Modern Family's focus on the different types of families that exist within the Delgado-Pritchett, Tucker-Pritchett, and Dunphy clans has received widespread acclaim. Its 11 seasons have been well received by fans and critics due to the show's honest approach to family life. The variety of characters makes the show fresh and fun and has allowed Modern Family to remain relevant despite its long run.
Whether fans are enjoying the interactions between Jay and Gloria, Phil and Claire, or Mitch and Cam, Modern Family has something for everyone. But while the show is popular and highly rated, there are certain aspects of it that do not make sense. The longer a show airs, the more opportunity there is for error. Despite certain plot holes, Modern Family remains one of the better long-running sitcoms.
Updated Nov. 23, 2021, by Lynn Gibbs: The beauty of Modern Family is that each family in the series has its flaws as well as its strengths, making them relatable to watch. Whether it's relationship drama or growing pains, Modern Family showcased it all. However, any show that lasts 11 seasons is going to include things that don't make sense. Modern Family's plot holes and inconsistencies were spotted by eagle-eyed fans, along with questions that viewers were hoping to have answered before the series ended (for example, why does Joe call his dad Jay?). Regardless of these oversights and errors, Modern Family is still one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time.
Claire Knew How To Run A Better Closet Business Than Jay
When the Dunphy children were old enough, Claire was ready to go from everyone's favorite TV mom to a businesswoman. She began working with her dad at Pritchett's Closets and Blinds but was nervous because she had been out of the workforce for more than 15 years. However, Claire was ready to run the entire company in no time flat.
Around Christmas, Jay wanted to retire and make Claire the new CEO. She accepted the position and suddenly Pritchett's Closets and Blinds was better than ever. While this isn't impossible, it does raise a few questions. Jay had been in the industry for decades and knew far more about closets and business than Claire did — in fact, Claire always felt like she was failing at work — so how did Claire win the company awards and get it popular enough to sell if she was constantly flailing?
Mitch And Cam Never Learn From Their Mistakes In Their Relationship
An ongoing theme in Mitch and Cam's relationship is that they tell white lies and hide things from each other to do what they want to do. Every time one of them lies or skirts around the truth, a larger problem ensues and the couple comes face to face with deep conversations about their relationship.
One would think Mitch and Cam would have learned from their mistakes and grown in those areas by season 11, but it didn't happened. If anything, they hid more from each other and never seemed to transform into the stronger couple they could have been. It didn't make sense that they failed to learn from decades' worth of mistakes.
They Never Address The Film Crew
Since the first episode of Modern Family, the entire Pritchett and Dunphy clan have been shown sitting in their living rooms discussing their lives with an unseen documentary person. The showrunners have even stated that they initially proposed that the family was being interviewed by a foreign film crew. Considering other shows like The Office have seen great success with this, it is a good formula for a show.
Even stranger, the family never addresses the film crew directly, even during very intimate moments. One would have thought this would have been discussed in the first episode but it wasn't. The crew often gets side-eyed looks from the family during funny situations, but the crew has never been seen.
Disappearing Lily
Cam and Mitch are adoring parents to Lily and Rex. Their devotion to helping Lily, in particular, adjust to life as a little girl and later, a young lady, is very touching. However, there is one question that continues to pop up: where does Lily go all the time?
Lily transforms from a baby to a young lady in no time, but she's often invisible for several episodes at a time without explanation. While she certainly had her own social life when she reached high school, Mitch and Cam are often aloof when it comes to her personal life. There's even an episode where they had no idea she was smart, an athlete, or had extracurricular activities. Considering how close Lily and Cam were in the early seasons, this doesn't make sense.
Gloria’s Past Is Questionable
Before Gloria became a Pritchett, her backstory is filled with crazy stories, potential felonies, and plenty of violence. Not to mention her time as a single mother to Manny. These outrageous stories are a part of most of Gloria's hilarious storylines.
Whenever Gloria mentions a story about her time in Colombia, it is usually followed by a crazy anecdote. Whether it is about how her family used to do something dangerous to get by or even a crime that she committed, Gloria is upfront out about her past. However, it is difficult to know if she is embellishing or not. Considering that she mentions taking lives at some points (the episode 'Promposal' is a great example of this), viewers and family are right to treat her stories with skepticism.
It's Sad That Mitchell Had To Come Out Repeatedly To Jay
Saying that Jay Pritchett has difficultly expressing his emotions would be a big understatement. In fact, he regularly struggles with expressing the simplest of emotions. So, when his only son dropped the bombshell about his sexual orientation as a teenager, Jay had difficulty with it. However, was even harder for Mitchell.
Due to his father’s inability to process emotions, Mitchell had to come out to Jay multiple times. While it is possible that due to Jay’s own prejudice he was actively trying to ignore it, it does seem strange that he would "forget." After all, Jay ended up loving Mitchell's husband Cam, so why would he push the truth aside? Jay's denial made Mitchell insecure and it put a wedge in between their relationship.
Claire Never Fixed The Step Herself
Phil Dunphy’s carefree attitude makes him easily distracted, which means that he often forgets about things that he has been asked to do. The most obvious example of this is the infamous step in the Dunphy house that makes everyone trip. Phil has famously stated many times that he “needs to fix that step” but took a very long time to do it. On the other hand, Claire Dunphy is a very take-charge type of woman who does not have any issues solving problems herself. Their differences made Phil and Claire have the perfect relationship at times.
Since Claire is not the type to wait for others, why would she not fix the step on her own? She never needed Phil to do something she could do herself, so why now? Phil certainly has some great qualities, but this must be one that frustrates Claire to no end.
No One Calls Joe By His Real Name
Little Joe Pritchett is played by the adorable Jeremy McGuire. His presence was a great addition to Modern Family. Watching Jay and Gloria manage raising a child together has led to some hilarious moments, in no small part due to the young child actor himself. He quickly became one of the more likable characters.
While Joe is responsible for many entertaining situations, there is one aspect about him that does not make sense. Apart from his first season on the show, no member of the family calls him by his real name, Fulgencio Joseph "Joe" Pritchett. Jay originally started calling him Joe because he figured that no one would know how to pronounce Fulgencio, and he was apparently correct because no one tried. Gloria chose the name Fulgencio to please her family, which also didn't make sense because Gloria has always pushed the boundaries with her family.
Andy Lost His Weight Very Quickly
Following the will-they-won’t-they saga of Haley and Andy, most fans were disappointed that they didn't end up together. The question of whether Haley would choose Dylan or Andy was one the forefront of fans' minds.
Due to the usual meddling from her family, Andy eventually learns about Haley’s feelings. He even discovers that Haley was going to try and stop his engagement to Beth. After learning that he had missed his opportunity, he begins to eat his feelings and gains a fair amount of weight. The Dunphys were concerned about Andy's emotional wellbeing after seeing him in such despair, but a few episodes later, Andy was back to his previous weight. It was as if that entire scene didn't happen.
Where Are Gloria’s Brothers?
Gloria’s past remains a mystery apart from the outlandish stories she tells. Some clarity was provided when both her mother and sister came to visit from Colombia, as fans were able to see her interact with family. However, there seem to be some of the Ramirez family that fans have never seen before, which didn't make sense.
Everyone forgets that Gloria has two brothers. While she has alluded to the fact that her mother had to “deal with them” before, this may explain why they are seldom mentioned. Gloria has remained mysterious about her past to the point that no one knows if she is telling the truth or not. Given how infrequently she brings up her brothers, it begs the question of whether they exist or not.
