'Modern Family' Finale: An Awkward Kiss Goodbye

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ABC


The Dunphy-Pritchett clan returned from their Hawaiian adventure last night, ready to wrap up the end of an impeccable first season with a family portrait. Not surprisingly, what should be a simple picture becomes a much more complicated ordeal for our favorite borderline-OCD Claire. She attempts to wrangle the whole family together, only to encounter one mishap after the next—the perpetually broken step, Phil's ill-fitting white pants, a brother afraid of a pigeon, and a husband who kisses her young stepmother. Modern Family went out with a bang but didn't forget to leave us with some lessons to mull over:

There's nothing wrong with bringing your own snacks. Sneaking some sodas into your bag into the movie theaters is one thing, but Phil takes it to another level, demonstrating that smuggling treats into a sports event can be an art.


It might not be wise to sit next to your hot Latina mother-in-law at the Lakers game, because when the Kiss Cam finds you—you kiss. Phil's not-so-subtle ongoing crush on Gloria came to a head when the two were prompted to kiss while being featured on the arena's JumboTron. Admiring from afar was all fun and games, but the look on Phil's face is all we need to know that his loyalties are in the right place.


When it comes to telling stories of your youth to your grandkid—all historical people, places, and events are under fair use. Luke's school project involves interviewing someone who's lived through the '60s, so Jay gives up his ticket to the game to help his grandson out. Luke isn't impressed by Jay's stories of working at his grandfather's office supply business, so Jay pulls the MLK card.


If you have a pigeon stuck inside your house, don't do this:


In order to really "freeze the moment, as it is, right now" and capture the essence of the family for the portrait Claire so dearly wants, all hell needs to break loose. The chaos, miscommunication, failed executions of good intentions, and individual neuroses and quirks are all part of the odd, but also entirely normal and hilarious dynamic of this Modern Family.

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Aylin Zafar is a freelance writer based in New York.

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