Modern Family has graced our screens for many years; it has become a household name for every family across the nation. Of course, as with anything that changes, the series has had its ups and downs that have rendered it either at the top or at the bottom of the ratings. We would all want a series that does not lose the excitement it had in the first season, but usually, most usually get canceled after they are through with their first season. For Modern Family, it has had ten seasons so far and here is what we can say ranks as the worst and the best seasons.
10. Season 10
In May 2017, ABC renewed Modern Family for the tenth season which premiered on September 26, 2018. Although the producers had earlier on stated that the tenth season would have been the last season of the series, on February 5, 2019, it was renewed for the eleventh and final season. Season 10 happens to have the most episodes that critics view as the worst. The season starts with “I Love a Parade” which makes a promising begin with the plot revolving around the cast taking on new challenges and overcoming their fears. For instance, Manny has to face his fear of moving to community college while his mother has to deal with the absence of her son for the holidays. All the same, it loses points maybe because the children are all grown up and the parents have a hard time wondering how to handle the changes, and we can see it has lost the “spark” that once made it worth looking forward to every season.
9. Season 7
On May 7, 2015, the series received a renewal order from ABC, and it premiered on September 23, 2015, with a new change; instead of Pierce Wallace playing the role of Joe, Jeremy Maguire would replace him since the producers were looking for an older actor. While we would expect that having a four-year-old would give the series funnier and wittier lines from Joe, the producers do not utilize him as much as they did when Lily was the same age. “Spread Your Wings” is among the best episodes and even Kyle Fowle gave it an “A-“. You have to agree the attempts to get rid of the ducks by Claire and her two kids is exciting to watch as they take advantage of Phil’s absence only for Claire to realize that it might offend Phil.
8. Season 5
Season 5 of Modern family was renewed on May 10, 2013, premiered on September 23, 2013, and after airing 24 episodes, the show came to an end on May 21, 2014. The first episode could not have come at a better time; when same-sex marriage in California had just been legalized, and the episode took advantage of that to make its plot for Mitch and Cam. Although the “Sleeper” episode was among those that received negative reviews, together with “Australia” and “Larry’s Wife,” it is an episode revolving around deception among the family members. For instance, Gloria feels her son is too white for him to be viewed as Colombian and would prefer to expose him to the sun causing sunburn than accept that he is indeed half-white. Claire, on the other hand, prefers to buy a fake ring than face her husband with the truth that she thinks she might have lost the ring. The entire family lives in putting up faces to please everyone else even when it means accepting clothes that they know they do not like. It may not be the best, but it does have its moments.
7. Season 9
In May 2017, ABC renewed the series for the ninth and tenth seasons and consequently began airing the ninth season on September 27, 2017. It ended on May 16, 2018, when the final episodes aired; the entire season had 22 episodes. The “Spanks for the Memories” episode is not that great although it seems to be a follow up on the previous episode in which the role-playing for Jay and Gloria does not turn out as great as they expected when she is mistaken for a prostitute. Jay continues his quest to turn things around in the bedroom to get rid of the dry spell only to realize that his worries were for nothing since Gloria wanted to spank Joe, not Jay. The 18th episode also has its highlights though you can almost feel for Jay when he thinks that Manny will no longer view him as a father because of Jorge. The meanness in Gloria when she confesses that she used Jorge for “mean humor” is so Colombian of her. While the “Clash of Swords” attempts to show us the different changes that the cast will undergo, it does not fully explore the storylines.
6. Season 3
As always the third season had Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd as the executive producers, but this time Bill Wrubel joins the crew as a co-executive producer. The season came with a few firsts, for instance, we got to watch the family donning cowboy hats and boots on a dude ranch in Jackson, Wyoming. Additionally, that first episode became the first one-hour episode ever on the series. The ranch was not precisely what Peter Swanson of Siant Magazine expected for the third season premiere saying that such wacky-location stunts are usually presented for the sixth and seventh seasons of a dying sitcom. All the same, the season broke another record for the series by winning the Golden Globe Award for being the best television series in the Comedy category. The seventh episode brings out some funny moments such as watching Cam trying to act straight and get a woman’s number. Seriously, one look at him and you can tell he is not into women so you wonder which woman would fall for the attempts. Another touching moment is when Phil and Luke decide to build a treehouse, but unfortunately, Luke gives up on the project. We can feel the disappointment in Phil.
