MovieChat Forums > The Middleman (2008) Discussion > The Finale episode of THE MIDDLEMAN!

The Finale episode of THE MIDDLEMAN!

posted 10 years ago by brimfin
14 replies | jump to latest

The truth of the matter is that we’ll never know how the character would be developed. But it did have loads of potential. And what’s that mysterious and possibly totally evil device called uMaster for? (madp)

Yes, wouldn't we like to know other things - like what the Middleman's name was, who was his mysterious other love, and what was Manservant Neville's ultimate plan? Well, you can all find out, just as I just did!

Go to YouTube and type in "The high-quality Middleman Comic-con 2009 lost episode table read." ("Middleman high-quality" will get you there easily.) It is a read-through of the 13th episode of the show and read by the entire cast. It answers the burning questions above and serves as a finale to the show. And it is hilariously entertaining to watch. They ever got Mark Shepard there to read Manservant Neville's part, and he is - I honestly can't think of a superlative to do him justice. On a scale of 1 to 10 - this is a twelve! Watch it!

[–] madp 10 years ago

by brimfin » 9 hours ago (Thu Feb 13 2014 03:39:28)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to YouTube and type in "The high-quality Middleman Comic-con 2009 lost episode table read." ("Middleman high-quality" will get you there easily.)

Yes, I'd heard of this table reading and what you said only confirms it was good. However I'm still struggling with many of Middleman's bad issues, as they really wore me down. Even though there were several things I loved about The Middleman, I really hated several others, and that really take a toll on my patience. I'm quite relieved The Middleman is over and just the thought of one more episode makes me unhappy. On the other hand, I know what you mean, and it would be cool to get all those answers. Anyway, thanks for the tip. I'll watch it, I just don't know when.

PS. I just took a look, and oh, well, what the hell, I think i'll watch it this Friday since we don't have a new episode of a new show yet. I'll post what I think then.

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

yeah I was kind on the same page with madp on watching this episode on Friday since we are in our down week. I have seen a little of it already. Thanks for tip Brim

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

So now it's REALLY over, right? Well, that reading was fun.

It was an ambitious idea and I wonder how they would've adapted it to an ABC Family budget. It would've been great to see all those scenes of global domination and mayhem, as well as the flashbacks. But... A mullet?

I really would like to know who would be cast as Raveena (Rovena?) Rao (is that her name?) It would've been really fun to watch. My only problem is one of the beefs I've always had with this show, "the damned reset button" because Tyler, Noser and Lacey would forget all about it, and only Wendy would be allowed to continue with her stale romance, when I wanted to see "Clarence" and Lacey's instead.

Well, now it's REALLY over... Really this time. I guess I'll file those memories somewhere where time has no meaning or relevance, whatever that means.

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

I really would like to know who would be cast as Raveena (Rovena?) Rao (is that her name?)

Good question. Since I'm currently enthusiastic about the History (Channel) drama, Vikings, my first pick for a beautiful woman in her mid thirties who can fight like a Middle Man would be Katheryn Winnick, who plays the fierce and beautiful shield maiden (female Viking warrior) Lagertha.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] madp 10 years ago

Yes, she's incredibly beautiful and she's a black belt in a bunch of martial arts. Great choice!

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

Oops, I missed a detail in the lost ep. reading that rules her out as as actress to imagine in the role. The description called for a tall, athletic, Indian woman. Not being familiar with actresses of the specified ethnicity, nor who could pass for such on looks, I have no further ideas on the subject.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

The reason I gave the 13th episode a 12 is because it reminded me of the many fan experiences I had when I was younger - attending conventions for LOST IN SPACE and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and seeing footage of conventions for ALIEN NATION and QUANTUM LEAP. Being able to gather the whole cast for the read-through was no easy feat I'm sure, and having Mark Sheppard there to boot was a real coup. It was fun to watch them occasionally stumble over the complex wording and especially fun when Jake accidentally substituted "alcoholic" for "workaholic." Seeing the audience react to familiar gags like the graphics quotes and such was also great, as were Javier's comments like "see how easy it is to say in a script and not have to worry about doing it on an ABC Family budget." I especially enjoyed how much Mark relished doing his lines. It made me realize all the more why he makes such a great Crowley on SUPERNATURAL. He just puts 100% into his work, adding facial mannerisms and snappy line delivery to everything he does. I know I'm going to enjoy his next appearance on SUPERNATURAL even more now. And finally did you notice how all the Middlemen and trainees had double initials? I guess Tyler Reed wouldn't have made a real Middleman after all.

One last thing about the show itself. It had a great theme – bouncy, vibrant, with a little James Bond-ian style in both the graphics and the tune itself. It was a perfect match for the show and a tune I enjoyed listening to.

