Malcolm In The Middle: Every Lead Character Ranked From Worst To Best

One of the show's funniest aspects was the strange rivalry between the kids and Lois, and no one embodied this better than Francis.

Having a child like him must be massively frustrating, as his abhorrent behavioural skills and reluctance to take responsibility for his actions seemed to be a constant source of stress for his parents. But, this made him all the more entertaining, as audiences love someone who doesn't care.

A huge aspect that Francis brought to the show was a unique narrative perspective. His position outside the main story was great and presented a unique cutaway which was often very entertaining. The young man's time in military school (Marlin Academy) and working at the ranch (The Grotto) were great changes of scenery, and gave the show some much needed variety.

Francis' biggest issue came from the fact that his immaturity could be frustrating. While the other boys could get away with their juvenile antics because of their age, Francis couldn't as he was a fully-fledged adult. While he did grow up a lot during the series, his delinquent nature was often rather damning for his character.