Modern Family Review: Halloween 4: The Revenge of Rod Skyhook (Season 8 Episode 5)

Modern Family Season 8 Episode 5, “Halloween 4: The Revenge of Rod Skyhook,” is another solid effort with so many one-liners and zingers flying that it is hard to appreciate every one. All characters are present again, but the plots this time are well-paced and quite funny.

Halloween is a very special holiday on Modern Family. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a Halloween episode last year, but the writers cleverly threw in a little flashback as to what was happening while we weren’t watching. Claire screaming at Mitchell about how he’s melting after she pushes him into the pool in his Wicked Witch of the West costume is comedy gold.

This year, Luke throws his own Halloween party, and Alex will be there to “supervise” a.k.a. not have her own storyline.

But no one shows.

Enter Phil, dressed as a beaver (to Claire’s June Cleaver), pretending to be high school transfer student, Rod Skyhook. Rod Skyhook is one badass name and sounds like the type of kid you’d want to hang out with.

Phil Dunphy is at his best in this episode by being silly and fun. He breakdances in costume while shouting out the most random, uncool things in a weird voice.  Phil will do anything for his kids, which makes him lovable.

Miraculously, he saves Luke’s party.

Halloween is Claire’s favorite holiday and although she doesn’t have a haunted house this year, she is still able to scare party-going teens into thinking she’ll tattle on them. She also manages to prank Mitchell.

Claire’s character is really fun to watch this season because she’s dialed back a bit and not so manic. Julie Bowen is brilliant in nearly every scene she’s in, and it’s refreshing.

Cam, Mitchell, and Lily are Batman, Robin, and Batgirl respectively. Mitch and Cam argue a bit (as usual), but it’s nice to see them work as a team rather than bicker.

Where was Dwight in this episode? He’s not a series regular, but his character works well with all of the Tucker-Pritchetts, and he’s missed.

Jay, Gloria, and Joe are dressed as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Even though it makes sense for Joe to be Jesus, Jay is him instead. Joe is already named Joseph, and Jay kinda sounds like Jay-sus. Logic, right?

We were told before Season 8 premiered that Jay’s costume would be controversial. It isn’t really controversal, but it is quite funny when he gets into a fight with his old nemesis, Earl, who is in a devil costume. Also, Gloria’s reactions to every blasphemous Jay says and does is amusing.

Manny goes to a party as Dalton Trumbo in a bathtub, and it seriously looks like the most uncomfortable costume ever. Manny is very different from his family and the kids he goes to school with– we know this.  However, Manny is usually unfazed by this but not in this episode.

There is a heartbreaking moment when Manny lashes out at Gloria about wanting to meet someone who gets him. It is a quick conversation, but it carries weight. When Manny goes to Luke’s party and meets a girl dressed as fellow writer, Dorothy Parker, it’s really sweet.

Overall, “Halloween 4: The Revenge of Rod Skyhook” is another reason to feel hopeful for Season 8 of Modern Family. The episode could have benefited from the three families coming together at some point (maybe at Luke’s party?), but the plots were funny, and the laughs were continuous.

Last Bits:

• Haley is a total stoner.
• Only Claire would be June Cleaver with an actual (fake) cleaver through her head.
• Does Phil honestly think that Luke is his best child?
• Mitch knew that Lily was too young to watch West Side Story–I’m still laughing about that one.

What did you think of this episode of Modern Family? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Modern Family  airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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