Modern Family: 10 Most Overdone Storylines | ScreenRant
While beloved sitcom Modern Family features hilarious storylines, some plotlines feel like they have been used too many times.
Every storyline on Modern Family focuses on how the main characters love each other but can't help annoying one another on a regular basis. Whether Phil and Claire are confused about how Alex, Haley, and Luke are acting, or Gloria wants Jay to have more fun and relax more, fans love that the show feels realistic. This is a big family that cares about each other deeply, but they can become annoyed with each other's life choices and mistakes as well.
But even though many Modern Family plotlines are funny and heartwarming, there are some storylines that happen so often that it's hard not to get a bit tired of them.
10 Gloria Is Too Attached To Manny
There are moments when Gloria and Manny make Modern Family fans cringe as they are so attached to each other. But while fans like seeing how much Gloria cares about giving her son a good life, sometimes it can be a little intense.
The first time that viewers see Gloria and Manny's connection, it's sweet. But there are so many storylines that focus on how unhealthy their bond is, like when Jay wants Gloria to let Manny go off to college without worrying about them, and it becomes hard not to wish for a fresher plotline.
9 Mitch Is Always Fired Or Looking For A New Job
Mitch is a brilliant lawyer who seems to have a great work ethic. He's concerned about being employed and making enough money to support his family, and when Cam's sister Pam lives in the apartment upstairs, Mitch worries that they can't rent it out and make some extra cash that would be helpful.
Even though Mitch seems to do well at each job, he's often getting fired or having a hard time finding a job that he can stay at. Whether the company goes under or he seems to have having bad luck, this is another overused plotline that gets old.
8 Alex Loves School And Can't Have Fun
After watching Alex study hard, worry, and have a lot of fun thinking about her academic and professional future, she definitely deserves to have some fun. But when Alex decides to take the summer off in season 9, she struggles to enjoy herself.
This is a frustrating plotline as it would be much more unique if Alex actually did let loose, let go of some goals for the time being, and have some real fun. This would be something that fans haven't seen before.
7 Jay Wants To Stay In Charge Of His Closet Company
While Jay's time running Pritchett's Closets and Blinds is impressive and he definitely has extensive knowledge in the industry, Jay's Modern Family advice is uneven. He sometimes knows the right thing to say and other times, his words are harsh.
Another overused storyline on the popular sitcom is Jay loving being in charge of his company and wanting to keep that power. He asks Claire to run the business and then still wants to play a part. This happens again at the end of season 9 when a start-up offers to buy the company and Claire thinks that it would be a great idea to merge the two companies.
6 Javier Is An Absent Father
When Manny's father Javier first shows up, it's clear that he loves Manny but hasn't been there for him for much of his life. He plays into the absent parent trope that often happens in pop culture.
But because Javier disappoints Manny many times, as he doesn't come over when he's supposed to and doesn't seem to make Manny priority, it becomes a bit dull to watch the same thing happening over and over again.
5 Haley Can't Commit To Any Partner
The season 9 "The Escape" sees Haley learning that she has been afraid of commitment and that she hasn't been fair to her previous partners. But while she shares her love for Arvin, which is a sweet moment, it would be more meaningful if Haley had come to this realization a bit earlier on in the show.
After watching Haley struggle to admit that she cares about someone for 9 seasons, it's hard not to wish that she was given a few different dating storylines. Haley has trouble committing to Dylan, Andy, Rainer, and Arvin, and watching her make mistakes can get tired.
4 A Holiday/Dinner/Celebration Doesn't Go Well
Although the Modern Family Christmas episodes are fun to watch, it does seem like the characters can never catch a break on any holiday. Any time they celebrate any occasion or even go on vacation, something chaotic happens to mess everything up.
While of course a sitcom is going to feature celebrations that go wrong, it would be nice to see least one holiday storyline that features the characters having fun with each other.
3 Poking Fun At Cam's Rural Background
There are many times when Mitch acts like he doesn't understand Cam's attachment to his childhood on a farm or his desire to keep in touch with his family. It feels like a big deal when Cam wants to spend the summer at home so Lily can experience his home, and in the season 8 episode "Pig Moon Rising," Mitch spills the ashes from Cam's pig. This type of plotline comes up again in season 9 when Mitch and Cam are taking care of Pam's wild son and then decide that he should live with them.
While this last storyline is heartwarming, it's hard not to wish that Mitch could be more accepting of Cam's family and fond childhood memories.
2 Claire Wants To Be In Charge Of The Family To Achieve Her Own Goal
In the season 11 episode "Perfect Pairs," Claire wants to do well at work and takes Haley's twins, which is yet another time that this character tries to be in charge of her family members so she can get what she wants.
While Claire is a beloved TV mother, she does make a lot of mistakes, and after 11 seasons, it does seem like she could learn a few more lessons and behave better.
1 The Family Always Finds Luke To Be Confusing
Claire is never too fond of the people who her kids are dating, whether she's judging Haley's partner Dylan or wondering why Alex is dating a firefighter, Bill. But Claire is particularly upset when Luke dates Claire's yoga teacher Jenny in the season 10 episode "Yes-Woman."
This is yet another storyline when the family is confused by Luke and just doesn't understand the life choices that he's making. The same thing happens when Luke doesn't go to college right away and then, when he does attend school, wants to leave early. Fans appreciate Luke's uniqueness and wish that his family would support him a bit more.