S08.E21: Alone Time

[Artsda]

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Everyone deserves a little alone time now and then, so when Mitch and Jay separately seek out a much-needed retreat from the family and end up at the same resort, it becomes clear just how "related" they really are. Meanwhile, Phil and Claire can't seem to really enjoy the empty-nester life, and Cam, not knowing what to do with himself while Mitch is away, drops in on Gloria's to lend a hand.

Cam was so annoying, I don't blame Mitchell for wanting alone time. I'd want permanent alone time.

Dylan's married? LOL Had no idea he was coming back this season. I feel like they saw all the hate for Andy and decided to bring Dylan back married. Wasn't it just Valentine's day that he and Haley were talking? Now he's married a couple months later?

[MadyGirl1987]

Thought it was a good episode. Loved Mitch and Jay bonding. Enjoyed their mutual disgust at the book's ending. I have never been as upset at a book as they were, but have with some TV episodes(Looking at you HIMYM finale...).

Phil and Claire were good together, as I think Ty and Julie have the best chemistry out of all the couples, but them being upset the kids were still at home fell flat. Maybe if you didn't baby them they would be more independent. It was just last season we saw Claire having her assistant making the family lunches and doing chores such as picking up a present Alex needed and ironing Haley's dress. If, in my early-mid 20's like Haley and Alex are had asked my Mom to make me a lunch she would have laughed at me, although she might help if I was, say, running late for work and needed a quick bite. The Middle has handled the aging of their child actors much better and more naturally.

I laughed at Joe saying his cape "looked like a cape" because I did that as a kid. I was about his age and lost a figurine from a Chuck-e-Cheese like place I would carry around in a store. When Mom asked what it looked like I said, "He's brown and looks like a bear.' Ah, the simplicity of youth...

[Bobbin]

2 hours ago, MadyGirl1987 said:

laughed at Joe saying his cape "looked like a cape" because I did that as a kid. I was about his age and lost a figurine from a Chuck-e-Cheese like place I would carry around in a store. When Mom asked what it looked like I said, "He's brown and looks like a bear.' Ah, the simplicity of youth.

LOL. A little neighbor boy came up to us once and said he had a dog like ours, "But not that color [black]." What color is it, we asked. He replied, "You know. Dog colored."

Luke still getting his head stuck in the railing was funny. Dylan suddenly being married with children was a surprise, but my stepdaughter's friend Danny did the same thing at that age, marrying an older woman with several children. The Dunphy kids haven't changed, but Dylan grew up, apparently.

[anna0852]

Phil and Claire longing for the empty nest gurantees that she gets pregnant. Rule of tv.

[partofme]

No way those kids are Dylan's.  He can get divorced and still end up with Haley.  Phil and Claire's plot made no sense.

[luna1122]

They're not supposed to be Dylan's bio kids. He married a woman with children. I liked that. Yeah, it was just V-Day that Dylan was supposedly calling Haley, but hey, maybe it was a whirlwind romance. Good for him. I loved Haley's spiral down due to it.

It was all silly, but I enjoyed the episode, and enjoyed seeing the whole cast. I fervently hope Claire does NOT wind up pregnant. Ugh.

Edited May 11, 2017 by luna1122

[Balboa]

39 minutes ago, anna0852 said:

Phil and Claire longing for the empty nest gurantees that she gets pregnant. Rule of tv.

Absolutely. This show was just renewed for two more seasons. The writers seem to have run out of ideas over the last season or so. Either Claire or Haley get pregnant or Cam and Mitchell adopt another child.

[useryikes]

It was an OK episode as was the previous one.  Sort of hit & miss this season.  I don't know where they're going with it, but I will stop watching if Clair gets pregnant - I would rather see Cam & Mitchell adopt.  Gloria's pregnancy did not work for me.

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Dylan's married? LOL Had no idea he was coming back this season. I feel like they saw all the hate for Andy and decided to bring Dylan back married. Wasn't it just Valentine's day that he and Haley were talking? Now he's married a couple months later?

