MovieChat Forums > Stuck in the Middle (2016) Discussion > Harley talking to the camera was redunda...

Harley talking to the camera was redundant

posted 9 years ago by FanOfDC
13 replies | jump to latest

Not only did she do it way too much, she kept saying the same things, such as:

"THIS is what happens when there's seven kids!"
"THIS is what happens when you're stuck in the middle!"
"THIS is what happens when you're the middle kid!"
"See? I'm the middle kid!"

Hopefully this is all toned down by the next episode.

Also, if they want us to feel sympathy for the "Middle Kid," at least make her likable. It was a bit obnoxious when, at the basketball game, she was complaining about how no one cares about her. No... you're at your sister's basketball game, which you've probably been to many already..

I also think there's too many kids. When the show was first announced, I believe there were five kids instead of seven. Should've stuck to that.

Don't get me wrong, I had high hopes for this show and still do.

[–] macecoronel 9 years ago

Cool invention at the end with the table and chairs.

Watch Malcolm In The Middle reruns to see "organized chaos" done better.

I agree with you.

[–] crazyforyou19 9 years ago

I loved it but I agree Malcolm in the middle is a true to heart middle child syndrome show, that and the Brady bunch with Jan and her dilemmas. Not to mention Malcolm in the middle only had four kids,three in the house, and not seven like on this show yet they managed to be the most chaotic household ever lol. But this show is fine for today's kids :)

[–] radrobd 9 years ago

ot to mention Malcolm in the middle only had four kids,three in the house,

Midway through the series, Lois had another baby, making the Malcolm truly in the middle being the third of 5 kids. In the series finale, Lois discovers she's pregnant again with baby #6.

[–] sinceimetjc 9 years ago

They did bring a 5th child into Malcolm in the Middle, when the parents had Jamie. And they kept Francis in the storyline for awhile, living his own life. But I agree that this show was annoying. She did have something important to do at the park, but she wouldn't tell anyone what it was. And the fact that it was overlooked until that morning...like the family is supposed to suddenly drop all plans, so they can go to the park, when they don't even know why they need to get to the park? I'm sure that if they had known that it was so she could accept an award for first place in a young inventors contest, they would have made a bit more of an effort to get her there on time. And she's not the only middle child. In a family of 7 kids, all of the kids from 2-6 are middle children. Just because she's perfectly in the middle doesn't make her more of a middle child than the rest. Just some of my thoughts from this first episode.

"The hideousness of that foot will haunt my dreams forever."

[–] PrincessAwesome24 9 years ago

Maybe I liked it a bit too much then...? Lol. None of that bothered me. I fell in love with this show after the first five minutes! This is the "breath of fresh air" that Disney Channel needs. First of all, there was NO laugh track, and I still laughed! Proving to Disney that you don't need a laugh track to humor the audience. Second, I found all the kids to be really likeable. I'm sure they will tone down Harley saying "stuck in the middle" in the later episodes. Just like they toned down the gang saying "I didn't do it" after the pilot. However, once again, that didn't bother me. This show was nothing but an innocent, realistic, family show. No talking dog, teenage spy, sister from Hollywood, time travel, or anything like that. I don't think I stopped smiling the entire time I was watching. It felt like a good DCOM almost, and I can't wait to see what's to come! Can't wait to see the ratings for this. It should be a ratings booster for Disney, seeing that I think GMW fans would enjoy it too :) I guess I found a new favorite show haha. Walt would be proud of this one!

[–] xlljoolzllx 9 years ago

I agree with everything you said. I really enjoyed this show and am glad to see a latina family on this channel again. A little tired of her complaining about being the middle child so much times but other than that it was great. I like the invention at the end of the episode too. Great show. Can't wait to see more. I think it will be my new favorite show on Disney. I liked Kayla on Dog with a Blog and want to see more of her. And I remember Cerina from Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. The others I didn't know but want to see more of.

[–] EmilyTheDramaQueen 9 years ago

I agree, Even Stevens, Jett Jackson and Lizzie Maguire were among the better shows on the network and neither of them had a laugh track. But I'll be okay with her saying stuck in the middle if she only said it at the end, like Teddy saying Good Luck Charlie at the end of each episode.

