What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 5, Episode 10 “The Old Man and the Tree” (B)

This episode was full of funny plotlines even if it wasn’t entirely even throughout. Some of the storylines were a bit too literal, like Gloria being jealous because her mother was treating Claire the way she always wanted her to treat her, but that got a decent dramatic resolution. Cam realizing that he and Lily were benefiting from a party for the needy only to have Mitchell drive up with a car full of presents ended on an amusing note, especially because Mitchell had purchased gifts meant for Pepper and their friends. Luke encouraging Phil to fulfill his yearlong goal of walking to Canada to buy himself time to empty the garage of the year of recycling that he had failed to take out was fun, and I loved that he involved Dylan, who ended up blowing out his hearing and hurting his hand while shooting off the fireworks just as Phil was approaching the border. Manny and Jay going to chop down the tree with different ideas about its importance was entertaining, and the simple solution that presented itself after Jay got multiple tools stuck in the tree was relatively funny. Santa disappearing while Haley and Alex were helping out at the mall was somewhat less convincing, but it was all worth it for the shot of the arms bursting into the house and Haley and Alex grabbing onto each other for dear life. Perhaps this show will do better when it’s not trying to theme its episode around the holidays.