I always liked Dylan.  Funny about the hate for Andy.  The Facebook comments seem to love him.  I didn't think they had any chemistry so I hope he stays hidden.  I'm sick of the Dunphy kids esp Alex.  Phil was back in form though.

[tennisgurl]

Dylan is looking great, I have to say. I love that he's actually grown up and gotten his life together, and it immediately sends Hailey on a downward spiral. You know, if Claire and Phil had worked harder at making their kids more independent and didn't helicopter them so much, maybe they would actually leave the house from time to time. The kids all have their moments of growth, but they all basically act the same way they did in the first season when they were in high school/elementary school.  I did love the "We didn't plan on having Hailey! Or Alex! We did plan on having Luke but we didn't plan on having Luke!" from Phil. No one plans on Luke.

I loved seeing Mitch and Jay bonding, especially over the shitty end of a book. I've been there, guys. I've been there.

[anna0852]

I just love Phil and Claire. It's so nice to see that they still love each other and put effort into their relationship. And it was really nice to see Mitch and Jay bonding. 

[qtpye]

1 hour ago, luna1122 said:

They're not supposed to be Dylan's bio kids. He married a woman with children. I liked that. Yeah, it was just V-Day that Dylan was supposedly calling Haley, but hey, maybe it was a whirlwind romance. Good for him. I loved Haley's spiral down due to it.

It was all silly, but I enjoyed the episode, and enjoyed seeing the whole cast. I fervently hope Claire does NOT wind up pregnant. Ugh.

 

10 hours ago, MadyGirl1987 said:

Phil and Claire were good together, as I think Ty and Julie have the best chemistry out of all the couples, but them being upset the kids were still at home fell flat. Maybe if you didn't baby them they would be more independent. It was just last season we saw Claire having her assistant making the family lunches and doing chores such as picking up a present Alex needed and ironing Haley's dress. If, in my early-mid 20's like Haley and Alex are had asked my Mom to make me a lunch she would have laughed at me, although she might help if I was, say, running late for work and needed a quick bite. The Middle has handled the aging of their child actors much better and more naturally.

I also hated the way they equated to Alex and Hailey being the same.  Hailey had been wondering around aimlessly ever since she was kicked out of college.  I think she had a job, but that lasted five minutes.  Alex is going to an excellent university and will probably either go to graduate school or get a fantastic career opportunity.  They have to make Alex socially inept, just to justify why she seems so dependent on parents that basically ignore her. 

I did enjoy this episode, though Cam's neediness is ridiculous.  He really can not enjoy one night alone?  As a mother who works full time and takes primary care of the children (like Cam), I would love a night to myself.

[Shermie]

Cam is needy, Mitchell,is neurotic, Claire is hyper. Lather, rinse, repeat. At least Gloria was tolerable,because she wasn't screeching for once.

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Phil and Claire longing for the empty nest gurantees that she gets pregnant. Rule of tv.

Ugh, I hope not. What is with surprise pregnancies for 40-something tv moms? Surely they've mastered birth control by that time. And if you don't want kids anymore, hubby should get snipped. Everyone I know has done that. No surprise pregnancies in middle age here. Plus, name a show that has improved with a baby.

I found the scenes with the Dunphy kids excruciatingly painful to watch. The acting was at middle school play level, it was bad. Alex, if you want to study in peace, go to a quiet bedroom. Luke, you're too old to stick your head between the rails while fixing them, and that doesn't even make any kind of sense. Haley, stop mooning over your high school boyfriend; if you're mopey that you haven't accomplished anything in life, get a fucking job. 

Phil and Claire, if you want an empty nest, you have to kick the baby birds out.

Jay, what exactly are you escaping from? You have a big house with a housekeeper and garden guy, you're semi retired, kids are in school all day. If you want to read a book by the pool, go to your own backyard. Whiny first worlder.

[CleoCaesar]

The good: Phil and Claire are a great couple. The return of Dylan. Mitch and Jay scenes are always good.

The bad: Alex being a bitchy, angry cartoon. Can't they pick a lane for her and stick with it? "Under Pressure" was probably Alex's best episode, where she goes to a therapist and talks about how alienating her quest to be perfect is. But in every episode since then she's been the type-A lunatic and it's just annoying at this point.