5. Season 8
ABC ordered the 8th season on March 3, 2016; it started airing on September 21, 2016 and ended on May 17, 2017. It had 22 episodes of which some were great and others, not so much. For instance “Heavy on the Head” is an episode which you feel that given a chance to be a producer, you would have capitalized on the many opportunities presented to make it among the best episodes of the series. Unfortunately, most of the moments are there but do not have a high impact. Take the example of Phil learning that the land which he was excited about is unusable for making his dreams come true; we do not get to see how devastated he is which could have played a significant part in making the episode great. Still, we have to give credit where it is due and “The Alliance” is among the best episodes in season 8. The sneaking behind their spouses is interesting to watch and how they eventually get what they want maybe a lesson for them that indeed unity is strength.
4. Season 1
When Modern Family first aired on ABC, as with other series we waited to see what special thing the producers had in store for us. It premiered on September 23, 2009, and ended on May 19, 2010, having made its ways into the heart of many. The series received so much praise that it won various nominations; 6 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, 8 Primetime Emmy awards. Of course with that much success, it was only reasonable that the producers came up with a second season. While Fizbo, the 9th episode received most of the positive reviews from critics, another quite interesting episode was “My Funky Valentine” where we first meet the alter egos of Claire and Phil. In their attempts to spice up their love life, Clive and Julianna are in a bar so that Clive can pick her up. Julianna goes to the bathroom to remove her clothes and wear a coat only. Unfortunately, the excitement soon dies when Julianna’s coat is stuck in the escalator as they head upstairs and they are forced to revert to Claire and Phil. However the “The Bicycle Thief” episode also brings out some stereotyping through Phil flirting with Desiree. It only makes us feel that married woman are right to watch out for single mothers who are viewed as threats for marriages.
3. Season 4
Only two months after the third season ended, ABC renewed the series on May 10, 2012. It then premiered on September 26, 2012, and on May 22, 2013, it ended. They did not waste time with its development after the renewal since filming started on July 10, 2012. However, the season received different reactions with two most notable negative reviews coming from Willa Paskin of Salon and Rachel Stein of Television Without Pity. On the other hand, A.V Club has consistently reviewed the comedy mostly in a positive light. Among the best episodes include the 15th episode in which of all days to be diagnosed with a sickness that demands taking it easy in their romantic lives, it had to be Valentine’s Day for Claire and Phil or more appropriately in this particular case, Julianna and Clive Bixby. You can almost feel for her. We also get to see Lily being the “man” of the house by telling Dylan that he is no longer a wanted guest on the house, something that her parents are unable to do.
2. Season 6
ABC ordered the 6th season of Modern Family on May 18, 2014, leading to its premiere on September 24, 2014. With Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan as the showrunners, the show was produced through a collaboration of 20th Century Fox Television, Picador Productions, and Steven Levitan Productions. It had 24 episodes of which received positive reviews; most episodes obtained grade “B” with the episode “Closet? You’ll Love It!” gaining grade “A-” from an A.V Club writer. We have varied tastes when it comes to what appeals to us. The 6th episode is among the best, stamping the fact that Claire always wants her house to beat the rest in Halloween decorations but this time her husband is taking over. Episode 14 is also quite hilarious with Gloria’s sister warming her way into her brother-in-law’s arms and taking advantage of Gloria’s sprained able to spend more time with Jay and even at some point making Manny feel that he is unwanted in the brewing “romance.” As for the whole being sick thing on episode three, it is not that much fun especially with Claire suffering from Vertigo. We are used to her retaining the competitive nature, but the attempt at being funny with the sickness does not bring out the effect for which the producers were aiming.
1. Season 2
After having been introduced to the show in season one, usually most series come out even better in their second seasons and Modern Family did not disappoint. It premiered on September 22, 201 after ABC renewed it for a second season on January 12, 2010. It retained its showrunners and producers and comprised 24 episodes which aired on ABC until May 25, 2011. The Halloween episode also makes it among the best episodes on this seasons exhibiting Claire’s obsession for having the best decorations. Despite her efforts and giving everyone a role to play, her plans do not turn out as she had expected. However, the funniest part is when Mitchell dresses up for Halloween in a Spider-man costume only to realize he is the only one in his office to do so causing him to find a way out through the bathroom. What brings the points down is the stereotyping which we are getting too used to for the show to keep deriving its humor. For instance when Jay wants a saxophone for a birthday present, but Gloria mistakes it for a ” sexiphone” due to her Colombian accent.
Follow Us
