I am not sure if I have ever actually written about Modern Family on here before. If I have, then it was probably just a quick mention. I started watching it back in 2013. It was on USA and at the time we watched a few of the shows on there (Royal Pains, Suits, White Collar) and after one of them, we ended up watching MF. We liked it and decided to catch up on it and eventually started watching it weekly.
I think it is probably one of my all-time favorite sitcoms. I have no clue how my rankings would go (Seinfeld obviously being first), but it is definitely top five for me. The show has the perfect blend of humor and heart. I laugh hysterically, but can just as easily end up in tears by the end of an episode. One of the things I have loved over the years has been seeing the characters grow and develop.
That growth was on full display during the finale. The finale was mostly perfect. It felt like an actual episode, but it wrapped up the family so well. I actually was pretty close to predicting how things would turn out. I told Lindsey way back before the season started that Cam would take that job in Missouri and they would move. My guess was that Luke’s app would take off and his company would need someone to run it and that would be the job Claire would take. I was close and the moment when Jay says he is learning Spanish for Gloria was probably the moment when you realize how much Jay has changed. I loved his little moment with Phil when he tells him to start thinking about his next chapter.
I thought it would be fun to write about some of my favorite episodes (or sometimes themes/on-going stories). These are in no particular order.
“Under Pressure” (Season 5: Episode 12)
This is the episode that has made me cry the most. I have watched it a few times and every, single time it gets me. Alex is the middle child, she is a super-genius and she has a meltdown at the beginning of the episode due to the pressure she puts on herself. The next day she tells her parents she booked herself an appointment a therapist. Throughout the episode we see that session. She eventually says that her family does not get her and she feels alone. Meanwhile, Claire has been spending the day with Alex’s teachers and seeing just how much work she has and later tells Alex that she understands why she is under so much pressure. Alex breaks down and cries while hugging her mom. Makes me tear up just thinking about it.
“The Wedding” (Season 5: Episodes 23/24)
The wedding of Cam and Mitchell was a major event and this double-episode did not let us down. It is funny watching the grooms freak out as everything imaginable goes wrong (screwed up tux, wildfires forcing venue changes, Mitch’s mom not being able to make it…), but also seeing how much they built this day up and how they wanted it to be perfect. There is also the story running throughout of Jay coming to grips with a gay marriage. By the end, when they have moved to their house and everything is just wrong, Jay finally says enough is enough. Mitchell is upset with his dad and it turns out that while they were trying to move to a third venue, Jay was having his country club set things up. Earlier in the episode he was embarrassed to say his son was marrying a guy to his club friends. By the end of the episode, when Mitchell says that Jay should go take a seat, he replies that they have a little walk to take together. Seriously, gets me every time. Also, all of the Pepper lines and jokes are hilarious.
“Virgin Territory” (Season 3: Episode 16)
I absolutely love this play on words. What starts out as a rather silly episode ends up becoming something a bit heavy. Phil learning that Haley is not a virgin. All because Phil says “Haley’s aversion to the food court.”
There are multiple episodes where Jay and Phil have a moment together. Phil tries so hard to get his father-in-law to like him and the results are usually funny. And sometimes there are times where Jay learns or opens up to Phil. One such moment came in “The Storm” (Season 7: Episode 14). The entire episode is basically Phil not being able to help out with manly things and Jay does them easily, but as Gloria points out to him, Phil’s strength is that people can open up to him. During the episode, Jay is acting like a jerk to everyone, as if he wants to be somewhere else. By the end, he tells Phil that another of Navy buddies passed away and whenever any of them die, they all head out to an Irish pub at 7:00 p.m. and have a drink. Jay is mad that he did not make it. Phil grabs a shamrock decoration and pours Jay a drink. Jay takes it and grabs a second glass for Phil. They barely say anything, but it is such a powerful moment.
Clive Bixby and Juliana
Crazy that Clive and Juliana began all the way back in season one. Claire and Phil came up with sexy alter egos on V-Day and I think the show ran with these stories just about every season. They were always good. There was always something silly or crazy that would happen. My favorite was one of the last ones when Claire realizes that Phil is way more turned on by Juliana. When Phil realizes what is going on, he breaks up with Juliana and goes inside the house, when Claire goes to follow, he stops and says “no Juliana, it’s over, go away.” It is funny and then sweet when Claire stands there confused and Phil opens the door and grabs her.
Favorite Haley Boyfriend: Andy. Damn, I really wanted them to work. Do not get me wrong, I love Dylan and I am glad they ended up together, but if Andy had been the one, then I would not have complained.
Gifts: I always love when we see Claire trying to get Phil a gift. She is just not the romantic type like Phil. My favorite is when she got Izzy LaFontaine (played fantastically by Edward Norton) to perform their song “True” by Spandau Ballet. Turns out…that is not their song, hahaha.
Damn, I could probably write about almost every episode. I will miss it, but the nice thing is that the show holds up and I can enjoy reruns for the next fifty years or so.