Few things are as pathetic as couples who can't function one night without each other. Cam, check yourself. It's just sad.

Yet another unrealistic girlfriend for Manny. Of course.

 

32 minutes ago, Shermie said:

I found the scenes with the Dunphy kids excruciatingly painful to watch. The acting was at middle school play level, it was bad.

I could copy-paste this comment on every episode thread from the past 3-4 seasons. Seasons 1/2 Rico and Nolan seem like master thespians compared to now.

[qtpye]

2 hours ago, CleoCaesar said:

The bad: Alex being a bitchy, angry cartoon. Can't they pick a lane for her and stick with it? "Under Pressure" was probably Alex's best episode, where she goes to a therapist and talks about how alienating her quest to be perfect is. But in every episode since then she's been the type-A lunatic and it's just annoying at this point.

Seriously, when your brilliant 19 year old daughter starts sticking pens up her noise to the point of uncontrollable bleeding, it is not just another cute "quirk"...it's a cry for help.

[Traveller519]

As someone who appreciates alone time, I empathized with all the adult characters except Cam this week. I'm also very glad that while Gloria was appreciative of what he did, she shut him down from patting himself on the back given how some of the events shook out.

Now, Phil and Claire, I know this is going to sound rough, but with Luke graduating high school there is no reason your children still need to be living with you. They are all adults now, you are free and clear to tell them they need to be self sufficient. They're always welcome in your house, but they no longer live there.

[anna0852]

I don't think Phil will have a problem saying that. He doesn't hover as badly as Claire. 

[luna1122]

Claire hovers more, but Phil is the sentimental one. He'd probably have a harder time with the separation than she would.

I knew he'd be the one weeping over Thelma and Louise's final ride, while Claire remained dry eyed.

[Cherry Cola]

Well that was a shitfest.  What the hell. 

I didnt even recognize Dylan!

[TheLastKidPicked]

The Dylan storyline was very realistic, and we have been seeing this in our group of friends.

The kids who seemed to be going nowhere suddenly pop back up and are successful and happy.  Some of the more popular kids are visably regretting not being nicer to them.  And I mean we have seen this more than once in the neighborhood.  

It makes me wonder if the writers have seen this in real life as well.

Edited May 11, 2017 by TheLastKidPicked

[Bobbin]

2 hours ago, luna1122 said:

Claire hovers more, but Phil is the sentimental one. He'd probably have a harder time with the separation than she would.

But it was Phil who knew when it was time to set the ducks (kids) free.

[needschocolate]

I thought the Dylan story was out of nowhere, like the writers sat around and said, we need a reason for Hailey to be neurotically upset - Hey let's have Dylan be married to a "doctor" with three kids! 

I liked Cam helping out at the Pritchet's, especially the resolution to the cape storyline.   

[Bobbin]

3 hours ago, Traveller519 said:

Now, Phil and Claire, I know this is going to sound rough, but with Luke graduating high school there is no reason your children still need to be living with you. They are all adults now, you are free and clear to tell them they need to be self sufficient. They're always welcome in your house, but they no longer live there.

Except that the name of the show is "Modern Family." Besides the family relationships characteristic of modern times that the show deals with, the trend is to more adult children living with their parents, for a variety of reasons. My wife's uncle had a policy of 18 and out, no exceptions (suitcase on the sidewalk!), but that's becoming increasingly rare. I expect that we'll see Alex, Haley, Manny and Luke move out, and back in, at some point without any question that they still have a home with their parents. Like Axl and Sue Heck on "The Middle."

I wish there would be more out-character episodes displaying unexpected talents, like the one with Claire doing magic for Phil, Luke (Nolan Gould) showing his musical ability, Phil on the high wire, etc. On "All in the Family" once, Jean Stapleton stepped out of character for a moment and in her own voice slyly assured Gloria, "What makes you think I'm always letting Archie have his way?" Those are scenes that stay with you. And I never get tired of Nathan Lane's "Pepper."

Kudos to all involved that this weekly comedy of errors can be so crazy, silly, annoying, ridiculous and still make you smile or tear up in the last 2 minutes -- like that closing shot of the picture of young Claire and Mitch in their red figure skating costumes that Jay keeps on the table.

