About “The Middle” in a few words:

“The Middle” is a beloved sitcom that aired on ABC from 2009 to 2018. Set in the fictional town of Orson, Indiana, the show revolves around the Heck family and their daily struggles as they navigate through life. With relatable storylines and a talented cast, the show has become a favorite among viewers. Patricia Heaton stars as the family matriarch, Frankie, while Neil Flynn portrays her husband, Mike. Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher, and Atticus Shaffer play the Heck children, Axl, Sue, and Brick, respectively. Together, they create a hilarious and heartwarming show that has left a lasting impact on its audience.

Meet the characters from The Middle

Frankie Heck

Frankie is that gloriously frazzled tornado of a mom who somehow keeps the whole Heck circus on the road — by which I mean she schedules everything, loses everything, and then finds it in the fridge. She’s practical and relentless and also secretly soft as marshmallow fluff (no really, she cries at commercials — or is that me?). Obsessed with coupons and color-coded calendars but also prone to spontaneous, questionable life choices, which is honestly the best part. She’s the emotional center of the show even when she’s yelling about school lunches or trying to be trendy and failing spectacularly.

Brick Heck

Brick is delightfully, gloriously odd in all the best ways — the whisperer, the reader, the kid who remembers random facts nobody asked for and will correct you about punctuation in the middle of dinner. He has bizarre rituals (murmurs to himself, folds his clothes like tiny origami?), a memory like an elephant, and the uncanny ability to make you think he’s eleven seconds away from inventing something world-changing. Socially awkward? Absolutely. Endearing? Also absolutely — he’s pure weird heart.

Sue Heck

Sue is the human embodiment of enthusiasm, and I mean that in a good way — she’s clumsy, loudly optimistic, and will sign up for seven clubs at once because every opportunity deserves a cheer. Forever the underdog with a glittering belief in herself, she has pep-rally levels of confidence that somehow survive every awkward phase and terrible romantic choice. She collects pins? She has a catchphrase? Maybe both. Basically, she’s relentless hope in a confusing sweater.

Mike Heck

Mike is grumpy but lovable — the classic deadpan dad who says one-liners like he’s handing out life lessons at the hardware store. Stoic, stubborn, fiercely practical, and also quietly proud of his family (even if he won’t say it without three beers and a sandwich). Loves the grill, hates change, will fix anything with duct tape and a look of mild resentment. He’s the rock, the eye-roll provider, and the man who somehow shows his feelings by hiding them in a very particular way.

Axl Heck

Axl is peak lazy-charm: aloof, occasionally brilliant in the most inconvenient ways, and somehow irresistible despite being a walking anti-plan. He’s the former jock/accidental adult who naps like it’s a competitive sport and surprises people by actually caring about his family — in a “don’t make a scene” kind of way. He does dumb things for good reasons and good things for dumb ones, which is confusing but kind of wonderful. Also he probably owns more hoodies than sense.

Sean Donahue

Sean is the quietly steady, very patient kind of guy — calming, supportive, and the kind of partner who’s seen Sue at her most chaotic and still signs up for the ride. He’s athletic and kind and unflappable in a way that makes you trust him immediately, but he’s not boring; he has this deadpan humor and the occasional weird hobby (card collection? model trains? who knows). He’s the slow-burn romantic who actually shows up, which is reassuring in a sitcom world.

Brad Bottig

Brad is that goofy, lovable almost-boyfriend type who’s always trying to be charming and sometimes succeeds and sometimes trips over his own shoes — literally, probably. He’s peppy, a little dim in the sweetest way, and the kind of guy who thinks extremely hard about the right festival t-shirt to buy you. He gives off “nice guy from around the block” vibes, and also maybe collects weird mugs with inspirational sayings? He’s harmlessly earnest and kind of a comic relief treasure.

Nancy Donahue

Nancy is loud, warm, and maybe a little nosy — the kind of small-town mom who will feed you casserole and then critique your life plan with a hug. She laughs big, remembers the most humiliating detail from your childhood, and insists on being involved whether you want her to be or not (which you secretly do). A little judgmental, mostly loving, and full of hilarious old-school wisdom or maddening advice depending on the episode. She’s the aunt everyone has and the grandma some people fear.