Modern Family Review: New Kids on the Block (Season 11 Episode 1)
It’s time to begin saying farewell to Modern Family as its final season is officially underway. The show welcomes us back around a month after Haley gave birth to twins on the Season 10 finale into as chaotic a world as ever.
Modern Family Season 11 Episode 1, “New Kids on the Block,” checks off nearly half of our wishlist items in one episode.
Well, sort of.
We get a parenting victory from Haley, plenty of “Dog Beds by Stella” content, an adventurous trip (albeit, not a family vacation), and a semi-win from Alex.
Haley, Dylan, and the twins have settled in with the Dunphys, while Alex is on a research expenditure in Antarctica (for which she turned down a “cushy tech job in LA”).
Through a family video chat, we see the middle child being overshadowed by all the new-baby chaos—a disappointing, but realistic, dynamic. If you’ve ever tried FaceTiming a new parent, you know it’s not personal.
We venture to the South Pole a few more times throughout the episode to check up on Alex, but it’s not to get a glimpse into her research or find out what motivated her to accept the assignment (apart from making Jay proud). Unfortunately, once again, Alex’s accomplishments are overshadowed by her relationships with the men in her life.
While video-chatting with Mitch, we learn not only that Alex’s research partner kissed her, but that she’s considering coming home because of it.
Alex: I’m probably overreacting. It’s just–I tried to make friends with one of the scientists, but there’s a language gap. He misunderstood and kissed me. So, it’s a little awkward now.
Meanwhile, said research partner is giggling behind her, so we’re supposed to laugh it off.
Let’s see: girl gets impressive gig, coworker misreads signals and makes a move on girl, and girl feels she needs to leave gig because of it. Ugh.
Anyone else get a mild Legally Blonde flashback here? Elle gets hit on by her professor and, subsequently, gives up a dream opportunity. While it’s hard to tell what Alex’s research partner’s intentions were (likely not as malicious as Professor Callahan’s), the scenario is all-too-similar.
Personally, I don’t think a language barrier is enough to justify this interaction being okay. And if Alex is so uncomfortable that she leaves Antartica because of this man, her “I’ll miss you, too” exit comment is especially out of place.
You’d think—after years of “me too” allegations and inappropriate workplace conduct at the forefront of conversations—that ABC would know better. Let’s hope they do better by Alex as the season continues. Maybe that “cushy tech job” will still be available when she gets back.
At the Dunphy house, the twins have names to replace their hospital-drug-induced initial ones. Pixar and Coachella are now George and Poppy. Poppy, after Haley’s favorite flower—and George is best explained by new dad Dylan, in his only line this episode:
Dylan: This is George because he came out looking curious—you know, like Boy George.
The episode’s best moments come from clashes in parenting styles. Instead of “mother knows best,” it’s “the book knows best” vs. “grandma/grandpa know best.”
On one side: Haley is putting all her trust in “the book” called Your Parents Did Everything Wrong by a “celebrated pediatric life coach” (whatever that means). She’s up against both of her parents, who are pro- formula, pacifiers, eye contact during nap time, and trusting their instincts and experience instead.
It’s frustrating to see Claire and Phil so quick to undermine Haley’s parenting wishes and concerns—however ridiculous they may be (pacifier users growing up to be cat people?).
But, unlike with Alex’s situation, our frustrations lie in how well the episode exemplifies real-world relationships. How many of us have known someone who tries to tell parents how to be parents?
Though somewhat awkward to watch, it’s much better as a viewer to experience realistic, rooted-in-good-intentions tension between characters than to have a gripe with the writers because of a situation taken too lightly.
Like so many real-life parents, Phil and Claire are “just trying to help” throughout the episode, leading Haley to this admission of why she’s so determined to follow “the book” to a T.
Hayley: And do what? Rely on my instincts? I don’t have any. That is the problem… I keep waiting for them to kick in, and they haven’t, and I don’t think they ever will. Maybe I’m just not meant to be a mom.
Fearing her babies are in trouble, Haley’s mom instincts finally do kick in, and we get to experience our new mom’s first big emotional parenting victory. Yay!
Claire: Those sure look like mom instincts to me. You’re a natural!
Now, will Grandma Claire and Grandpa Phil let Haley (and Dylan, wherever he may be) figure things out for herself moving forward, or will they continue to undermine her wishes? Will Haley take “the book” a little less literally and let herself figure things out for herself? We’ll find out as the season continues.
Final thoughts: I could have done without the whole at-risk youth drama club storyline. We know Cam is over the top and loves proving a point, but why does he have to pick an offensive, stereotype-perpetuating way to carry this one out? And why does Mitch let Cam berate these poor kids for so long?
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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Kaitlin Willow
Kaitlin is an aspiring novelist who works in digital marketing. When she's not writing, you can find her snuggled on the couch with her poodle-terrier mix Benny—either reading a book or rewatching New Girl for the 17th time.