What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 5, Episode 20 “Australia” (C+)

My main thought regarding this episode is, why now? What spurred the need for a trip to Australia, something that seems much more fitting for an event premiere or finale? To have such a journey confined to just one random episode that runs only half an hour is peculiar, not that I’m suggesting that it needed to be a full hour. Like so much on this show recently, this episode was very formulaic, not quite as choreographed as usual but still pretty standard. Obviously Phil would be much more excited than everyone else about the land down under, while Claire and Jay wouldn’t be able to detach from work long enough to actually enjoy it. I think those plotlines would have been just as effective without a kangaroo punching Phil in the face, which was just plain weird, and a wild dog running off with Claire’s laptop. Those events were far too literal for my tastes. While I welcome any opportunity to see Rhys Darby of “Flight of the Conchords” fame in any capacity, the entire character of Fergus was pretty preposterous, oafish and irritating in his behavior yet inexplicably the most famous celebrity in Australia. His rental of a boat to replace the one they were supposed to join Hugh Jackman on was probably the visual highlight of his plotline. Alex narrating constantly and Haley searching for love with a lifeguard were far more appealing storylines than Lily’s whiny search for the perfect souvenir, and I also enjoyed Manny and Luke’s hopeless search for the elusive topless beaches.