Modern Family Review: Heavy Is the Head (Season 8 Episode 14)

There are certainly some missed opportunities on Modern Family Season 8 Episode 14 “Heavy is the Head.” It is a decent episode but far from perfect. It’s also crammed with stale storylines or superficial ones.

Alex finally gets a mini-plot, but it falls flat, whereas Cam and Mitch’s story is over-the-top but enjoyable. Apparently, it’s also Claire’s birthday, but instead of getting the families together to celebrate, we’re subjected to Claire at work.

There is more to Claire than being a mother, daughter, and sister, however, her work life is just not interesting. We watch Modern Family to see the sometimes dysfunctional dynamics between the blended families, not some randos at the workplace.

The Claire and Gloria plot is boring and just not funny. It would have been better to have actually seen them at the spa together. They are two characters who aren’t on their own often, so there is a missed opportunity to see them bond.

Phil is definitely the MVP of the episode with his use of physical comedy, but his childlike drawing of Dunphy Tower (from when he was fifteen!) takes the cake. He is just so earnest when he talking about his dream, that it’s hard not to root for Phil and for the success of Dunphy Tower.

But once again, Modern Family misses out on making a storyline deeper.

It’s surprising to see that Jay and Phil are already breaking ground at Dunphy Tower and when the site turns out to be a whole tangle of messes, Phil is strangely okay about it all.

The previous episode, “Do It Yourself,” showed us how Phil was finally doing the one thing he always wanted to do. He found the courage to go for it by believing in himself and Claire being there for him.

Why is he not more upset about the methane and the sewer issues on his plot of land? Dunphy Tower has been his dream for a very long time, so why is he so meh about it?

The Cam and Mitchell storyline is full of slapstick comedy and zingers, which are funny. But at the end of the day, the story did nothing to the overall arc of the episode except provide laughs. It could have easily been slotted into another episode or given some depth.

Alex’s coffee shop plot seems unworthy of discussing. Supposedly she’s back at school, but let’s just see her serve coffee and work with horrible people. The best bit is when her co-workers think that Manny is a forty-year-old man.

Manny meets Haley at the coffee shop, so that he can school her on the ins and outs of Game of Thrones. It is a silly, inconsequential plot, but it is entertaining at least. Maybe just the mere mention of Game of Thrones makes it better.

Haley is trying to figure it out because she’s going to ComicCon with Rainer. So, they must still be together then. Whatever happened to Haley’s business? Let’s see more of that.

“Heavy Is the Head” had potential but fell victim to the usual trappings of Modern Family; too many plots and contrived situations. There have been some very good episodes as of late, so hopefully we will see more before the season finishes.

Quick Bits:

• Manny seriously needs to stop being a creepo about his cousins. I know they aren’t blood, but still.
• How great is Bobby, the MRI technician?
• Phil’s face when holding up his drawing of Dunphy Tower is so adorable. I just want to hug him.
• Cam’s shade at Baby Jessica is hilarious.

Could this episode of Modern Family have been better? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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