Malcolm in the Middle season 2

The second season of the American television sitcomMalcolm in the Middle premiered on November 5, 2000, and ended on May 20, 2001. The twenty-five episode season was broadcast in the United States on the Fox Network. The series follows young Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his dysfunctional family, including his mother Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), father Hal (Bryan Cranston), older brothers Francis (Christopher Masterson) and Reese (Justin Berfield), and younger brother Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan). A child prodigy, Malcolm attends a class dubbed the "Krelboyne class", taught by Caroline Miller (Catherine Lloyd Burns).

The season was ordered shortly following the success of the first, and the premiere episode continues from the previous season finale, "Water Park", which helped launch an advertising campaign for the season: "Where's Dewey?". All main cast members from the first season return, with Burns leaving the series during this season, making it the last to have her as part of the main cast. The season contained multiple unique concepts, including the use of split screens in the Sliding Doors-inspired episode "Bowling", and extensive backstories for each of Hal and Lois' children in "Flashback".

The season averaged 14.50 million viewers and received positive reviews from critics, who felt it was of similar, or higher, quality to the first. "Bowling" received critical acclaim for its unique premise for the time, and received several award nominations, as did the rest of the season. The season was set to be released on Region 1 DVD in the fall of 2003, but was ultimately cancelled due to high costs of music clearances, but was later released on Region 4 DVD in Australia on September 4, 2013.