What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 8, Episode 3 “Blindsided” (B-)

I don’t think I laughed during this episode, but somehow I did find it less irritating than some other recent installments. More than anything, this show is harping on the fact that Luke is about as stupid as you can get. His lack of intelligence dwarfs Haley’s, partially because he doesn’t have the same charm to be able to talk his way out of a situation in which he clearly has no grasp. Haplessly deciding to run for president just because it was suggested with no consideration of his step-uncle’s candidacy was a boneheaded choice made all the more absurd by his eventual victory despite a truly terrible united speech. Cam bringing a football player to the house to stay with them wasn’t a bad call, but his inability to see how he manipulates situations makes him the series’ most oblivious character, which is saying something given the other personalities on this show. Phil trying to introduce Haley to a more responsible lifestyle was admittedly unsuccessful, mainly because Martin Short’s old school mentor was definitely the wrong choice, and Haley scored a tremendous victory by making Phil’s unsellable murder house the ultimate destination with just a few texts. Alex’s inability to speak gave her a few punchlines at the start of the episode, but otherwise she was pretty absent from the episode. Jay and Gloria didn’t have much to do in this episode other than serve as reverse cheerleaders for Manny, warning him to be prepared for a devastating loss rather than amping up his confidence as they might usually do.