And last, but not least, I call this MIDDLEMAN - BY THE NUMBERS. Since four of us gave the show a number ranking each week, here are some of the results by the numbers:

Overall ranking for show (by averaging all episode rankings)
Bob – 8.08
Brimfin – 7.63
Charmedwon - 6.5
Madp – 5.75

Highest –ranked episodes by individuals
Madp – Palindrome Reversal Palindrome (9)
Charmedwon – Obsolecent Cryogenic Meltdown (10)
Bob – (3-way tie) Flying Fish Zombification (10)
Obsolecent Cryogenic Meltdown (10)
Palindrome Reversal Palindrome (10)
Brimfin – Clotharian Contamination Protocol (10)

Best episodes by overall ranking
Palindrome Reversal Palindrome – (9)
Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown – (8.25)
Cursed Tuba Contingency – (8)

Lowest-ranked episodes by individuals
Madp – Pilot Episode Sanction (3)
Charmedwon – Vampiric Puppet Lamentation (3)
Bob – Manicoid Teleportation Conundrum (4)
Brimfin – Manicoid Teleportation Conundrum (6) – (I also ranked the Pilot and Boyband Superfan Interrogation as 6’s, but I think this was the weakest of the three)

Worst episodes by overall ratings
Manicoid Teleportation Conundrum (5.25)
Accidental Occidental Conception (5.9)
Ectoplasmic Pandellic Investigation (6.25)

Most consistently-ranked episodes
Palindrome Reversal Palindrome (8,9,9,10)
Cursed Tuba Contingency (7,8,8,9)

Least consistently-ranked episodes
Flying Fish Zombification (4,6,9,10)
Pilot Episode Sanction (3,6,7,9)

That's the final tally. I'll try to do this for other shows in the future.

[–] madp 10 years ago

Wow, Brimfin. THAT WAS GREAT! You really have a knack for statistics.

It made me realize all the more why he makes such a great Crowley on SUPERNATURAL. He just puts 100% into his work, adding facial mannerisms and snappy line delivery to everything he does. I know I'm going to enjoy his next appearance on SUPERNATURAL even more now.

Totally right. The guy has a magnetic presence, and we could see how he revels in playing a villain. And no matter how bad the character is, we always love them.

And finally did you notice how all the Middlemen and trainees had double initials? I guess Tyler Reed wouldn't have made a real Middleman after all..

Well, you are totally right. And now I know charmed is going to roll his eyes on me one last time, but that's another thing that The Middleman and Pushing Daisies had in common and can be filed in my "borrowed style" category. In Daisies, some key characters presented this alliteration: Charles Charles, Charlotte Charles, Dwight Dixon, Alfredo Aldarisio. And as it's typical of Bryan Fuller, in "Wonderfalls," to show that the female lead was the odd one out in her family, all names rhymed, except hers: Darrin, Sharon, Aaron, Karen... and Jaye.

And last, but not least, I call this MIDDLEMAN - BY THE NUMBERS. Since four of us gave the show a number ranking each week, here are some of the results by the numbers:

Brilliant idea, again!

Overall ranking for show (by averaging all episode rankings)
Bob – 8.08
Brimfin – 7.63
Charmedwon - 6.5
Madp – 5.75

So, with which critics did the show get a "pass." What's the passing average in the US school system anyway?

Highest –ranked episodes by individuals
Madp – Palindrome Reversal Palindrome (9)

Best episodes by overall ranking
Palindrome Reversal Palindrome – (9)

Oh... Sometimes I just get tired of being right so often... It's a blessing and a curse!

Lowest-ranked episodes by individuals
Madp – Clotharian Contamination Protocol (4)

I'm sorry, but I gave a 3 for the pilot. (Except that I wrote "three" instead of "3".) Does that mess all your other calculations?

Least consistently-ranked episodes
Pilot Episode Sanction (3,6,7,9)

See? I believe that "3" is mine.

That's the final tally. I'll try to do this for other shows in the future.

That was very nice! Great contribution. You have the soul of a statistician, and you could easily operate a HEYDAR.

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lowest-ranked episodes by individuals
Madp – Clotharian Contamination Protocol (4) (brimfin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry, but I gave a 3 for the pilot. (Except that I wrote "three" instead of "3".) Does that mess all your other calculations? (madp)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Least consistently-ranked episodes
Pilot Episode Sanction (3,6,7,9) (brimfin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See? I believe that "3" is mine. (madp)

You are correct on both counts, sir. I have no explanation. I had the pilot marked as a three in your column and even highlighted in red so I would see it was the lowest, and then I inexplicably grabbed your 4 instead, perhaps because it was next to my bolded 10 for highest ranked episode. The good new is it had no effect on the other stats.

Oh, it's a shame I can't go back and fix it. Oh wait, I can - and have.

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

Interesting stats. The overall rankings by individual were of most interest to me.

Here I thought that I was a very close second place behind stone in liking the ep. the most and that madp was first in disliking it of those who rated every ep.

Turns out I led the pack in liking and Stone was just ahead of Madp.

Then again, you know what they say about lies, damned lies and statistics.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] madp 10 years ago

Then again, you know what they say about lies, damned lies and statistics. []

Well, experts say 73% of all statistics are made up...

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

what a nice breakdown Brim. Good job. I was most shocked by my score. I thought I liked it a little more than that. I must have rated a couple really low that drug my overall down.....

Nice contribution buddy.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

OK. I thought there was something to Manservant Neville turning into an arch-supervillain. Glad to see that Tyler Ford wasn't a willing participant and quickly agreed to help the good guys once he learned what was going on.

This did an awesome job of wrapping things up after the fact of a cancellation the writers clearly weren't ready for.

I give it 10 jars of succubi pineal glands, despite the damned reset button. I would rather have seen Clarence taken out of the picture by the ultimate price and WW as the new middle"man."

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] guyt05 7 years ago

I just saw the YouTube reading of the last episode. Thanks for posting that. I just got done with my second go around.