What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 3, Episode 16 “Virgin Territory” (B+)

Here we had an episode of surprising revelations, which at first shook those involved but ultimately proved to be positive moments from which they were able to go forward, after they ruined breakfast, of course. Manny and Luke’s plan to get Lily in trouble for spilling milk was the least consequential, and I enjoyed their slow-motion joyride, both forwards and backwards, down the street designed to impress Manny’s latest crush. Cameron pretending to be injured in order to snoop around Claire’s house to find a container she had never returned to him was in line with his character and quite amusing. Jay finding out that he didn’t actually make the hole-in-one that earned him the nickname Ace was quite a blow, but it’s always good to see him and Mitchell move past something and bond as father and son. Gloria following Claire after she seemed uninterested in inviting her along to yoga felt like the typical disconnect between them, and I like how it turned out to be something altogether, with Claire revealing her secret passion of going to a firing range, and Gloria displaying even more exceptional talent (those poor blind models that can’t see how beautiful they are…). Phil’s misheard aversion comment led to one of the funnies tropes involved with his character, which was his inability to easily accept the fact that his kids are growing up, which is why he so readily agreed to allow Alex to purchase a $200 doll when she realized the motherly characteristics she possessed.