Modern Family Review: Weathering Heights (Season 8 Episode 4)

Modern Family Season 8, Episode 4, “Weathering Heights,” is another solid episode (that’s two in a row!) full of humor and even a moment of tenderness. It wouldn’t be an episode of Modern Family though if it wasn’t packed with every single character and three sub-plots.

“Weathering Heights” is mainly about Phil and Manny, but guest star, Nathan Fillion, steals the show as local weatherman, Rainer Shine. So far, Modern Family is killing it this season with guest stars.

Phil is over the moon because he’s appearing on the news for a real estate segment. At the studio, he meets Rainer Shine, who is super cheesy but is the ultimate cool guy to Phil.

Rainer is nothing but meteorological puns and sweeping hand gestures. He also likes sticking his tongue down Haley’s throat.

Phil is at his best in this episode. He’s lovable and funny; sweet and goofy. The look on his face when he asks Rainer out for a drink is priceless. Also, Phil just cannot figure out which camera to look at during his segment.

Meanwhile, Claire and Luke are being awful to Alex, who thinks she has lost her smarts to mono. Luke uses her sickness to try and beat her at Scrabble because Alex always wins, and she is not a gracious winner. Claire helps Luke cheat because she thinks Alex needs to be knocked down a peg.

Although this sub-plot isn’t that funny, Claire and Luke work together really well, as they did in last week’s “Blindsided.” Claire is obviously much smarter than Luke, but she sinks down to his level and can be petty too.

Claire can be so uptight and controlling but when she conspires with Luke, she becomes devious and carefree which is delightful to watch.

In “Weathering Heights,” Lily is jealous of all the movie-watching and shoe-shopping Mitch is doing with Dwight. Not only is Dwight stealing her fathers’ attention, but he is eating all the pancakes too.

So what’s a tween to do? Ransack the neighbor’s empty liquor bottles and hide them in Dwight’s room, of course!

Some good laughs come from this unnecessary plotline.  The bit about Mitch and Cam’s friend of a friend who dresses as a cop (and undresses as one too) is particularly funny.

The other main plot focuses on Manny trying to figure out what kind of video to send with his Juilliard application to stand out. His Hamiliton inspired one is a no-go once he realizes that everyone is doing that. Jay says that he’ll help because he can’t wait until Manny is out of the house.

Jay’s brilliant idea is to film Manny in an alley with graffiti behind him as he talks about how hard it is out on the streets. It’s not Manny at all.

Manny instead makes his video about inspiration he gets from his parents—Gloria, the single, immigrant mother and Jay, who started his own business. Manny’s story gets tied up a little too quickly, however, it provides emotional depth at the end of the episode.

In the third subplot, Gloria takes Joe to a speech therapist to help pronounce his Rs and ends up getting advice to help her with her accent. Hearing Gloria speak in a weird, formal American accent is hilarious. The bit goes on a minute too long but produces a laugh-out-loud moment.

Modern Family  is getting better and better each episode in Season 8. Can it keep up the momentum, or are we due for a bad episode?

Last Bits:

• Where does one find a calligraphy tutor and can I get one?
• Jay tearing up is contagious.
• Nathan Fillion will be back for at least two more episodes–yay!

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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