"I'd rather lose for what I am than win for what I ain't"

Kacey Musgraves "Pageant Material"

[–] RipperRoo28 9 years ago

I completely agree. I actually didn't even notice the lack of the laugh track until it was brought up on here. And I think it's so great to see a show about a regular family without any over-the-top gimmick as well. The set-up of it is just like an old DCOM, such as Quints. I also couldn't help but think of Cheaper by the Dozen quite a bit, one of my favorite family movies. And we haven't seen that kind of formula in quite some time now, so it's a very welcomed approach for me.

As for Harley constantly mentioning how she's the middle child and all the burdens that go along with it, I think it was simply played up for the pilot. I have a strong feeling it will be much more toned down through the rest of the series.

I ate a pear. I ate three pears. - Lizzie Borden

[–] FanOfDC 9 years ago

I hope you guys don't think I really didn't like the episode, haha.

I noticed I didn't really explain some positives, so I'll do that right now:

-I don't dislike any kids. Nobody HATES/DESPISES each other like In Jessie (horrible). I just think there's too many, it might be hard to balance all of them, but hopefully they surprise me.
-Georgie is my favorite character. Rachel might be a close second.
-The camerawork in the very last seconds was great. It really seemed like the ending to a movie and that's somehow good.
-I love the fact that the plot for this episode was so simple yet it worked. Reminds me of Good Luck Charlie's pilot. Speaking of pilots and other Disney shows, my favorites would have to be Good Luck Charlie, Liv and Maddie, and Stuck in the Middle (for its innocence).
-SINGLE CAMERA! Single-camera shows allow more creativity, more sets, more characters, and it clearly shows in this single episode. It makes me wonder what they have in store for the rest of the season.

I also can't believe this show has nine cast members. I don't think Disney has had that many before, lol.

Another negative, though:
An over-the-top gimmick would have to be her inventions. I hope they don't have a crazy one every single episode, or that's how the show loses its realistic feel that everyone loves, lol.

[–] ebelcher-627-522477 9 years ago

I thought it was good too;Jenna Ortega and Kayla Maisonet were the best actors but the whole family was very good and the show's promising.

[–] Getoboy730 9 years ago

I'm on the fence here.while it's nice to see a non-laugh track show, but laugh tracks don't really bother me. I don't like overuse of it like how all Dan Schneider shows do, except Zoey 101.

I like the Latino family concept, but Lord help Disney if they have any negative stereotypes like Bunk'd. While it's a super huge cast, either a few characters will lose or gain focus as the show progresses or outsider recurring characters will be few and far between.

Harley should be a decent lead character if she isn't always so angsty about being stuck in the middle. It's nice to see a smart character not be uncool. I'm sure she'll have to deal with popular girls and whatnot. But she's seems more like Rocky Blue than Ravi or Tiffany.

The cons, the twins were annoying. Every time I hear Beast say NINJAAAAAAAAA! I want to stick my head in a full tub of water or something worse lol. The promo has him say it like 10 times

Another con is more of a production gripe. The age of the cast typically tells you what the target demographic is. NRDD is aimed at kids their age, Victorious was more or less aimed at late-teens, GMW is middle schoolers. Who are they aiming at with this? While young kids don't mind watching older characters, older ones can't stomach the little ones. Honestly the twins and the little girl were the worst. I do think the actual actors did OK but the characters are poorly handled. Why the hell didn't anyone tell her not to go to sleep with a month worth of makeup or to atleast wash it off once the noticed it.

The worst part is that it Could've been funnier but it didn't suck and that was the first episode. Many shows aren't at their best this early but it still could've been better.

The jury is still out for this one. It has lots of potential especially if it last long which I hope it does. But a few minor changes are due.

Embrace Debate.

[–] first_rule_of_fightclub 9 years ago

I agree with PrincessAwesome. I like that it's a single camera show with no live audience or laugh track. That opens the show up to more location shots. I like that it's about a normal family and not world famous popstar or ultra rich kids or a teen spy or wizards or any other high concept gimmick. I do hope that the invention thing is not overplayed.

Although it seems to check all the right boxes for me, I wasn't in love with this show. But I'm willing to give it a chance and stick with it. I think it can definitely come into its own. I felt this episode was kind of feeling it out. It was more about Harley's relationship with us (the audience) and her talking to the camera. Hopefully that's done less in the future and upcoming episodes deal more with her relationships with her family, friends, school, neighbors, crushes etc.

[–] droopyherby 9 years ago

I agree - wanted to LOVE it but it all fell flat to me. Forced when they needed to lay back and too laid back when it needed energy. I also found the actors playing the parents very bland and one note. Hope it improves!