In the same manner that the Aftermath of an extended family weekend often sees the darker moments dimming in comparison to the brighter, sun-drenched recollections, our minor qualms concerning this season of 'Modern Family' are progressively diminishing. Last night's season finale, one of the season's finer installments, certainly aided this transition — it featured heartfelt moments devoid of melodrama, dramatic arcs that hinged on elements beyond familial squabbles, intricately woven cross-family narratives, a plethora of well-intentioned mishaps, and a dense delivery of offbeat one-liners ("It's merely a sausage; it's not like it's emblazoned on our flag!").
The Pritchett-Delgados
Jay's birthday has arrived, and, akin to last season's climactic episode (recall the Hawaiian escapade?), all he craves is a serene retreat — a wish his family systematically thwarts. One wonders how many more seasons the show can terminate on this tried-and-true plotline, yet it effectively underscores the family's chaotic yet perpetually benevolent narcissism and Jay's pivotal role as the fulcrum of this tangled dynasty. A hint of melancholy lingers, as it did in last year's finale — the inexorable march of time catches up with Jay — interspersed with genuine warmth as he pieces together the good intentions shattered by his loved ones. As expected, every meticulously crafted plan descends into chaos (including the Dunphy offspring's heartfelt tribute video, cleverly masquerading as a nostalgia-tinged journey through season two's memories), save for the most unlikely scenario — Manny hauling Jay's fishing boat into the pool to afford him his long-awaited tranquil afternoon by the water. Naturally, even this ingenious solution descends into bedlam when the entire clan decides to climb aboard.
The Pritchett-Dunphys
After triumphantly recreating a cherished childhood photograph of his own (an endeavor entailing abundant spaghetti), Phil proposes to Claire that she and Mitchell re-enact a beloved snapshot from their youth as a birthday gift for their father. The chosen image — Claire in bell-bottom jeans, a blue rainbow T-shirt, and braids, with Mitchell in a full sailor suit, posing in their bygone backyard — is meticulously selected. They procure adult-sized replicas of the attire and seek out their former abode. Finding no one home upon ringing the bell poses no impediment; within moments, they've scaled the backyard fence ("Of course you'd chicken out; it's akin to pool-hopping." "I never saw the appeal in that; it diminished the allure of grandma's pool") and find themselves scaling their (remarkably well-preserved) childhood treehouse, pursued by the enormous, drooling dog they were forbidden to have. Claire produces Jay's backup present — a bottle of wine she uncorks with Mitch's shoe ("How did you acquire that skill?" "How did you procure a sailor suit at such short notice?") — and sibling revelry ensues. Topics of conversation include recollections of the house, Mitch's inability to relieve himself outdoors, and the prospect of dividing Jay's inheritance amongst three, including Manny, their technically stepbrother, a fact we had somewhat overlooked. Season three, might you please milk a few more awkward chuckles from this revelation?
In the meantime, Phil ventured out for some shopping and, as fate would have it, bumped into his arch-nemesis, Gene Whipple, embodied by the power-walking Rob Huebel. "Gene Whipple! My college nemesis, the cheerleading captain, and the undefeated champion of every robot duel. Every moment spent in his company made me feel increasingly inadequate. The sole area where I could claim parity was in close-up magic." To his surprise, he also encountered Gloria, leading to an unintentionally deliberate scheme where he duped Gene Whipple into believing they were married. Given all the heartwarming moments shared by Phil and Claire throughout the season (admittedly, not individually enchanting, but together they formed an endearingly quirky couple), this twist brought a hint of melancholy. It stirred a wave of sadness within Phil too, when Gene Whipple confessed that he had always envisioned Phil tying the knot with Claire Pritchett. This confession was met with Phil's pensive gaze and an insistent pursuit of redemption, culminating in a flawlessly executed coin trick. Phil is indeed a decent fellow, albeit one who really ought to fix that dilapidated staircase.
As for the Pritchett-Tuckers, two stunning revelations unfolded: Lily, it seemed, was quite capable of acting like a spoiled brat, and Cam was far from being a man of infinite patience. Drained and exhausted, he entrusted Lily to Gloria's care for the day, embracing the freedom to run errands for Jay's birthday bash. Free at last! But before embarking on his solo adventure, he commiserated with Manny, who was smitten and about to spend time with a girl who might challenge him to a softball game. Armed with a glove, albeit one he'd only used once – to retrieve a torte from the oven – Manny was understandably anxious. Cam, who had once taken up softball to impress a suitor, shared some pointers. Later, while waiting in line at the bakery, Cam received a desperate call from Manny. "Every time I open my mouth, I blurt out something idiotic. I called her bedroom 'fantaisy.' It's not even a word!" Manny lamented. Cam began feeding him cheesy lines over the phone – "You're the prettiest, smartest girl in the sixth grade. I know you're only 11, but I can't stop thinking about you!" – which earned him disapproving glances and left Jay's cake trapped inside the bakery.
