Ep 19. The Wind Chimes

In The Middle season 5 episode 19, titled "The Wind Chimes", the Heck family gets a visit from Mike's brother Rusty. He shows up unexpectedly and reveals that he needs a place to stay, much to Mike and Frankie's surprise. As Rusty settles in, the family quickly realizes that he has some unusual behavior quirks, such as he carries a bag of his own hair and constantly talks about his dreams. This leads to some awkward moments for the family as they try to adjust to Rusty's presence.

Meanwhile, Axl and his girlfriend Cassidy are working on a class project together, and Axl finds himself being attracted to her in a new way. However, Cassidy is still dating Axl's best friend Hutch, which causes some tension between the three of them. Axl tries to ignore his feelings and focus on the project, but as he spends more time with Cassidy, he finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings to himself.

Sue is also dealing with some relationship drama of her own. She has been dating Darrin for a while now, but she begins to wonder if they are meant to be together. In an effort to figure out her feelings, she writes a pros and cons list for dating Darrin. She shares the list with her friends, but they offer little help in making her decision. Sue ultimately comes to a decision on her own, but it's not what she expected.

Throughout the episode, the wind chimes outside the Heck's house continue to cause annoyance for the entire family. Frankie tries to take matters into her own hands by cutting down the chimes, but it proves to be more difficult than she anticipated. Eventually, she decides to take a new approach and embrace the chimes, which ultimately leads to a heartwarming moment for the entire family.

"The Wind Chimes" is an episode that explores the theme of change and how it can lead to unexpected outcomes. With Rusty's arrival, Axl's growing feelings for Cassidy, and Sue's questioning of her relationship, the Heck family is forced to confront these changes head-on. By the end of the episode, the family learns to embrace these changes and find a way to move forward.