Modern Family 2.09 “Mother Tucker” Review

If you missed last week’s “best of the season” episode, “Manny Get Your Gun,” read my review here.

This week’s Modern Family, entitled “Mother Tucker,” is about physical, familial and emotional boundaries, but as is often the case in the more run-of-the-mill episodes of the show, only two of the three plots really addressed the theme. Phil clearly has no concept of the proper boundary a father is supposed to have with his high school aged daughter’s boyfriend (hint: the two guys are not supposed to be friends); Claire won’t respect her daughter’s choice of boyfriend; and Cameron’s mother Barb is completely oblivious of the physical boundary most people have about other people groping them. Where the show strayed was in Jay’s appendicitis, which Gloria thought was just him being weak or begging off a trip to the mall. I could be missing how this plot ties into the concept of boundaries due to being distracted by thoughts of turkey and cranberry sauce, but I just didn’t see how this story tied in. Not that it matters — it appears the decision has been made that none of these characters are going to “grow” in any particular way, with the possible exception of Jay’s growing acceptance of Mitchell and Cameron’s love.

As this was just another solid and funny episode of the show, devoid, really, of anything deeper to say about it, I would like to use this space to explore for a moment this last point. Do characters in sitcoms need to “grow?” Is it sufficient that characters are just reliably funny in the same way week in and week out? I realized as I was watching the episode that I was smiling at the jokes (some of which were very funny and are below), but I was just kind of lazily watching. I wasn’t very engaged. Again, this could be because my brain has shut off for the four-day weekend, but I find this happening more and more with Modern Family and other sitcoms. Unless an episode is really clicking on all comedic cylinders (like “Manny Get Your Gun”), I feel I need some bit of depth, some “movement” to keep me interested in the show. So, I began thinking about what comedies I really enjoy, and as it turns out, the ones I am most engaged by are those where the characters seem to be learning something over time.

Take Community for example. This is a show that knows no situation too absurd nor joke too referential. The show goes for laughs first and foremost, but even in its short history (the same length of time as Modern Family), the characters seem to be evolving. Jeff is learning that as cool as he (thinks he) is, he can learn something form his misfit friends in the study group. Abed is learning that relating to the world via pop culture prevents him from building true relationships. Annie is learning to be less passive-aggressive and hyper-competitive. Shirley is learning tolerance of other faiths and ideas. And so on. The Office, in its heyday and when its current episodes reach their creative apex, Michael is learning how better to relate to women and figure out what he truly wants form life. Jim and Pam are realizing they need to be more responsible now that they have a child (not to mention the development of their entire love story). Even Dwight seems to be recognizing that he can’t manipulate Angela the way he has in the past. The Cosby Show, All in the Family, and Friends were all similar.

Of course, there are examples of the opposite. The characters on Seinfeld were hilariously exactly the same (in motivation and desires) at the end of the series as they were at the beginning, but that show was specifically about “nothing.” Such examples, at least in my experience, have been exceptions that prove the rule. So, which type of show does Modern Family want to be? Do the creators have a desire to make Phil less dumb? To make Claire less harried? To make Manny more of a kid? To make Mitchell more demonstratively emotional? Personally, I hope so. I mean, the show is always funny, week in and week out, but for the show to remain “great,” it needs to be about something more than just laughing at the things these people do. If these characters don’t develop in some way (and I recognize that dramatic characters have opportunities to make larger changes than comedic ones), however, I fear the show may slip into caricature — it will still be funny, but also weightless.

Back to the episode at hand, there were some great lines this week. One thing that is sorely missed from this set of funny lines are any quotes form my favorite Modern Family character, Luke. The youngest Dunphy was conspicuously absent. I suppose with Dylan playing such a prominent role, the episode could only have so much “dumb” in it, so Luke was written out. It’s a shame though. I love that kid. Anyway, on to the quotes:

David (Haley’s tutor): Don’t worry. You’ll get it. You know, a lot of famous scientists are women.
Haley: They’re fat though, right?

Alex: I’m just saying…it’s not like she’s ever going to get a job. And how do we know that the right Middle Eastern businessman wouldn’t treat her great?
Claire: …For the record, we thought she could live with you.
Alex: Like I’m going to tell any of you where I live.

Gloria (to Manny): He’s [Jay] fine. (to Jay) Get in the car.
Jay: I’m “home fine,” not “mall fine.”
Gloria: You know what happens when I shop angry.
Jay: I’ll clear a space.

Alex: So, dumb guys go for dumb girls, and smart guys go for dumb girls. What do the smart girls get?
Phil: Cats, mostly.

Mitchell (to Barb, and trying to show Cameron how Barb gropes him): Put your fingers all over my fanny. Your magic fingers.

Mitchell: She’s always touching me inappropriately, and you never seem to notice.
Cameron: Show me, Mitchell. Show me on Lily’s doll where my mother is touching you.

Dylan: I got your texts. You swore a lot.
Haley: Who is she?
Dylan: Who is who?
Haley: Your new girlfriend. I need her name and address so I can mess her up.
Dylan: I don’t have a new girlfriend.
Haley: Don’t play dumb, Dylan.
Dylan: I’m not. I’m never playing dumb.

OK, that’s what I’ve got for this week’s Modern Family. What did you think of the episode? How did it compare to “Manny Get Your Gun” and the other episodes this week? Do you need your sitcom characters to develop in any way, or do you just want them to be funny, and nothing more? Please leave your comments below. I’ll be back next week with another review. Until then, I’m off to check out the cowboy party scene.