BWW Recap: Alex Faces Competition, Gloria Becomes an American on MODERN FAMILY

Greetings, MODFAM fanatics! Eager to read a recap of what our favorite multi-generational, multi-cultural, completely dysfunctional clan has been up to this week? Look no further!! Here we go.....

This week's plotlines were tied together by different acts of patriotism. Kicking off the festivities were Mitch and Cam, who are roped into protesting against the new restaurant, the Jai Alai Lounge, to prove they're political; the thing is, they're actually excited about visiting the lounge, specifically for their new burger. (Also, it's funny that they don't know exactly what they're protesting; Stop Doing What You're Doing?! I mean, come on!) To make things worse, when Mitch and Cam arrive at the protest, no one in the group is anywhere to be found. So... in true MODFAM fashion, while going into the restaurant to inquire about the location of the protestors, Mitch and Cam end up being seated for a meal. (See where this is going?) Having finished their burgers, they turn to exit, but blocking the entrance are the protestors. And then they try to slip in, with some semi-disastrous results (of course!!).

The patriotic theme here is to have freedom of speech, and have the right to think whichever way we want, without being guilted into peer pressure, and standing up for what we believe in. However, what I appreciated most -- coming at this from a writer's POV -- was the tie-in line to Alex's plot -- "Keep your head up, don't look back. Being right is mostly [a matter of] confidence" - it helps to tie together the main message of all the plots: We don't always know everything that's going on, nor are we expected to, but we can fake it 'til we make it and act like we always know what's going on. And, unless you draw attention to yourself, no one'll know the difference. Yes, there's the whole overarching patriotic theme, but there's also this smaller tie-in. And that's what I appreciate about this show -- the way writers subtly put in these additional "morals" to relate all the plots together on a lingustic level, but how they don't show it in a bold manner to attract attention, calling it out like "This is what we're doing! Check us out!" Hey... that's kinda like the message I just described! Oooh.. sneaky sneaky, MODFAM writers.

In the Dunphy plot line, Alex is revealed to have been named co-valedictorian against rival Sanjay Patel. Because neither will settle for a tie, Alex finds a loophole, and the two conclude to run the mile for their final gym grade: whoever wins gets to be valedictorian.

Sidenote: Love that Sanjay's parents are finally back -- it's been a WHILE! -- and however degrading the potshots are at the Dunphys, after six seasons, it's just funny 'cause it's true.

In the midst of training for the run at home, Alex gets a visit from Sanjay, who tells he likes her. I do like where there is going, and yes, the conclusion fits into the patriotic message -- "People of vastly different cultures are brought together by their willingness to work hard and their desire to succeed" -- though I don't feel we've seen nearly enough of Sunjay physically in person to buy that he actually likes her. You know what I mean? Though he's been mentioned in several episodes (since Season 2), this is actually the very first episode where we actually see him in the flesh. While it makes sense in terms of the standard sitcom trope of two enemies actually turning out to like each other (a la, say, Haley and Andy), can I actually buy this relationship when the feelings were revealed so quickly? Maybe if we had seen some of the buildup in person, like the two of them interacting in class, so we could have some proof to Sanjay's claims of how Alex reacts? Pretty much, again, like we've seen for Haley and Andy? And why the fast-track of this relationship on the second-to-last episode before they graduate?

Either way, though I may be against how they went about getting there, (and SPOILERS ahead for those who don't want them) I'm definitely a fan of the result. I just hope they can keep it going. Might be hard considering they're going to different colleges. But I do hope they can have some continuity.

And, on the other (other) hand, kudos to writers for giving Alex a legit relationship. This and Haley/Andy? The Dunphy kids are really growing up!!

And Gloria's hilarious plotline, perhaps the most obviously patriotic of the three, revolves around her actually becoming an American, taking the oath and the American citizenship test. Should be fun. Enter Javier (Benjamin Bratt). Oh, yeah. This is gonna be good. Her ex lectures her on how taking the American citizenship test is essentially abandoning her roots. So, she spends some time rediscovering her Columbian heritage before Jay convinces her to go forth with the test. But then, Manny reveals the real reason Jay wanted her to become a citizen. After some additional flip-flopping back and forth - and another hilarious attempt at an American accent from Ms. Sofia Vergara - Jay finally reveals the reason he wants his wife to stay in the country.

And what a sweet reason it is! Again - and I know I harp on this every recap - it emphasizes Jay's softer side and legitimate insecurities he has around Javier, despite whatever "tough guy" exterior he may show in scenes with him. (Remember Jay back in S1??) Sure, he and Javier have connected before, but I feel like this is the first time he's really honest with himself, and Gloria, about how he feels. And it's nice to see, this far into the series. We don't need consistent re-hashing of the same grumpy old Jay. We need growth and substance; additions and layers to the character we already know and love. And that's exactly what we got. Well done! Also, can't leave without mentioning Manny's brilliant closing line. Oh, that little Delgado! Life would really change without those finer things. ;-)

All in all, a very solid enjoyable episode. My one gripe would be that while Jay and Alex continue to show serious character development, the Mitch/Cam plotline was, character-wise, pretty much the same as we've seen. But whatever the episode lacked in character detail, it made up for in seriously hilarious one-liners! (Of note: Writer Vali Chandrasekaran, of whom I spoke so highly with his debut episode on 1/15, is back this episode. As you can see, he doesn't disappoint!)

Anyway... yes. A good one this week. Excited to see how the season finale will bring all these season-long arcs together! Are you?? We're coming down to the wire, guys!! Leave your comments below, and I'll write to y'all next week!

SOME FAVORITE QUOTES

- Claire: We were called into Principal Brown's office one week before Alex's graduation.

Phil: That can mean only one of two things. Either she's gonna be valedictorian, or they're giving an award for Sexist Dad.

- Nina: Ties are un-American. Would you be happy if the Super Bowl ended in a tie?

Phil: Yes! There'd be twice as many parades.

- Jay: (re: Gloria) This little jumping bean is about to become an American.

Gloria: Jumping beans are Mexican.

Jay: Once you're an American, you won't see the difference.

- Jay: How was "take your son to not work" day?

Javier: How was life before radio?

- Gloria: (to Javier) Really, you're gonna lecture me on abandonment? You left to buy some diapers and I saw you four years later.

- Claire: (on Alex and Sunjay) It's the end of their senior year. They're both into great colleges. They should be off celebrating, playing hooky, going to the lake house to go skinny dipping with their friend's older brother who's home from college...

Phil: Let's... let's keep this general, Claire.

- Phil: When Alex was fifteen, she discovered a mistake in our taxes. We out a lot more money than I realized.

- Nina: Alex's uncle cannot possibly be considered an impartial judge.

Cam: I'm the gym teacher. Who else has the training to oversee this?

Principal Brown: Anyone with a stopwatch.

- Mitch: Oh my God, that burger was so good. I feel like I just cheated on you.

Cam: Yeah, I heard the moaning.

- Mitch: (re: joining the protest) How are we supposed to fall in without them noticing?

Cam: It's just like Double Dutch. Just find the rhythm and jump in.

STRAY OBSERVATIONS

- Did anyone notice while Claire was making Alex's smoothie, Luke was eating of a plate of donuts? HILARIOUS!

- On a Broadway/theatre note, Mitch's impression of all the Stephen Sondheims from Pepper's party made me crack up!

- Where was Haley? I totally appreciate giving Alex the spotlight this week, considering her impending graduation and let's face it, what happened this week was a huge character advancement. But withholding Haley entirely? Especially with her huge character advancement? Gosh, the reconciliation with Beth and Andy better be worth it.

Photo Credit: Twitter / ABC