MODERN FAMILY RECAP: UNDER PRESSURE

This week’s Modern Family brought the funny and the guest stars! Jesse Eisenberg (my nerd crush) played Asher, Cam and Mitch’s extreme environmentalist neighbor, Jane Krakowski played Donna, a Mom who was in direct competition with Gloria at Manny’s school, and John Benjamin Hickey (who I loved on The Big C) guest starred as Alex’s therapist. Let’s get to it!

Happy 16^th Birthday Alex! Well, it should have been happy but Alex had a little meltdown instead. She felt like she needed to be studying for her SATs and not celebrating her birthday. She totally freaked out, put her hands in the cake and shoved the cake in her mouth. Wow! No one was prepared for that. appy 16^th birthday Alex!

The next morning Claire told everyone to be nice to Alex because she was under a lot of pressure. Alex came downstairs and was calm. She addressed her meltdown and announced that she booked a double session with a therapist that was covered under their insurance because she needed to talk to someone and didn’t want to have another meltdown. She walked out of the kitchen and Phil said to Claire, “She’s like a self-cleaning oven!” Hilarious!

Mitch is outside watering the grass when his neighbor Asher came by to tell him he noticed his air conditioner was running a lot. He was very judgmental about it and made a point that he wasn’t helping the environment. Mitch was offended and said he was in Environmental law and was very green. Asher pointed out that his lawn was green (another jab for watering the grass). Mitch was annoyed and wanted to prove to Asher that he was very eco-friendly.

Manny and Luke fell for the same girl at school (which usually doesn’t happen), which ended up working out well for them once they realized their girl was actually twins. So they set up a double date.

It’s open house at the school and Cam is ready to put the Phys back in Phys ED by getting the parents to play dodge ball. The principal did not want the liability and told Cam there would be no dodge ball (we’ll see about that).

Gloria showed up to open house in a sexy dress with homemade empanadas for Manny’s teacher. There was a trip to Washington DC at stake because the teacher was only going to pick one student to go to junior congress and Gloria wanted to make sure he’d pick Manny. Well she wasn’t the only mom to butter up the teacher because Dr. Donna Duncan showed up with cupcakes and acted very stuck up towards Gloria.

Alex talked to her therapist and told him about her meltdown and said she didn’t want it to happen again while she was taking her SATs. She started analyzing herself then wondered if he was qualified, or if he was too old to relate to her. He calmed her down and got her to open up eventually. She said she was always an overachiever and she always had the urge to win. He wanted to get to why she felt she had to win and she said it was part of who she is but it is hard being her.

He asked her about her family and she shared that she is different from them and that they don’t understand her and she feels alone (this scene was so heartfelt and Alex made you feel for her).

Claire was at the open house in Alex’s classes and realized how much work she had and the hours of homework each class had every night. She realized that she dropped the ball when it came to Alex because Alex is so self-sufficient, but now Claire really understands the pressure she must be under.

Luke and Manny went on the double date but wanted to switch dates because they had more in common with the other twin. The brought it up to the girls and although Manny’s date had more in common with Luke, she said she wasn’t attracted to him. Luke’s date had more in common with Manny but she said she likes her men dumb! Hilarious! Manny and Luke were shocked by this and were going to leave, until the girls told them they would make out with them (aw our little boys are growing up).

Back at school Cam is talking to the parents but it’s obvious everyone is bored. He told them that he wanted to play dodge ball but wasn’t allowed to. Dr. Donna volunteered to play and so did Gloria (they couldn’t wait to throw balls at each other). Cam split the parents into two teams, The Hatfields and the McCoys and it was game on! Donna and Gloria were ruthless and it came down to the two of them left. Cam was about to blow the whistle and Donna hit Gloria on the head with a ball and said “Oops!” Gloria screamed and tried to attack her. Cam got in the middle of them to stop the fight. It was off to the principal’s office for all three of them!

Haley stopped by to give a dollhouse to Lily and accidentally knocked over the box filled with Styrofoam peanuts. Mitchell wanted her to clean them up quickly before Asher saw them. Haley told Mitchell to shove his Environmental award in Asher’s face and he decided he would.

While cleaning up the peanuts they accidentally knocked over some chemicals and of course Asher rode up on his bike and caught them. Mitchell showed him his award (even though it was the worst time to do so). Mitchell apologized to Asher and Asher admitted he probably came on too strong and his lifestyle can push people away. Mitchell invited him over for dinner as a peace offering.

Outside the principal’s office Cam told Gloria they ruined dodge ball. Donna admitted that she wanted to get the trip for her son because he blamed her for the divorce. Gloria understood where she was coming from and told her it would get better just as the principal called Cam into his office.

Claire met Alex after her therapist appointment and told her that she didn’t realize how much pressure she was under at school and she couldn’t believe Alex didn’t have a meltdown every day. Alex hugged her and started crying because finally someone in her family understood her. Claire kissed her on the head and they hugged.

Modern Family airs Wednesday nights at 9/8c on ABC.