BWW Recap: Alex Goes to College on This Week's MODERN FAMILY

In this week's MODERN FAMILY, we open with Cam, Mitch & Lily taking a new photo for above their mantle ("She's not in the one up there now and we started to get the slight impression it was bothering her," quips Cam before cutting to one of the less humorous gags). Not the most active of a storyline, but I'm glad they're addressing they might need to change the picture; after five seasons, it's nice that the writers acknowledge the same need for change for the characters that the viewing audience is more or less expecting at this point anyway. But no, the focus of the storyline does not seem to be on the actual taking of the photo, but rather on the unique, to put it nicely, smile Lily gives while she's taking it. Again, it seems like the Chucky-esque smile might be a bit of a bland storyline, but at least it gives Lily something to do. :-) Gosh, can that kid turn out some great one-liners!

Following the opening credits, we're on a college tour with the Dunphys ( :) ) and we learn via confessional that Claire wants to keep Alex close. There seems to be a sub-Dunphy plot as well, wherein Luke is punished because Phil found out he was cutting class. Looks like a fun plot line, but I think I need a little bit more to see where it's headed.

At the Pritchett-Delgado house, Jay questions Manny about Gloria's anniversary gift to him; he wants to get her a gift better than the one she gives to him. Judging from the Gloria vs. Jay battles of past Valentine's Days, birthdays, and hell, even last week's episode ("I win!"), I have an inkling this will be the strongest (in terms of laughs) plot line of the episode.

Back to Cam and Mitchell, where Mitchell (remember how he was the voice of reason last week?) decides "we show her the photos and let her discover her weird smile on her own." Cam and Mitch do so by pointing out what they would change about themselves (garnering one of the best Cam lines I've heard yet, and an even better facial reaction from Mitch), but Lily still can't seem to see what's wrong with her smile, telling Cam his face, "might need a little powder." On that note, I just want to say, it's nice that Lily is given some hilarious one-liners (and when they're written well, she succeeds tremendously) but the snark (see above) is a little off-putting for me. Thoughts?

Cut to Jay who reveals to Manny he's made a pottery bunny to give to Gloria for her anniversary gift. Okay... now I'm thinking the humor potential on this one is, too, being lowered, 'cause it's being dragged out and we haven't gotten to the punchline yet. Where's Gloria in all of this? So, she's bought the perfect gift and therefore she's not seen for a third of the episode?

Back on the college tour, Alex reveals she doesn't really love everything about CalTech (Cue the LOL moment of the episode from Claire; see below!). The conflict is then set up: as said before, Claire wants Alex to stay close, and Alex here reveals she wants to move far away. In a brilliantly timed moment, immediately after Alex says this, the tour leader says, "Now onto the dorms. Parents say goodbye to your children" as Claire strokes Alex's hair. OMG - this is where the writing shines! (Again, like last week, I can't say enough). Was hoping there might be a joke here (a la Claire in the early Season 1 episode where Alex ditches her mom to be with her friends), but no. It's okay, though. End on a touching moment. :-)

Back from commercial opens on Haley, Phil and Luke in the waiting room before their experimental study. Okay, this I can get on board with. Ty Burrell gives a hilarious performance week in and week out, and this storyline seems to be classic Phil. Can't wait for a lot of laughs! And yep, seems likely, considering Phil thinks the experiment is them waiting in the waiting room. Shame it took 8 minutes in to get to this point though.

Case in point, we're back at Cam and Mitch's, where no progress has been made in telling Lily she's got an unattractive smile. Within two minutes, the storyline's pretty much wrapped up, with Lily concluding she's an "ugly monster" who's "not beautiful" (But don't fear - Cam "loves how melodramatic she's getting").

"There she is" says Jay when we cut back to their storyline and they walk in on Gloria. It's exactly what I was thinking too. Now the storyline can really start!

And end, as Gloria breaks the bunny and Jay pouts.

