Over a decade after the first episode of the TV series Modern Family aired, the show remains one of the most entertaining family comedy series. It commendably sustained a loyal fan base throughout its 11 seasons and people continue to hold the show in high esteem.
Created by Christopher Lloyd in 2009, Modern Family has been named for several honors including 22 Primetime Emmy Awards and 6 Writers Guild of America Awards. It is widely praised for its portrayal of positive images and storylines that reflect a diverse America. By the time the series ended in 2020, it had run for 11 seasons with 250 episodes; all centered around the lives of three diverse family set-ups in suburban Los Angeles, linked by patriarch Ed O’Neill who starred as Jay Pritchett.
In no particular order, here are some of the best Modern Family episodes in case you missed any, or you are in need of a refresher.
Best Modern Family Episodes to Watch More than Once
15. Pilot
- Season: 1
- Episode: 1
- Writers: Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd
- First aired: September 23, 2009
- Nielsen Rating: 4.2/11 in the 18-49 age bracket
Being the first and having one of the most hilarious attention-grabbing moments on the show, the pilot episode of the show earned its place as one of the best episodes in Modern Family. With a blend of artistic humor, viewers get familiarized with three sets of people who make up a single family.
Despite the age gap between Jay and his wife, his family makes an effort to function in this episode. Claire’s family on the other hand strives to discipline their son and keep an eye on their daughter and her new lover. Mitchell and his partner Cameron, on other hand, try to keep their adoptive daughter in Vietnam a secret from his family.
The episode on its own received many nominations and significantly won Episodic Comedy at the Writers Guild of America Awards in 2009. It also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
14. Undeck the Halls
- Season: 1
- Episode: 10
- Writers: Dan O’Shannon
- First aired: December 9, 2009
This is the first Christmas episode of the series. When Claire and Phil learn that one of the kids tried a cigarette but no one wants to admit it, they threaten to take away Christmas. To save Christmas, Alex accepts the blame and gets grounded for a whole week. Phil brings back the Christmas tree, but it turns out that the kids were all telling the truth from the beginning. Phil and Claire discover the burn mark on the couch was caused by the refracting sunlight through a Christmas ornament that Frank sent them and not a cigarette.
Alex explains that she wanted to accept the blame since she did not want Phil to ruin Christmas when they question her why she lied. The kids remind Phil that he blamed them and threatened to cancel Christmas because of something they didn’t do, and he impulsively offers to take the family to Italy to Claire’s dismay.
13. Hawaii
- Season: 1
- Episode: 23
- Writers: Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh
- First aired: May 12, 2010
- Rating: Upon release “Hawaii” was viewed by an estimated 10.335 million households with a 4.3 rating/11% share in the 18-49 demographic making it the highest-rated episode of the series
In the episode, Jay’s preparations for a relaxing vacation are derailed by an unwanted reality check, which forces him to spend his time working out rather than having fun. Meanwhile, Phil makes an effort to give Claire the romantic getaway and wedding they were never able to have because Claire was carrying Haley at the time. Since Cameron only wants to have fun and Mitchell wants to go sightseeing, they dispute whether or not they should. When Haley becomes intoxicated and Luke and Manny cannot get along while sharing a room, the kids soon find themselves in danger.
12. Family Portrait
- Season: 1
- Episode: 24
- Writers: Jason Winer
- First aired: May 19, 2010
- Rating: “Family Portrait” was viewed by an estimated 10.01 million households receiving a 4.2 rating/11% share in the 18-49 demographic becoming the second highest-rated episode of the series’ history.
Claire plans to snap a fresh family photo in the episode. Gloria and Manny attend a Lakers game while Mitchell takes care of Lily and engages in conflict with a pigeon that has intruded the house. Cameron secures a gig as a wedding singer and Luke speaks with Jay about a project for school.
After many mishaps, the family is barely on time for the portrait but Claire’s perfectionism gets on Jay who starts a mud fight. The portrait is not as perfect as Claire was imagining it but she admits that she loves the result.
11. The Kiss
- Season: 2
- Episode: 2
- Writers: Abraham Higginbotham
- First aired: September 29, 2010
- Rating: In its original American broadcast, “The Kiss” was viewed by an estimated 11.877 million viewers and received a 4.6 rating/13% share.
The 26th episode overall and the second episode of the second season of the American sitcom Modern Family is titled “The Kiss.” It was broadcast on September 29, 2010.
