Middle children are considered the “black sheep” of the family. Usually forgotten or different from the family, middle children grow up to be self-reliant. They’re not the chaotic energy younger siblings bring and don’t carry the heavy expectations of the first child. So where does that leave the middle child?
As a middle child myself, I’d say we’re observers. Though we may be included in the family chaos and are not forgotten, we tend to look on as if we were outsiders. This is a special trait. We notice things no one does, and we can be the mediator between family or sibling fights, to have an outsider’s opinion. With that in mind, these next entries will look at middle children characters who are both observant and intelligent with a hint of snark mixed with a dry sense of humor.
Dewey Duck from DuckTales
I didn’t even know Dewey was a middle child, but it makes sense. Huey’s more responsible of the three duck siblings, Louie is a schemer and trickster, and Dewey is described in his wiki bio as an “attention-seeking adventurer.” He wants to make himself known, which is unfortunately a middle-child trait.
Dewey wants to leave his name in history by doing daring stunts. If he doesn’t submit his name as the greatest adventurer to have ever lived, then Dewey feels he’s just an ordinary duck. To make that kind of pressure worse, Dewey is part of the famously wealthy McDuck family. His need to solve the mystery of his mother’s disappearance drives Dewey to many dangerous situations. In his recklessness, Dewey is also compassionate, looking after his brothers while confidently knowing they have his back.
Sherlock Holmes from Sherlock
If you haven’t caught up on the show like me, you didn’t know Sherlock and Mycroft have a secret younger sister named Eurus. She’s a high-class manipulator who convinced her prison, Sherrinford, to let her move about freely whenever she wants.
Before then, Sherlock displayed middle-child energy that could’ve also been young sibling vibes. He gets bored easily and is described as a “high-level sociopath” for his intelligence. When presented with an interesting case, Sherlock goes above and beyond to solve it, chasing the thrill of a good mystery. As an outsider from “normal people,” Sherlock ignores the rules and doesn’t follow social norms. This makes Sherlock too much to handle that the quickest way to rid the man of people’s presence is to comply with his whims.
Alex Dunphy from Modern Family
As a capable young girl, Alex tends to get sidelined in favor of her siblings, Haley and Luke, who are less intelligent. This sadly makes Alex self-reliant, becoming an adult too soon. However, she does get her kicks by messing with her family, displaying how Alex is superior in academics compared to her family members. As a middle child, Alex’s quick thinking reassures the Dunphy family that their problems can be fixed and that she can be relied on. In turn, Alex knows that despite being capable, she can also count on her family to help with her problems. Being more independent doesn’t mean you can handle everything.
Harley Diaz from Stuck in the Middle
Being the middle child out of seven children is guaranteed to be left behind. The Diaz family once forgot it was Harley’s birthday in one episode. She describes herself as being the middle of the week, or Hump Day Harley. This is ironic because Jenna Ortega, playing Harley, ends up playing as Wednesday Addams in the show Wednesday.
Due to being the forgotten child, Harley tends to get irritated quickly and can hold a grudge. She also has an ego, thinking she is the best because she is smart and can make working inventions. Holding herself to a higher standard also tends to backfire on Harley, and her siblings are there to point it at her face, as siblings do. Despite this, Harley is the headstrong glue that holds the family together. As she gets a bit older, Harley truly realizes that despite being the middle child, she is loved and cherished by the Diaz family.
Donatello from Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I love Donnie in this iteration of the TMNT franchise! Don’t get me wrong, I love all the Turtle brothers, but Donnie is up there next to Leo. In one episode titled Flushed, but Never Forgotten, Donnie confirms he’s a middle child.
When his brothers don’t want Donnie to use his science to revive their dying pet fish, he says he feels like a roommate to his brothers. Ralph dismisses this by saying to quit with his “middle child nonsense,” which is all the proof I need. Where his brothers excel in using the mystic powers channeled through their weapons, Donnie makes up with his massive intellect and tech bō. With his gadgets and dry sense of humor, Donnie is a show-off, never missing an opportunity to display his skills with pizzazz. I like how the show puts Donnie in the spotlight from past TMNT shows. Instead of being just the “tech guy,” Donnie contributes a lot to the team, saving his brothers multiple times from their absurd antics.
Middle children are not fully forgotten by their families and are equally loved as their siblings. But it’s their position as outsiders that gives these children an insight on different views and perspectives that’s unique.
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