Gloria and Jay attend Lamaze classes. They are bad at it.
“When life gives you lemonade, make lemons. Life will be all, like, ‘WHAAAT?!’” – The great Phil Dunphy in his book, Phil’s-osophy
The Dunphys
Haley’s going to college! It’s a miracle, according to the family, and a threat, according to Alex, who pointedly says, “If she’s the future of America, we should start using Chinese money now.”
But Phil and Claire are dreading it. Phil says that he’s going to cry harder than the first time he saw Air Bud and makes Haley a book called Phil’s-osophy as a present to make the transition easier. Picture all the Phil-isms in one book. It may, in fact, be a gift from the heavens to Modern Family fans.
Haley, Phil and Claire (after a not-so-tearful goodbye from Alex and tears literally masked by a mask from Luke) head off to help Haley move into a tiny dorm. Phil reveals his t-shirt with the words “Haley Dunphy Moving Co.” on it, to Haley’s horror. It’s all about first impressions at college, she tries to point out.
But Phil may not be listening, because he playfully grabs a butt he thinks to be Claire’s – but no, it’s actually the butt of Haley’s new roommate. Nice, Phil. After a couple more embarrassing moments later (they spill a pack of condoms Claire brought Haley, Haley finds out her bedsheets are a “My Little Pony” set), Haley practically shoves her parents out the door.
Then they’re all sad – Phil and Claire because they know they embarrassed Haley, Haley because she sees everyone in the diner with their parents and she doesn’t have hers. But after a nice phone call, everyone’s happy again.
The Tucker-Pritchetts
Lily’s going to kindergarten! When a boy on the playground pulls Lily’s hair, an overprotective Cam steps in and the next thing Mitch and Cam know, they’re in trouble in the kindergarten’s office. They’re forced to meet and set up a play date with their worst nightmares: lesbian parents (guest stars Wendi McLendon Covey of Bridesmaids and Michaela Watkins of Saturday Night Live).
Gay parents and lesbian parents just don’t go together, Mitch and Cam complain, making awkward Venn Diagrams with their arms to show a lack of overlap. Cam and Pam (Covey) bicker and jab at each other, pointing out their differences while completely missing their similarities.
Then their kids lock themselves in a room – of course, to get the parents to realize they have to be nice to each other. Eventually, the kids come out of the room and everyone can tolerate one another.
The Pritchetts
Jay and Gloria are forced by Manny to go to Lamaze class, which they reluctantly do and cause a scene in the class by imparting their tactless parenting advice to the terrified newbies. They leave, but Manny is distraught, telling Gloria and Jay that they aren’t careful enough to raise a baby. Jay and Gloria reassure him that everything will be okay.
What could have been better
Yes, the sappiness is, well, sappy. But you should have learned to deal with that if you’re three seasons in and still love the show. Because, as we learn, that’s a part of life. You can’t have a show about families without emphasizing emotion once in a while. It was, however, overly cheesy, to the point that Claire and Phil crying in the car came off a bit unbelievable and overdramatic.
Why the episode works
But it works because it’s clever. The episode results in the ultimate role-reversal – the parents of the families take on childish personas and the kids are mature and almost adult-like. Because it’s so fresh for a Modern Family episode, they’re able to use new humor, new coping mechanisms that are out-of-the-blue but so believable.
It’s an interesting twist that brings hilarity and reality to a show that tackles an important topic: Adapting to change. It sheds light on the vulnerability, innocence and beauty of childhood and the fear of change that sets in as we age. Be forever young, the show says in this episode, which provides laughs but also emphasizes the ability to tackle newness that comes from those who don’t fear life.
And when all else fails, make lemonade out of lemons.
That’s Phil’s-osophy, indeed.
raghavendran@umdbk.com
