Malcolm stays overnight at Stevie's house. He convinces Stevie to sneak out of the house with him and they go to an arcade downtown, but Stevie's wheelchair is stolen, and they have to team up to find his wheelchair while dragging Stevie in a cart. Meanwhile, to prove that he is mature, Lois challenges Reese to give Dewey a bath and put him to sleep in exchange for being allowed to stay up late to watch a scary movie, but the task proves more difficult than he expected, just as Lois thought it would. At the academy, Francis is hazed by a group of students, but tells them their tricks are amateurish to what Lois did to him, and the students decide to worship Lois.

Commandant Spangler announces his mother's visit and Francis uses the opportunity to organize a dance, for which he invites some local girls, which ends up to be a very different experience then the cadets expected. Meanwhile the Kenarbans invite the whole family to a nice dinner that turns into an evening of conflicts, as the families get to know each other better.

The boys and Stevie take off in the evening to visit the carnival but get into trouble, while the parents go searching for them.

The family takes a vacation with the Kenarbans, sharing a houseboat. And while Steve's parents are caught in a fight, Reese and Steve socialize with some cheerleader from a nearby spirit camp, Malcolm is stuck with Hal fishing. At the military academy, Eric turns eighteen and leaves for Alaska, inspiring Francis to do something about his situation too.

After being invited to a game of poker by Abe, Hal is disappointed as the game turns out to be completely different from his expectations.

Hal has his friends over to his house for their poker game, and tries to impress them in the process. Reese convinces two girls that Stevie has a fatal illness. Malcolm discover something dangerous in the house. Dewey has no place to go.

Lois has to go on jury duty, and Hal tries to figure out what case she is on. Malcolm, Reese, Dewey, and Stevie go sewer pipe exploring. Francis goes ice fishing.

Lois uses a long drive with Malcolm to further his sex education; Reese spends a day in prison; Dewey plants seeds of discontent in Hal's vocal group; Francis has an accident branding Otto's favorite cow.

Hal takes the boys to a bridal show; Lois' mother wants to move in with the family; Malcolm gets an offer to enroll in a prestigious private school.

Lois continues with her strenuous labor, as friends and family all panic around her.

Stevie goes into shock when he's told Kitty divorced Abe; Reese gets caught up in the hot-and-heavy entries in a diary, unaware it belongs to Lois; Otto and Francis have to put down an old horse; Dewey finds he likes the taste of baby food.

Polly begins dating Abe and Craig; Malcolm refuses to believe in the power of Dewey's lucky shirt; the ranch hands make fun of Francis; and Lois takes the kids to a baseball convention.

Lois returns to work at the market as a probationary employee and takes offense at the racist advertising standee for malt liquor. She hopes Malcolm will see her point of view but he is resistant and this leads to a battle of wills between the two. Hal is involved in another battle of wills; this one with the garbage man.

Kitty returns to the her family after leaving them. However, Lois refuses to accept her back in the neighborhood and refuses to talk to her.

Dewey and Hal attempt to quit their vices, Reese threatens Stevie, and Lois opens up to Jamie.

Hal's father dies, but he fails to show emotion for his departed father, which leads him to wonder whether his children would miss him when he dies.

Hal feels betrayed when his friend Trey charges $2,000 to fix Hal's tooth; Malcolm and Dewey find a new mattress; and Reese teaches Lois how to ride a bike.

Having been denied a very lucrative job in a software company, Malcolm accepts the vision his parents have for him. The first US president that will actually keep in mind the best interests of poor people like his own family.

Stevie goes into shock when he's told Kitty divorced Abe; Reese gets caught up in the hot-and-heavy entries in a diary, unaware it belongs to Lois; Otto and Francis have to put down an old horse; Dewey finds he likes the taste of baby food.

Polly begins dating Abe and Craig; Malcolm refuses to believe in the power of Dewey's lucky shirt; the ranch hands make fun of Francis; and Lois takes the kids to a baseball convention.

Hal takes the boys to a bridal show; Lois' mother wants to move in with the family; Malcolm gets an offer to enroll in a prestigious private school.

Hal feels betrayed when his friend Trey charges $2,000 to fix Hal's tooth; Malcolm and Dewey find a new mattress; and Reese teaches Lois how to ride a bike.

Kitty returns to the her family after leaving them. However, Lois refuses to accept her back in the neighborhood and refuses to talk to her.

Lois returns to work at the market as a probationary employee and takes offense at the racist advertising standee for malt liquor. She hopes Malcolm will see her point of view but he is resistant and this leads to a battle of wills between the two. Hal is involved in another battle of wills; this one with the garbage man.

Lois continues with her strenuous labor, as friends and family all panic around her.