TV Review: "Modern Family"

I feel a tinge of sadness each time I watch an episode from "Modern Family"’s eleventh—and final—season. A show that once showed signs of genius has become a shell of its former self. Nowadays, the exploits of the Pritchett family can be summed up in one word: unfunny. As hard as it tries, Modern Family struggles to do what it once so effortlessly did: bring laughter to those who watch it.In its earlier seasons, "Modern Family" had an uncanny ability to find a balance between storylines, characters or even the specific emotions of one character. In the Dunphy household, Julie Bowen’s control-freak Claire Pritchett complemented the lovable goofiness of her husband, Phil Dunphy, played by Ty Burell. Each of their children similarly brought disparate but compatible personalities to the household. Somehow, their differences once brought out the best in each of them, and the actors played off one another with sophistication. Alas, this is no longer the case. In an attempt to bring back the show’s former charm, the writers have grossly exaggerated each personality. Frankly, it all just feels rather forced—no longer do the characters demonstrate any synergy.Perhaps, the death of "Modern Family"’s appeal lies in the fact that it is no longer testing and breaking boundaries. When it first began airing, it was radically representative; it made people feel seen. For (perhaps) the first time, queer relationships, interracial marriage and mixed-race families existed in one piece of television—one medium for expression. Nevertheless, television has moved into a space where representation is not shied away from. In many ways, television is now more representative than film—with shows like "Fresh Off the Boat", "Black-ish" and "This is Us" delivering more compelling characters and better writing.The amount of time that "Modern Family" has aired may also be the reason for its inability to entertain. While the writers have attempted to inject freshness to the show with the introduction of new characters (including a set of baby twins), the show still feels stale. The narrative devices that were once hailed as fresh and imaginative have themselves become gimmicks. While this is a statement of the show’s cultural impact over the years, the show cannot be excused from failing to redefine itself. After eleven years, the toolkit gets old."Modern Family" also—unwisely—killed off one of its best guest stars. In every episode she starred in, Shelley Long’s Dede Pritchett was a highlight. While the show attempted to defy expectations by centering an episode around her death, she was, in my opinion, not the right character to kill off. It felt rather tangential and slightly disappointing to have a non-lead die after months of teasing over the death of a “major character.” Thankfully, the show is coming to an end. After a celebrated run (which includes consecutive Emmy nods), the show has found itself in a nadir, and the writers and producers have shrewdly opted to put the show out of its misery. The only question that remains is if the show can find any of its former glory in its final episodes. For the many fans who have followed the show along the way, I sure hope that it does.