Modern Family hits viewers hard and fast.
After having been deprived of the show since its stressful spring finale, fans who have tried to keep up with season seven of Modern Family thus far feel the dizzying effects similar to a Long Island iced tea on an empty stomach.
Slamming fans with a dramatic coincidence or ironic plot twists too many times in one thirty-minute period, TV producers Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan serve up a strong start to the hit comedy’s fall 2015 season. But last week, ABC handed its weary viewers a relatively uneventful new episode of Modern Family—a much-needed hangover cure for the high-energy episodes that have aired so far in the show’s dramatic seventh season. While maintaining the same witty writing and bizarre character antics viewers have come to expect from the Emmy-winning series, the eighth episode is a well-placed pause on the show’s escalating drama. By providing fans this opportunity to recover and make sense of the events that transpired in preceding episodes, the newest installment is satisfyingly simple without having to sacrifice any hysterical hijinks.
In this episode, tensions flare when the adults participate in a couples therapy seminar taught by guest star Catherine O’Hara. Playing a mild-mannered marriage counselor, she preaches a cliche call to “empty your junk drawer” and express frustrations with one’s life partner. Thanks to the inherently competitive nature of the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan, the reflective seminar soon transforms into a cutthroat contest to determine which married couple is most compatible. Secrets leak as characters fail to keep mum about their many spouse-centered grievances.
The first seven episodes have served to further develop every plotline leftover from last season. To do this, the show’s writers ambitiously tackled all of the show’s plotlines, all at once. Haley misses her chance to thwart Andy’s proposal plans, but later finds herself forced into a number of intimate situations with him. Mitch and Cam can’t seem to spark the romance in their stale relationship, while Alex mends her broken heart by hooking up with Luke’s loser friend. Phil adopts ducklings as his own but struggles to gain their trust, and Claire tries a skimpy medieval outfit on for size. A little overwhelming at times, the mockumentary-style episodes switch dizzily from one conflict to another until the conversation and character interactions blur together.
Though episode eight did not continue the chaos of those that preceded it, Modern Family’s newest installment wasn’t void of all excitement. As soon as the seminar finally starts to gain momentum, passive aggressive insults—and some decorative decor pieces from the Dunphy family’s living room—are hurled at heads. In an ironic and unfortunate twist, the therapist carelessly abandons her subject to deal with a problem her “idiot husband” can’t seem to take care of himself.
Meanwhile, Haley visits Alex at school seeking guy advice. A seemingly wild concept if it had happened just two seasons ago, Haley’s new willingness to learn from Alex is rooted in a perceptible maturity and genuine attempt to be closer with her little sister. Similarly, Alex abandons her old tattle-tale ways in exchange for a more introspective attitude. And while he still has the maturity level of a third grader, Luke’s unending search for girls and sneaky beer-stealing schemes indicates he’s definitely aged, at least in some respects.
Season seven shows a drastic maturity shift in the show as a whole, with everything from individual character growth to the language incorporated into the dialogue—new elements not present in previous years. Modern Family does a fantastic job of growing with its audience as well as its characters. As the Dunphy kids become more mature, so does the subject matter and cleverly cached dirty jokes.
And even Jay—family patriarch and historically stone-faced, tough guy—seems to learn a thing or two from his grown-up grandkids. Finally letting go of his tight-lipped refusal to talk about feelings, Jay’s apathetic facade cracks—along with his voice—when discussing his father’s untimely death. Jay’s emotion is infectious, and Modern Family succeeds in hitting us where it hurts. Hard, and fast.
Not straying from the classic Modern Family formula, the new episodes bump the energy up a notch or two. Smart, funny, and fast-paced, this fall season is like the college version of its old, high school self—Modern Family is the fun drunk friend on a Friday night.
Featured Image By ABC Studios
