The hit TV show Modern Family has been going on for eleven seasons so far. It set the sitcom world on fire with its first season, delivering one smart, fresh, funny and inclusive storyline after another, and winning a bunch of Emmys in the process. The series was hailed for its ensemble of relatable characters from different walks of life, all coming together to create the new dynamic American family.
Of course, through 11 seasons, not every subplot relating to the characters was going to be a triumph. Here are 5 subplots that wrapped up perfectly, while 5 other subplots left a lot to be desired.
Perfect: Phil and Gloria’s Relationship
In the beginning, Phil came off as a bit of a creep around Gloria. It was made clear that Phil had a giant crush on his mother-in-law and Jay’s wife Gloria, a fact that Jay, Gloria and Claire were aware of but tried to politely ignore. Phil’s fumbling attempts to touch or be near Gloria were generally played for laughs.
By later seasons, Phil stopped acting like a kid with a high-school crush on Gloria, and instead, the two started spending time together as sensible adults, like when Phil helped Gloria learn skating, or when Gloria helped Phil figure out why Claire was angry at him. These moments helped mature their relationship and these days Phil and Gloria have become good friends who frequently help each other out.
Needed Work: Chubby Andy
Andy was a character who started out as a nanny for Joe before graduating to the role of Haley’s significant love interest. Andy underwent a period of gaining a lot of weight. And then, cut to a few weeks later, he had magically dropped all the extra pounds with seemingly no effort.
It was a puzzling subplot that was abandoned almost as soon as it made an appearance, leaving no impact on the audience beyond the stray laugh over seeing a character in a fat suit.
Perfect: Luke’s Oldest Friend
Walt was the Dunphy’s neighbor who was feared by Phil and Claire based on his unfriendly appearance. It took Luke looking past the gruff exterior to see the soft-hearted and kindly man underneath. The two became good friends until Walt passed away and Luke had to deal with his death.
The episode showed us how the loss of a loved one affected Luke and his means of coming to terms with the event. It was a moving episode and a fitting end to one of the show’s strangest but most touching friendships.
Needed Work: Claire Becomes A Businesswoman
A big part of Claire’s personality is her obviously capable nature, and how she is much more than a simple housewife. Her frequent longing to do something more than cook and clean was finally given an outlet when her father hired her and eventually made her head of their family company.
And then… Claire simply left her job. Because it no longer satisfied her. Which feels like a letdown after years of establishing that she felt both happy and fulfilled at her job, and was just as passionate about the company as her father.
Perfect: Selling the Family Car
One of the shortest and sweetest subplots revolved around the Dunphy family car, and the decision to sell it. The entire arc was wrapped up in a single episode and took viewers on a whirlwind ride filled with plenty of laughs and nostalgia before ending on a bittersweet note.
The whole storyline was about learning to let go of the past while still holding on to the special memories of a time that will never come back. It was one of the best lessons the show taught us in one of their best episodes ever.
Needed Work: Alex’s College Experience
Most of the Dunphy kids were never expected to shine in college. Except for Alex. She was the wunderkind who everyone expected great things from. In fact, it would not be too much of a stretch to say that Alex’s character was almost entirely based on her being a good student who loved learning and dreamt of going to a good college.
And yet, when it came to her actual college experience, Alex’s journey was rushed through and she was back in the Dunphy household before long. It seems that a significant part of Alex’s journey towards becoming a mature scholar was traded in for more of her shenanigans with the rest of the family.
Perfect: Jay Warms to Cameron
Possibly the most significant storyline from the show revolved around an old-fashioned manly man like Jay coming to terms with the fact that his son Mitchell is in a relationship with a sensitive man like Cameron. Jay is wary of Cameron at first, in addition to describing him as a bit of a drama queen.
But by later seasons, Jay and Cameron realize how much they both love Mitchell and football, and that they are great handymen. Their relationship blossomed, and Jay now considers Cameron an integral part of his life.
Needed Work: Jay’s Brother Donnie
Donnie was introduced in an early season as Jay’s younger brother who enjoys a great rapport with him. It was revealed near the end of the episode that Donnie is suffering from cancer and will begin treatment for his illness soon. And then… we never see Donnie again. Despite establishing how close the brothers are and how difficult a time it is in Donnie’s life, the saga of Jay’s younger brother is wrapped up unceremoniously with plenty of unanswered questions left.
Perfect: Haley and Dylan
Haley has had a lot of boyfriends over the course of the show. And she has been convinced, at different points, that each of those guys was the only one for her. And yet she kept coming back to Dylan. The spaced-out slacker with little in the way of actual prospects ended up being the best choice for Haley.
The two have started a family now, and Dylan has proven himself to be a great dad and a loving and supportive husband. In fact, Haley and Dylan are shaping up to be the new Claire and Phil of the household.
Needed Work: Phil the Teacher
Phil is a realtor, a job he is passionate about. And yet for a brief period, he was also a teacher. It seems like one of those inexplicable left-turns that the characters on the show occasionally take before going back to what they originally did. It was never made very clear why Phil suddenly felt the urge to teach, or why he no longer does. Just another one of those plotlines that were introduced for a few episodes before being booted from the narrative.