In an interesting twist, Alex meets a boy on the CalTech tour, but steps in hot water when she a) inadvertently judges him for wanting to go to school near home, and b) embarrasses both the guy and herself when she doesn't realize he's flirting with her. Member in my preview piece when I said it'd be nice to see Alex with a boy long-term (a la Haley)? Ah, well. Maybe next time.

The next jump to the Phil-Haley-Luke scene may not be that funny, but man! Is there some character growth! When Luke reveals to Phil that his father's been a great example because he was a rebel - and they resolve to push the titular "Do Not Push" button - Haley stands up and reveals (quite shockingly in my opinion) that she's mad at herself for being a rebel, and ultimately, because of that, considers herself a failure.

Quick cut to Manny & Gloria and then we're back to Haley. Holy crap! This is a Haley we've never seen before! Great growth to the character (can I say that too much?) After all the digs we've seen the family take at Haley, it's nice that the writers are showing how greatly Haley has been affected by it all. And also, a FANTASTIC A+ performance from Hyland here! Well done!!

After resolving that the scientists are testing them on their unity, the three decide to push the red button together, the result of which sets off the AC, infuriating the test instructor. In a great humorous reveal (IMHO) the test is in fact just a paper sheet and requires #2 pencils (and no monkeys in diapers!)

Resolution #2 (Jay and Gloria) is resolved when Gloria gives Jay a handmade gift in place of the watch to match his thoughtful gift of the bunny. Funny, though I've seen better from these two. Sofía Vergara's facial expressions and broken English in her delivery make up, though, for what's lacking. All is forgiven.

Resolution #3 leads to resolution #4 when, through dealing with Cam and Mitch's problem, Claire learns its best to let Alex make her own decisions and not push anything on her. She's in luck, though, 'cause Alex wants to follow Flirty Boy to CalTech. Maybe this could be the boy for Alex after all. Okay, I've changed my mind on this plot line. :) And yes, I had a chuckle when Claire assumed she was the person to which Alex wasn't ready to say goodbye.

A pretty low-key tag scene wherein Cam and Mitch pick a portrait, despite Lily's smile; then discover she's got a unique - i. e. weird - laugh. Pretty standard, but after my Lily's-snark-is-annoying-rather-than-funny rant at the beginning of the recap, I have to say, Lily deadpans a pretty darn funny one-liner here. Again, shame it came within the last 30 seconds.

Solid laughs for this episode - see y'all next week!

SOME FAVORITE QUOTES

Phil: (re: participating in an experiment on campus) I'm up for it as long as they don't shave anything.

Manny: (re: Jay guessing Gloria's gift for him) Why can't you be this fast when I'm your Charades partner?

Cam: (re: what he'd change about himself in the photo) I think I could be a little less Ryan Gosling and a little more everyman.

Manny: (re: Gloria & gifts) I once gave her a bag full of hugs and she definitely prefers stuff.

Alex: (to Claire, on the tour) Okay, you need to calm down. This is a college tour, not Oprah's Favorite Things.

Claire: (re: Alex not liking everything about CalTech) Oh, the mascot's a beaver. Don't worry... those jokes will get old.

Claire: (to Mitch, re: old pictures) You should see every picture we have of Luke from third grade. He looks like he's mid-sneeze, which is a shame, 'cause I was having a great boob year.

Lily: (re: what Cam & Mitch have to show her) Is it dinner, or is my mouth too ugly to put food in?

STRAY OBSERVATION

Luke and Manny are definitely getting older and no, that's not a bad thing but their age DEFINITELY makes a difference now when they talk with Phil and Jay, respectively. It's hard to imagine Phil talking to his "little buddy" when he confronts Luke about cutting class, and although Jay means to put down his son when telling Manny, "You're not the only one around here with an artsy side," it looks visually (and scarily) like he's talking to one of his peers. Hopefully, the new growth spurts will spawn some more adult conversations. That might be a cool thing to look forward to.

EPISODE MVP: Sarah Hyland. That monologue was incredible!

Photo Credit: MODERN FAMILY's official Facebook page.