Modern Family: A Sketchy Area (10x03)

I saw a rumor that Modern Family might end up continuing after this season, but after being completely bored and annoyed by this episode, I really do hope Season Ten is the end. I saw in the AV club's review something about how this show sucks at long-form storytelling, and... yep. I agree completely.

Cons:

Phil wants to be a teacher at Luke's community college. Luke doesn't want him invading his space, Phil is disappointed, then Luke changes his mind and Phil enthusiastically jumps in to campus life and all that this entails. There are two big problems here: one, we've seen this story dozens of times between Phil and Luke. Phil wants to be involved in Luke's life in some way, Luke is resistant, Luke learns the value of his father in his life, and there's a change of heart. It's an old, tired, standard. The other problem is: since when does Phil randomly want to be a professor? Does he not still work as a realtor anymore? I'm confused. Didn't he open a magic shop? Wasn't there a parking lot he owns with Jay? How many weird random careers does this dude have at this point, and what are the chances that we'll actually get some follow-through and see how this career affects Phil moving forward? I'd say pretty low.

Claire and Jay's plot thread did have a few laughs, I guess, but mostly it was another retreading of familiar ground. Claire makes a fool of herself at work. The end. The new partners are "new wave" corporate employers, doing things the Google and Facebook way with ping pong tables and giant hamster balls in the work place. Jay lays down the law, restores order, and it turns out he's right. I just don't get anything out of this. At least Claire does get a lot of episodes that focus on her career, and at least that career remains consistent. But there really wasn't much of interest to grab onto here.

Alex. Alex is getting ready to graduate? Why on earth didn't this show utilize her time at college better? It's crazy to me. She was in school, she was having a hard time, she was back at school... it was all really difficult to track, and this is what I mean about the show being bad at long-form storytelling. Why wasn't Alex's college experience given more of a spotlight over the past few seasons? Maybe then it would feel like a satisfying culmination to learn that she is soon to graduate. Maybe then I would give a damn about her sudden crisis about her future. Apparently she wants to sing all of a sudden? Again, with any buildup whatsoever, maybe this could have been an interesting story. But instead, Jay talks to her and convinces her to stick with science for now, and come back to singing later if she still really wants it. So... the end of that random little detour...

Pros:

I will admit that the conclusion to Claire's plot thread was pretty funny. Gloria uses all the tactics she was going to employ to cheer up Joe after his first day of first grade to cheer up Claire instead. It was pretty funny, especially the fact that Claire takes this weird mothering in stride. I guess she really needed the reassurance!

Even though Alex's story doesn't make any darn sense, it was still undeniably a little bit sweet to see Jay give her a pep talk. I like that Jay seems to be in his own world most of the time, but he actually does pay attention to his family, and he wants to help them. He gives Alex pragmatic advice without crushing her dream. Good job, Jay!

Cam and Mitchell's story was entirely empty of substance, but since most of this episode was failed attempts at substance, I think I actually prefer the pure comedy without any sort of attempted lesson or message. Basically, the court sketch-artist in Mitchell's first big case (what kind of lawyer is he? Why does this show never tell us these things?) is drawing him really ugly. Cam tries to help Mitchell put his best face forward in the court room. Then the truth comes out: the sketch artist stayed in the upstairs rental in Cam and Mitchell's house, and overheard them gossiping about him. Now he's out for revenge, so Cam has to find blackmail. It was silly, there were lots of lawyer puns and silly word play, physical comedy, Cam going over the top and Mitchell going along with it for once... totally harmless, totally meaningless, and I did wonder where the heck Pam's son and Lily were during all of this... but it made me smile, and sometimes that's all you need from a sitcom.

So, there you have it. This show is really showing its age in my opinion. So many recycled plot threads, so many annoying and unearned moments. I'm ready for them to take a bow!

6.5/10