“The Day We Almost Died”
Modern Family
Season 6 Episode 11
Modern Family has taken a page from The Simpsons guidelines (“The Trilogy of Mistakes”, a fine next season episode. Check it out, if only for Lingo the Grammar Robot) and provide it the best episode in years. We meet the Dunphy family as they’re going about their mundane boring lives when a truck drives through a stop sign and it ignites a spark within every occupant of the car.
Let’s start with the two weakest storylines, Luke and Claire. Claire has the most sitcom reaction to her near-death experience and instantly goes about her day as if real-life issues like work and schedules do not matter (Mitchell rightfully points out that perhaps it does not matter if your boss is your father). Luke’s epiphany is to start going through his bucket list, which has only one laugh and that involves Mentos jet packs spraying soda all over the walls while Claire watches in horror.
The MVP of this show and the entire series is Ty Burrell who is in a position to take Phil’s reactions and provide them real human emotions. Moments after his near loss Phil was a changed man, a man who had let the world take advantage of him. Indeed, he began to correct some mistakes, particularly Gil Thorpe who shortly before the “crash” told Phil that he stole his commissions and wanted to sleep with his wife. It’s great to finally see Phil stand up to his tormentor, even if this is your first episode of Modern Family, Ty and Rob Riggle’s chemistry lets you know they have been one another’s mortal enemies for years.
Separating Mitchell and Cam and pairing Cam with Phil is another stroke of genius from writer Danny Zuker. Allowing Cam to downplay Phil’s newfound manhood instead of continually bickering with Mitchell is a refreshing change of pace. Cam can be a difficult character to write, but if you do it right, he’s comedy gold. Tonight, Cam is worth a million dollars. I can watch any scene with a man experiencing confusing feelings for a family member; Cam finds Phil’s newfound manhood irresistible. But eventually, Manly Phil wasn’t meant to last. All it takes is Phil crying over literal spilled milk to bring him back to the goofball fun we have known for 6 seasons. Manly Phil, we barely know you.
Let’s all agree that Jay and Gloria and their odd 2 year old in between episodes could be written off as they’re barely present here and cannot be missed. Manny, you are cool.
Point a-
