Aversion to Virgins: Modern Family's Best Episode to Date?

Last night ABC’s Modern Family aired like it does every Wednesday. Last night, like every Wednesday, I sat down to watch it the second it was streaming online. Unlike every Wednesday, however, I found myself blown away.

Since it aired in 2009, I have been a religious watcher of Modern Family. Unfortunately, season three has been less than satisfactory. Sometimes the intermingling of the entire family felt forced, other times the writing simply fell flat. Last night’s episode turned that all around. The constant motif throughout the episode was growing up and how it changes the relationships around you. All of the subplots within the episode brought out the essence of each character; whether for better or worse, I love each of them more now than ever before.

Let’s begin with Luke and Manny. Stealing Cam’s car to impress a girl was the perfect way to address their transition from being the cute, youngest children into mischievous pre-teens. Even more important is the relationship between Luke and Manny. Though they once fought constantly, Luke and Manny now rely on each other more than anyone else within the family. Luke needs Manny to keep him grounded, but Manny also needs Luke to help him let loose and act his age—something that never happened before Luke and Manny’s friendship developed.

The closeness Luke and Manny attained is something Gloria has been after with Claire for some time…and allowing them to bond over weapons was the only way it could have possibly begun. The audience has been well aware of Gloria’s comfort with weapons and violence, but Claire’s affinity for guns did not come as a surprise. What was surprising was that Claire finally opened up to Gloria—and about her “sacred secret” too. It has taken a while and there have been many failed attempts, but Gloria and Claire are now finally creating a foundation for a good relationship.

The two most heartwarming moments, however, came from Haley and Phil, then Mitchell and Jay. Due to a miscommunication (“Haley’s a virgin...aversion”), Phil finds out his first-born daughter is sexually active. Despite having prepared for this moment, Phil finds himself at a loss for words, torn between feeling awkward and feeling upset. But, in classic Phil fashion, when it really counts, he is able to get his message across (“I trust your judgment”). Even Haley feels touched, saying she has “a cool dad.”

Jay and Mitchell share a similar moment. After marring his father’s memory of the day he got a hole in one, Mitchell apologizes but is let down by how much his father relished that game rather than the nice day they spent together where Mitchell had his first beer—or so he thought. Jay reminds him of his 14^th birthday when his mom made him cry, and Jay was the one who came to Mitchell’s rescue, a beer in tow. It isn’t often that Mitchell and Jay are on the same side.

This episode is the best not because it’s the funniest or the most touching, it’s the best because only a show like Modern Family can pull off heart and hilarity so seamlessly (except for maybe Parks and Recreation).