwhile, Mike forces Axl and Brick to take a drive with him and Mike's dad, Big Mike (recurring guest star JOHN CULLUM), and they are shocked to discover what is planned when they reach their final destination.

Now that Axl has a real job, he begins to bond more with Mike and spends a lot of time with him - leaving Frankie frozen out of their interactions; and just as Sue is about to break up with Aidan, Brad pleads with her to wait a beat until after he has a chance to win the affection of Aidan's handsome friend, Luke.

Frankie decides to find a new passion to make her happy; Mike orders Sue and Brick to fix the giant hole between their bedroom walls; Lexie fools Axl into thinking he has a lucky streak.

Mike's wayward brother comes to town and presents Sue with an extravagant gift, which Mike thinks is stolen goods. Meanwhile, with Sue now older and living the college life, Mike feels like he's not as close to her as he used to be and tries to figure out a way to reconnect; Axl blows the money from his first paycheck on a big-screen TV and blames his spending spree on years of learning from Frankie; and Brick is delighted to discover mysterious, unmarked gifts being left at the front door.

Frankie takes Sue to a bar to celebrate her 21st birthday; Brick and Mike go to a 'Planet Nowhere' Convention; Axl and Hutch head to Ohio in the Winnebago to attend Kenny's wedding.

Mike is hesitant over his impending promotion, and Brick is facing the wrath of one of Axl's former teachers.

When the Heck's car goes missing and it's clear it's the Glossners that did it, the whole neighborhood decides to join in and take back what's theirs.

Dr. Foulton informs Mike and Frankie that Brick and Cindy have been making out all over school.

Dr. Ted Goodwin is livid when he doesn't peanut brittle that Brick sold him for a school fundraiser, and the Heck household is visited by a creature of the night.

Brick is coaxed into taking Cindy to the prom, Axl is coaxed into a belated birthday gift for Sue, and Mike has trouble with the remote control for the TV.

Sue and Brick try to get Frankie the best Mother's Day gift ever; a trip to London for the royal wedding. Axl is offered a job interview that could change his life.

Frankie tries to keep Axl from moving away to Denver for a job opportunity.

Frankie struggles to deal with Axl leaving home as the Heck family drives him on a road trip out to his new job in Denver.

The series concludes as the family escorts Axl to Colorado. Meanwhile the long affair of the snow globe and its relation to Sean and Sue's relationship comes to a head.