In the episode, Claire approaches Haley for help after discovering flirtatious texts from a boy on Alex’s phone. Haley commands Alex to kiss the kid, forcing her to approach him and make the uncomfortable request in front of his buddies. This unfortunately did not end well for Alex.
Meanwhile, Gloria prepares a supper of traditional Colombian cuisine in memory of her recently died grandmother. Mitchell later struggles to kiss Cam in front of everyone and at the end of the dinner, Claire eventually tells Alex about her past. Alex is still upset at first, but when she and Jeremy decide to hold off on kissing, she starts to feel pleased again. Gloria’s epilogue serves as the episode’s climax.
10. Halloween
- Season: 2
- Episode: 6
- Writers: Jeffrey Richman
- First aired: October 27, 2010
- Rating: “Halloween” was viewed by an estimated 13.143 million households and received a Nielsen rating of 7.8 rating/12%
The episode centers on Claire’s passion for Halloween and her decision to turn the Dunphy home into a haunted house for trick-or-treaters. Mitchell has a difficult day at work, while Cameron is unable to get over holiday-related childhood trauma. Jay and Manny make fun of Gloria’s accent and she exhibits strange behavior.
Critics generally gave “Halloween” good reviews. According to Nielsen Media Research, “Halloween” matched for the series’ highest-rated episode among adults between the ages of 18 and 49 and became its most-watched episode. Later, it rose to become both the week’s second-highest-rated show and highest-rated scripted program.
9. Slow Down Your Neighbors
- Season: 2
- Episode: 11
- Writers: Gail Mancuso
- First aired: January 5, 2011
- Rating: Upon its release, viewed by an estimated 11.756 million viewers and received a 4.8 rating/13% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49.
In Slow Down Your Neighbors, Claire adopts the vigilante persona in an effort to track down and stop a car that is speeding through the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Jay attempts to teach Gloria and Manny how to ride a bike, but Manny is unexpectedly good at it.
In another development, Mitchell and Cameron meet a lovely unknown neighbor. Well, who could that be? In the meantime, Phil is busy attempting to land an important listing with a difficult client.
8. Princess Party
- Season: 2
- Episode: 15
- Writers: Michael Spiller
- First aired: February 16, 2011
- Rating: Viewed by an estimated 10.453 million households and received a 4.3 rating/12% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49 in its original American broadcast
The episode is about Lily’s princess-themed birthday party where Mitchell chooses to invite his parents and Fizbo to Claire’s dismay. This causes the guest list to go a little out of hand.
When DeDe arrives with Claire’s former high school boyfriend along, things become stranger, as Jay and Gloria each resort to a different strategy to deal with this group of misfits. The TV Squad writer Joel Keller called “Princess Party” “one of the funniest episodes of the season, despite the episode receiving mixed reviews.
7. Virgin Territory
- Season: 3
- Episode: 16
- Writers: Jason Winer
- First aired: February 22, 2012
- Nielsen Rating: In its original American broadcast “Virgin Territory” was watched by 11.54 million people
In the episode, Mitchell ruins one of Jay’s happiest moments, as Claire, Jay, and Mitchell continue to confess previous faults during a family brunch. Mitchell chooses to follow Jay as he departs after being enraged so that he may apologize and the two of them can reconcile. Gloria follows Claire as she leaves for some “yoga” classes because she wants to attend with her. Gloria suspects there is a problem and that Claire is lying when Claire comes up with reasons not to attend the sessions with her. When she returns, she finds that Claire relaxes by practicing shooting range rather than taking yoga courses.
6. Election Day
- Season: 3
- Episode: 19
- Writers: Ben Karlin
- First aired: April 11, 2012
- Rating: “Election Day” was watched by 10.35 million people upon its release
Every member of the family is given a mission to complete in order to help Claire who is running for council, garner as many votes as possible on election day.
In a truck equipped with a loudspeaker, Cameron and Mitchell canvass for Claire and exhort voters to do the same. They are doing great until Cameron notices someone throwing a tissue onto the sidewalk rather than into the trash can next to them. When Cameron becomes irate, he uses the speaker to yell at the man to pick it up. They start using the microphone for purposes unrelated to Claire’s campaign.
Despite the disastrous day, everyone gathers at the Dunphy home for the election results celebration that evening as they await the results. Since Claire is unaware of how little support they actually provided, she takes the time to thank everyone for their efforts throughout the day to increase her vote total. She receives a call while speaking informing her that she lost the election.
