All I can think about with this episode is Phil. He's just the best. Alex did irritate me a little, but Phil's attitude and words just made the episode for me. I love his character. Best dad ever.
4 Reviews
Phil
jjjjaviera17 July 2020
Classic Modern Family
chetasdas17 January 2016
The season finale makes the most of Modern Family's inimitable screenplay style. Gloria is feisty as always and Phil has played an excellent part in two parallel story lines. The episode did not explore Luke and Haley's parts as much (the Dunphys are my personal favourites). Fortunately though, Alex's storyline more than makes up for it and feels very relatable. Thankfully, Lily doesn't have as big a role to play and her minimized presence is the saving grace of the finale. An increased focus on her character (which with time has become borderline obnoxious) is what made this season slightly disappointing compared to the first few ones. Manny exhibits his cherubic bravado by conducting a recon mission to help Gloria and Cam pick peppers for "their" recipe. The episode starts on a fairly slow note but picks up pace taking you through a checkpoint of emotions. The finale seems to have been created keeping in mind a majority of the audiences' favourites and does not try to be too edgy or ambitious. With all the sweetness and humour shining through the closing moments of the episode, this finale is a must watch for any Modern Family fan.
Spread Your Wings
studioAT13 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I wasn't overly mad about the Cam/Gloria storyline, I think the writers were a bit keener on the whole 'sauce business' plot than the audience were, but other than that this is a great episode, with all the characters being written well.
Phil continues to be the best character by a mile, but I did like that Claire was a bit more likeable here too.
Great stuff.
Phil continues to be the best character by a mile, but I did like that Claire was a bit more likeable here too.
Great stuff.
In the middle a rocky season, Modern Family gives us one of its all-time best episodes to date
ryanjmorris24 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
It's no secret that this season of Modern Family hasn't been as well rounded and consistent as other years. The show was close to seamless in seasons one to four, but it dropped the ball considerably with season five before returning to excellent form in its sixth season last year. Despite last season's finale giving the opportunity of a number of changed character dynamics and potentially new narrative ideas, season seven has completely failed to deliver on any of them.
Which is why it's such a surprise that not only is "Spread Your Wings" the best episode of this season by a long mile, but one of the most well rounded and emotionally resonant episodes the show has ever produced. If Modern Family were like this every week then, well, it would be the greatest show on Earth. That is, unfortunately, not the case but that doesn't stop this episode holding its place right near the top of the show's upper echelon.
Mitchell and Jay's story works so well because it plays off of character beats that we all know and appreciate with this pairing, but binds them to a story we haven't seen before. This allows the show to find new humour in familiar areas, creating a story that is as comforting as it is hilarious. Similarly, the pairings of Cameron, Gloria and Manny all play wonderfully on their personalities, and successfully attach them to an original and exciting story. A pepper heist may not sound like much on paper, but the execution is a huge success, thanks mostly to the energetic and consistent performances of the cast. It's a subplot that sounds disappointing, but is actually highly enjoyable.
Finally, we come to the Dunphy's. This family was split in two this week: while Phil was off visiting Alex at College, Claire, Haley and Luke plot to secretly get rid of the ducks that Phil has kept for far too long. These both sound like straight forward stories, but the episode seamlessly creates a handful of parallels between them. After Alex contemplates moving back home Phil reacts unusually; he's happy because he misses his daughter, but disappointed because he feels she hasn't tried hard enough to fit in at College. It all comes together in a powerfully moving conclusion: Phil accepts that Alex's story is different to his and says that he believes that she tried her best, while Claire decides to keep the ducks when she realises that they remind Phil of his now grown up children. But Phil is ready to move on now. After his moment with Alex, he knows that even if his kids grow up, they'll always be his kids. As the family collectively allow the ducks to fly away, Alex phones home, just to have a chat with her dad. After such a powerful narrative set up so rooted in these characters, it's a deeply moving moment, that just might make you smile through the tear in the corner of your eye.
Grade: A
Which is why it's such a surprise that not only is "Spread Your Wings" the best episode of this season by a long mile, but one of the most well rounded and emotionally resonant episodes the show has ever produced. If Modern Family were like this every week then, well, it would be the greatest show on Earth. That is, unfortunately, not the case but that doesn't stop this episode holding its place right near the top of the show's upper echelon.
Mitchell and Jay's story works so well because it plays off of character beats that we all know and appreciate with this pairing, but binds them to a story we haven't seen before. This allows the show to find new humour in familiar areas, creating a story that is as comforting as it is hilarious. Similarly, the pairings of Cameron, Gloria and Manny all play wonderfully on their personalities, and successfully attach them to an original and exciting story. A pepper heist may not sound like much on paper, but the execution is a huge success, thanks mostly to the energetic and consistent performances of the cast. It's a subplot that sounds disappointing, but is actually highly enjoyable.
Finally, we come to the Dunphy's. This family was split in two this week: while Phil was off visiting Alex at College, Claire, Haley and Luke plot to secretly get rid of the ducks that Phil has kept for far too long. These both sound like straight forward stories, but the episode seamlessly creates a handful of parallels between them. After Alex contemplates moving back home Phil reacts unusually; he's happy because he misses his daughter, but disappointed because he feels she hasn't tried hard enough to fit in at College. It all comes together in a powerfully moving conclusion: Phil accepts that Alex's story is different to his and says that he believes that she tried her best, while Claire decides to keep the ducks when she realises that they remind Phil of his now grown up children. But Phil is ready to move on now. After his moment with Alex, he knows that even if his kids grow up, they'll always be his kids. As the family collectively allow the ducks to fly away, Alex phones home, just to have a chat with her dad. After such a powerful narrative set up so rooted in these characters, it's a deeply moving moment, that just might make you smile through the tear in the corner of your eye.
Grade: A
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