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Modern Family season 9, episode 20: Mother!

By Michael Bibbins

MODERN FAMILY - "Mother!" - When Dede drops in unexpectedly, Mitchell and Cam come to a realization about her effect on their lives; Phil, Luke, Alex and Haley all have different bad news to break to Claire and compete about when to do it, the tiny window of time after her monthly spa day when she's her most relaxed, on "Modern Family," WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 (9:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless)TY BURRELL, NOLAN GOULD, SARAH HYLAND, ARIEL WINTER, JULIE BOWEN
MODERN FAMILY - "Mother!" - When Dede drops in unexpectedly, Mitchell and Cam come to a realization about her effect on their lives; Phil, Luke, Alex and Haley all have different bad news to break to Claire and compete about when to do it, the tiny window of time after her monthly spa day when she's her most relaxed, on "Modern Family," WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 (9:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless)TY BURRELL, NOLAN GOULD, SARAH HYLAND, ARIEL WINTER, JULIE BOWEN /
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Modern Family returned from hiatus with an episode that sheds light on the fact that mothers have all the answers, though the family doesn’t always appreciate it.

Cam and Mitch are about to be alone for the first time in a while as Pam is moving back home and is taking Lily with her for a getaway. They celebrate by cooking breakfast naked (wearing aprons) and dancing in the kitchen until they are interrupted by Mitchel’s mother, Dede, walking in unannounced.

Back at the Dunphy household, Phil and Luke are flying a drone when Phil accidentally flies it straight into Claire’s Presidential portrait, ruining her teeth.

At the Pritchett’s, Manny and Jay have directed and written a short horror film that earned Manny an A in his class. Gloria is helping them set up a screening for the family.

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Dede

Cam and Mitch are no strangers to people dropping in on them needing guidance in their relationship. Dede and her husband have had a falling out and they present her with a basket they’ve put together to help people get over an ex.

As they’re talking with Dede, Cam uses a word that Mitch knows is not one of his. When Dede starts rubbing his face the same way Cam does, Mitch starts to realize something. Cam and Dede are friends. They talk on the phone, email and exchange recipes. When Mitch tells Cam that Dede is using him to manipulate their relationship, Cam rejects the notion.

“The window”

Back at the Dunphy house, Phil’s plan to fix the painting backfires and he ends up making it worse. Phil then realizes that today is Claire’s spa day. This is the perfect day to give her bad news because the hour or so after she returns from the spa, she is perfectly relaxed.

At that moment, both Alex and Haley arrive in the living room with flowers. They were planning to use the window for themselves. Phil notes that three asks in one window is unprecedented so they need to make sure she’s extra relaxed. This is just as Dede arrives (dumped by Mitch who sped off) and that plan seems to be dead.

MODERN FAMILY – “Mother!” – When Dede drops in unexpectedly, Mitchell and Cam come to a realization about her effect on their lives; Phil, Luke, Alex and Haley all have different bad news to break to Claire and compete about when to do it, the tiny window of time after her monthly spa day when she’s her most relaxed, on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 (9:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless)TY BURRELL, SARAH HYLAND, NOLAN GOULD, ARIEL WINTER
MODERN FAMILY – “Mother!” – When Dede drops in unexpectedly, Mitchell and Cam come to a realization about her effect on their lives; Phil, Luke, Alex and Haley all have different bad news to break to Claire and compete about when to do it, the tiny window of time after her monthly spa day when she’s her most relaxed, on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 (9:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless)TY BURRELL, SARAH HYLAND, NOLAN GOULD, ARIEL WINTER /

The emails

When Mitch gets back to his house, Cam is mad at him. He offers Mitch the opportunity to read his emails with Dede to prove he hasn’t been manipulated. As he goes through the emails they both realize that Dede has been manipulating their relationship from the beginning. She would suggest something to Cam, while suggesting that Mitch not do the same thing. Cam will agree with her suggestion while she knows Mitch will go against whatever she says because he hates her. This method was used on them to get them to move in together and in choosing to adopt Lily.

At this point Cam accepts that Dede has been manipulating them.

Screening issues

At the Pritchett house, Jay and Manny make last-minute edits to their film. Manny is telling Jay that he’s proud of the movie but nervous about putting it out. Jack asks him if it’s because he made the monster just like mom and this catches Manny and Jay’s attention. Jack says that the noise the monster makes is what their mom says all the time.

When Manny and Jay play it back they hear the “I will kill you” hidden under the other sounds they used for the roar. As they stop, they hear her yell it in the background. They know that the damage is done and have to hope that she simply won’t notice.

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Window closing

After drawing straws the Dunphys have decided that Haley will go last. After Alex gets her question out however, Haley butts in. Phil then overreacts and grabs the painting to thrust in Claire’s face as they all make their requests at the same time. Claire catches on and begins a rant about how she doesn’t appreciate them doing this to her because she was raised by an actual crazy person.

Haley had used a sleepy tea to make Dede fall asleep and the family had covered her on the couch with a basket of clothes. Claire didn’t see her when she came in but as she began her rant, Dede woke up. Claire begins to apologize but Dede is leaving because she is hurt. After this, Claire makes her family sit in silence until it is her turn to storm out.

MODERN FAMILY – “Mother!” – When Dede drops in unexpectedly, Mitchell and Cam come to a realization about her effect on their lives; Phil, Luke, Alex and Haley all have different bad news to break to Claire and compete about when to do it, the tiny window of time after her monthly spa day when she’s her most relaxed, on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 (9:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless)SHELLEY LONG
MODERN FAMILY – “Mother!” – When Dede drops in unexpectedly, Mitchell and Cam come to a realization about her effect on their lives; Phil, Luke, Alex and Haley all have different bad news to break to Claire and compete about when to do it, the tiny window of time after her monthly spa day when she’s her most relaxed, on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 (9:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless)SHELLEY LONG /

The screening

Back at the Pritchett house, Dede arrives and Jay notices an opportunity. Dede’s presence will throw Gloria off her game and she won’t notice that she is the monster. The rest of their guests arrive and Gloria gets everyone situated for the movie.

The first time the monster speaks, Jay leans toward Gloria. He was right, as she mentions Dede and did not notice the monster at all. Phil gets excited when his character arrives on the scene but his joy fades when he realizes they cut his lines.

After the movie

When the movie ends, Dede compliments Manny and Jay and says she feels like she’s met the monster. Claire and Mitch agree that the monster felt familiar as Stella eats something off of a chair in the living room. Gloria yells “I will kill you” and they all realize that what she just said was the monster’s yell.

She is hurt when she realizes that she is the monster and Mitch tries to take this time to point out that Dede has been manipulating his relationship. Claire then surprisingly stands up for her.

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She asks Mitch if he’s happy with his life (which he is) and suggest that he try telling her thanks for helping him make the right decisions. She says that it’s hard being the one who always knows best. Gloria then takes up for Claire because of all she does for her family. Dede then takes up for Gloria, adding that she was married to Jay once too so she knows what Gloria goes through.

That’s when Phil sees his moment and delivers a speech about monsters being beautiful creatures that we project our fears onto. It was the monologue that was cut from the film but it works as everyone starts hugging. Jay and Manny walk off saying they wouldn’t have cut it from the film if he had delivered it that well when they were shooting.

Modern Family will return next Wednesday at 9/8 Central on ABC.

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