5. Party Crasher
- Season: 4
- Episode: 12
- Writers: Danny Zuker and Christopher Lloyd
- First aired: January 16, 2013
- Ratings: Watched by 11.01 million; down 1.03 from the previous episode
It was Manny’s 14th birthday. Jay and Gloria decided to throw him a surprise party only for him to return home with his new girlfriend (Krystal Gauvin), who kisses him as a birthday gift, oblivious to the fact that everyone is watching them in the dark.
When the light went on, both Manny and his girlfriend are embarrassed. The girl runs away while Manny angrily runs to his room and lucks himself. When Jay finally convinces him to attend his party, Gloria’s water breaks. So Manny won’t have to share his birthday with her child, she makes an effort to delay delivery until after midnight. Manny tells her he appreciates the thought, but he doesn’t mind. Gloria then gives birth to a boy.
4. Under Pressure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApXP53fVOGU
- Season: 5
- Episode: 12
- Writers: Elaine Ko
- First aired: January 15, 2014
- Rating: In its original American broadcast, “Under Pressure” was watched by 9.14 million
Due to the pressure, she is constantly under, Alex has a breakdown during her birthday party in the episode and seeks out therapy. At the school’s open house, Jay and Phil enjoy learning from Luke and Manny, and Claire finally understands how much strain Alex must endure each day.
Elsewhere, on a double date, Luke and Manny make out. Gloria gets into an argument with another mother while Cameron, the gym teacher, is giving a presentation to a group of parents, and the three of them—including Cameron—end up in the principal’s office.
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3. Connection Lost
- Season: 6
- Episode: 16
- Writers: Steven Levitan and Megan Ganz
- First aired: February 25, 2015
- Rating: In its original American broadcast, “Connection Lost” was watched by 9.32 million people.
Following a confrontation with Haley in this episode, Claire tries to contact Haley as she waits for her flight home. Since she can’t get in touch with her, she asks everyone where they think she could be. A series of occurrences and disclosures convince her that Haley is carrying Andy’s child and that the two of them have fled to Las Vegas and married.
By showing the whole episode through Claire’s laptop screen while she utilizes FaceTime, iMessage, and other social networking services to stay in touch with her family, “Connection Lost” departs from the formula of Modern Family. The episode garnered favorable reviews from critics, many of whom praised the creative idea and humor.
2. “Do You Believe in Magic”
- Season: 8
- Episode: 12
- Writers: Jon Pollack
- First aired: February 8, 2017
- Rating: In its original U.S. broadcast, “Do You Believe in Magic” was watched by 7.34 million people
The American sitcom Modern Family’s “Do You Believe in Magic” is the show’s twelfth episode of the eighth season and its 178th overall. On February 8, 2017, it was broadcast on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States.
Here, Claire makes the decision to work with a magician so that she and Phil may add some intrigue to Valentine’s Day. With unexpected outcomes, Cam and Mitch educate Haley and Sal to resist their men. Alex learns that Claire’s aide Ben has a crush on her as a result of Jay’s tendency of choosing Joe over Manny.
1. Finale
- Season: 11
- Episodes: 17 and 18
- Writers: Steven Levitan and Gail Mancuso
- First aired: April 8, 2020
- Rating: The reviews for the episode were generally positive, especially by Gordon of TV Guide and IndieWire
“Finale” serves as the series’ final episode. It was broadcast on ABC in two parts on April 8, 2020. In the first part, the Dunphys’ home is overcrowded with Haley, Dylan, and the twins still residing there. Alex returns after quitting her job, and Luke remains after forgoing college. Unhappy with the number of people now residing in the Dunphy home, Claire and Phil have to relocate into the RV that belonged to Phil’s recently deceased father Frank.
The second part of the episode brings the family together as they say their final goodbyes. Mitchell and Claire had a sibling moment while dancing to their skating song, Hungry Like the Wolf while waiting for their old skating trophy to be returned. Jay is trying to learn Spanish, and Phil misunderstands him. When Jay asks for a spoon, Phil tries to spoon him, and they have one more uncomfortable moment together. Cam and Gloria exchange a tearful goodbye as he reads a poem to her; he wasn’t expecting her to be upset by it. After one more practical joke on Luke, Alex and Haley have a touching moment and resolve to always be there for one another as siblings.
