Mid-May may seem an odd juncture to celebrate Thanksgiving, yet last night's episode of 'Modern Family' undeniably bore the hallmarks of Turkey Day. It presented a quirky twist on a traditional holiday tableau, showcasing what could very well be the most audacious high school art project ever conceived. The family donned vintage attire to recreate Norman Rockwell's iconic painting, 'Freedom From Want,' while Jay endeavored to introduce Gloria to the Jay Pritchett sandwich, a culinary delight loaded with turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, peppers, and anchovies. As is customary during family holidays and this season of 'Modern Family,' the camaraderie soon gave way to a flurry of squabbles.
Let us express gratitude, then, for the novel pairings of combative characters introduced last night (with Mitchell and Phil emerging as unexpectedly gratifying adversaries), even as Jay and Gloria's squabble felt as stale as week-old leftovers. In the universe of 'Modern Family,' realizations and resolutions unfold with the swiftness and ferocity of insults and jabs; barely has the fabric of relationships frayed when it is meticulously stitched back together (until the next episode rolls around). The conflict resolution in 'Modern Family' is unrealistic, simplistic, and formulaic, yet, akin to the finest episodic comedies, immensely entertaining. Let us delve into the fray:
The prim and proper youth squares off against the near-psychopathic teenager. Luke is nominated for a school award for extinguishing a fire in the science lab. Manny, the sole witness to Luke's underhanded heroism — the fire was actually started by Luke in his quest to create Luketonium! —pleads with him to decline the honor. But, seriously, this is Luke. As he aptly remarks, if awards were handed out for igniting blazes, he'd be a shoe-in. Manny should know better than to invoke patriotism to sway Luke's conscience; to Luke, it's merely a novel backdrop for accepting his award. The verdict: While it lacks thrills, any opportunity to witness the gleefully amoral Luke steal the spotlight is most welcome.
When two excessively polite gentlemen turn venomous. It all begins with a quintessential 'Modern Family' misunderstanding: Mitchell believes he's doing Phil a solid by taking on some tasks at Phil's agency; Phil thinks Mitchell is executing a dreadful job (deliberately so, to prevent the agency from becoming overly reliant on his stellar work). Conflict-averse Phil practices firing Mitchell (Haley, sneaking in late from a bash, encounters her own amusing misunderstanding with her ever-trusting dad), but when he confronts Mitchell at his doorstep, all he can muster is stressed blinking and convoluted compliments. He is the anti-Donald Trump. (Ty Burrell is always a crowd favorite, but the blinking felt somewhat excessive — an odd new tic introduced rather abruptly in the show's 71st episode). Were it not for the interview segments that allow the characters to bare their souls, one might think these two are attempting to murder each other with an oddly tense brand of kindness.
Phil and his colleagues believed they had triumphantly dismissed "the slacker," only to be surprised when Mitchell strolled into the office later that day. "Is he upset? He looks upset," pondered an office mate, to which Phil casually remarked, "No, that's just his perpetual expression." Neither man dared divulge their thoughts until Phil cunningly enticed Mitchell into an elevator, swiftly stepped out, and declared, "You're fired," before the doors closed shut. Alas, the elevator malfunctioned, stranding Mitchell inside, reminiscent of Laura Dern's character in "Enlightened," who now had to endure insults from his former peers. Hours passed, and Mitchell, defeated, assumed a fetal position within the confined space ("Lazy" indeed). Verdict: While Phil's怯懦was well-documented, his ruthless streak came as a shock. Nonetheless, when Mitchell, somewhat sheepishly, surrendered his parking pass and keys with a nudge from Cam, it was evident that the dismissal was justified.
Claire Versus Cameron: The battle of the overbearing parents. Cameron's visit to Claire's house saw Lily running wild, pounding around and meddling with the lighting. Claire attempted to discipline her gently, but Cam revealed their peculiar parenting philosophy: avoiding the word "no" to prevent rebellion. Instead, they preferred distraction tactics. Nap times were non-existent; Lily was her own nap commander. (Wasn't it just last week they had Lily on a leash? Confusing parenting strategies, indeed).
This storyline couldn't have come at a more opportune moment, amidst Time magazine's controversial cover sparking debates on good, healthy, and practical parenting. While most would agree that Cam's methods were ludicrous, Claire was the most vehement critic. Her teenage daughter, a bundle of stress, was sipping coffee, her son was winning awards for putting out fires he'd started, and her other daughter preferred calling Uncle Cam for late-night pickups when her designated driver was inebriated. When a spoon accidentally fell into the sink drain and Cam reached in to retrieve it, getting stuck in the process, it was Claire's moment to make a point. It was a dramatic, Jaws-esque scene: would Cam manage to free his finger before Lily flipped the garbage disposal switch? Claire refused to "shatter her confidence" by intervening. As Cam narrowly escaped at the eleventh hour, Claire erupted into a maniacal laugh, her previous displays of empathy melting away with her deranged chuckle. Verdict: Claire was once again displaying her know-it-all attitude, but Cam could certainly benefit from taking criticism with a bit more grace.
Jay Versus Gloria: A Tale of Turkey Sandwiches and Hidden Sentiments
Back once again to the persistently pesky turkey sandwich, Jay escorts Gloria to Lenny's Delicatessen, showcasing the menu where the Jay Pritchett sandwich boasts a prominent spot beneath the soup selections. "Were you actually named after a sandwich?" Gloria inquires with curiosity. However, it isn't until their encounter with Maxine, the steadfast waitress who seemingly holds all the intimate intricacies of Jay's life within her realm of knowledge, that Gloria forms a decided disdain for the Jay Pritchett sandwich. "It tastes like a fish and a turkey engaged in a pepper-infused death match," she retches, revealing a clear grievance against the overly amicable Maxine (or perhaps Gloria just isn't quite on board with Sparkle Motion). On a side note, it strikes as somewhat peculiar that Gloria has never ventured into the restaurant where her husband is such a frequent patron that a sandwich bears his name. Jay resents Gloria's brutal honesty, urging her to keep some matters to herself. This, in turn, prompts Gloria to query Jay about what secrets he harbors. "You're loud," he replies, a statement far from revelatory. It's sad, it's worn-out. Yet, credit must be given to Gloria for her unprecedented reaction — whispering has never sounded so incensed or loud. Verdict: Manny, ever the rational one, enlightens Gloria on the essence of jealousy ("Oh, my poor sisters!"). We eagerly anticipate an abundance of Maxine hugs in Gloria's future.
Alex (Not "Alice") Versus Mr. Jarvis: The Silent Struggle for Perfection
The epitome of humor in this episode lies in the absurd notion that any of these characters could possibly remain silent and motionless for a full 90 seconds to create a tableau vivant for Alex's art class. The actual scene marked a splendid highlight for the cast, albeit not quite up to Alex's perfectionist standards. If grading this episode were an option, we might align with Alex's dreamy art teacher who awarded her a B-, expecting nothing short of excellence from her. Here's to hoping that next week's season finale fulfills its utmost potential.
