Modern Family Review: Finale Part 1 / Finale Part 2 (Season 11 Episodes 17 and 18)
Still feeling emotionally hungover from the Schitt’s Creek series finale, we find ourselves bidding farewell to another beloved funny family only one night later.
Modern Family Season 11 Episodes 17 and 18, “Finale Part 1,” and “Finale Part 2,” spread their extended time incredibly well between each of the characters, letting us spend a few extra moments with everyone individually before a collective goodbye.
This may sound abrupt, but I’ll admit that this season, as a whole, hasn’t been my favorite. However — since it’s the first season I’ve been approaching from a critical angle instead of as a next-day-on-Hulu viewer — I have to wonder if Modern Family is a show you enjoyed more when you are simply watching.
That being said, this series finds its spark one last time in its hour-long series finale, leaving us with a warm, bittersweet (but mostly sweet) taste of finality.
There are a few moments that don’t quite fit (Claire — did you forget you just started a new job? Nobody gets the vacation time to road trip across the country so soon after being hired.). So let us instead focus on the many moments that do.
All the Dunphy kids are finally leaving the nest, in ways we never could have predicted from the show’s start.
Luke is heading off to an out-of-state college (did we see any signs of him getting accepted?); Alex is jet-setting off to Switzerland to follow her former professor and possible new love interest on a research assignment (she’s come a long way since the shy homebody we first met), and Haley is settling down and married with twins (no one could have seen that coming).
While two out of the three sibling endings are wildcards, we’re happy to see all three of them moving out of their parents’ house and on to life’s next challenges — knowing they’ll have each other to lean on, no matter where they may be.
And their parents? Well, they get exactly what they [said they] wanted. Personally, I would love to stick around and see what Claire and Phil make of their new life as empty-nesters, but it’s time for us viewers to fly the coop as well.
For Mitch and Jay (more on him in a moment) to put aside their plans for the sake of their partner — and the family-in-laws we’ve only seen glimpses of — is a beautiful thing to witness.
In minutes, we see Mitch go from happy to surprise to angry to sad to supportive as he realizes it’s Cam’s turn to be near his family and pursue his dream.
Jay, the patriarch of the Prichett family, has been a tough cookie over the years, and it’s been so nice to see that shell cracking, piece by piece.
The series finale gives us an old dog learning new tricks, pure and unabashed acceptance, and more than one outward display of emotion. You love to see it!
In the end, it’s Jay who delivers the finale’s most powerful words, summing up not just the season, but the series, with a precious nugget of real-life wisdom:
Life is full of change—some big, some small. I learned a long time ago, you can fight it, or you can try to make the best of it. And that’s all a lot easier if you’ve got people who love you helping you face whatever life throws at you. At least that’s what helps me sleep at night.
Will you be leaving your porch light on in honor of the Modern Family finale tonight? How did you feel about the way the series ended? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
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.