Modern Family Review: Baby Steps (Season 11 Episode 15)
Three weeks from now, on April 8, we’ll bid a modern farewell to this beloved family for good with a special one-hour series finale.
After a month-long hiatus, Modern Family Season 11 Episode 15, “Baby Steps,” returns to establish the tone for the show’s final few episodes — and that tone is change.
Before we dig into the changes these characters are going through, let’s acknowledge the change that we, as viewers, are experiencing.
For more than 10 years, we’ve tuned in to laugh at or along with the Dunphys, Prichetts, and Tucker-Prichetts.
But we’re now feeling the weight of their changes alongside these characters. It’s less of a laugh-out-loud comedy and more of amusement, pride, and nostalgia as we watch them move forward.
On Modern Family Season 11 Episode 9, “The Last Christmas,” each of the characters hinted at what their future might look like. During these final episodes, we’ll get to find out which of those were dreams and which will become reality.
While Alex was set to live the life of luxury at her new tech job with its fancy perks and enviable salary, she’s now on her way to a less flashy gig — one whose values are more closely aligned with her own.
While Claire was once talking early retirement and learning how to relax at home, she’s now putting her chaotic energy into a new career. (Now that she’ll be back at work, what does that mean for Haley and Dylan, knowing their grandma/volunteer babysitter will no longer be available?)
And while Cam and Mitch were previously contemplating a move to the midwest, they’re now staying put and planting deeper roots with a new home and a new baby. Good news for Joe, he’ll now have a nephew younger than he is.
These new paths might seem sudden and a little unexpected — given the weight of the decisions made — they feel right. Claire as a stay-at-home grandma was never going to make as much sense for her as an executive position at a type-A’s dream company.
As we continue to watch the family members’ futures unfold into the unknown (🎶), I’m confident that — if this episode is any indication — we can expect satisfying, true-to-character sendoffs for the rest of the family as well.
Additional thoughts:
- I did chuckle a few times throughout the episode, most notably when Alex commented about the college students at the job fair, saying, “[They] hate me so much, they’re making eye contact.” And Dylan’s one-liners are always great — I just wish we got a little more out of him.
- Gloria is turning out to be a pretty great real estate agent!
What did you think of this episode of Modern Family? Which character are you the saddest to bid a final farewell to? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.