[readster]

2 hours ago, needschocolate said:

I thought the Dylan story was out of nowhere, like the writers sat around and said, we need a reason for Hailey to be neurotically upset - Hey let's have Dylan be married to a "doctor" with three kids! 

I liked Cam helping out at the Pritchet's, especially the resolution to the cape storyline.   

Another thing was when Dylan mentioned he always calls his wife a doctor and she doesn't get why he has to keep doing that. That's the problem with Dylan, at times he is so oblivious of what he does no one calls him out on that until now. I'm actually happy he married someone who is: "Dylan, please stop, you are embarrassing yourself." without making it sound mean or the fact he has gotten through in life with his good looks and charm. However, yep just a point to have Haily act like an idiot again because you know, she hasn't gotten her life together. Yet, maybe if she stop trying to set up to be this big famous fashion person by working for super dumbasses and Phil and Claire told her to get out and move on with her life. She doesn't. Speaking of which, Alex and Luke are just too much these days. Alex, get off your butt and move to another room. Luke, really? You can win a school election but you can't go: "Hey, you know I'm 18, maybe I shouldn't put my head here. Speaking of which, why am I fixing railing anyhow?" 

   Yes, Claire and Phil, you are the people responsible for your kids still being at home. Not because you haven't told them grow up, because you have helicoptered, did things for them ALL the time and took them to parent/kid work days when they were TOO OLD to even go. Of course Cam can't be by himself. You know being a teacher, football coach, he wouldn't be finishing up end of the year finals, getting his office and room in order for the end of the school year. No, he has to be needy and unable to relax with the house to himself. Because he's just a BIG BABY. 

[Snow Apple]

On 5/10/2017 at 10:16 PM, Artsda said:

Cam was so annoying, I don't blame Mitchell for wanting alone time. I'd want permanent alone time.

Dylan's married? LOL Had no idea he was coming back this season. I feel like they saw all the hate for Andy and decided to bring Dylan back married. Wasn't it just Valentine's day that he and Haley were talking? Now he's married a couple months later?

If *their" goal is to make Dylan look bad because of Andy, they failed. I thought he was very sweet with his wife and children. Love the two little girls.

I was a Hailey/Dylan shipper, but no longer. He deserves better.

[Blakeston]

I think it's a little early for Phil and Claire to be going through the "Why don't we have the place to ourselves?" angst. Luke still hasn't graduated high school yet. And didn't they encourage Alex to go to college nearby?

I get that Alex is home more often than they anticipated, and that their place was a madhouse that day. But the only kid who should have a place of her own and doesn't is Haley.

Edited May 12, 2017 by Blakeston

[HoboClayton]

Oh Sarah.. :( This episode made me sad. She spent so much time leaning on things. She looked like she was in some serious pain. I know she was very upset about Dylan. But, it just made me think about her saying how she has to sit a lot because of how much pain she is in. 

[Nalan]

I would've liked Cam's storyline better if he'd come to realize why Mitchell sometimes needs the time away from him, because every mishap he caused really should've given him that pause.

But I enjoyed Phil and Claire's storyline.  Agreed that Ty and Julie have amazing chemistry, and I totally get them wanting to have their empty nest.

I don't get why Alex had to come to study.  She could've just stayed at CalTech to do that.  Haley spiraling after seeing that Dylan was thriving was hilarious, though.  But Luke getting his head stuck in the banister?  Sigh.  I didn't think even he could be that stupid.

I don't get why everyone's down on Joe all the time.  He acts like a kid his age should act, which is all I'd want from the kid characters.

Jay and Mitchell bonding was adorable, but I don't get why Jay would need time away from his own family when he has all the time in the world, anyway, based on their individual days.

Still, a good episode.

[DrSpaceman73]

I enjoyed this one more than most recently. 

Phil's video was the highlight. 

Shocked to see Dylan married to a doctor.  Not necessarily married, that I could see, but to a doctor?  I guess they did mention before he was going to nursing school, had forgot about that until now. 

[DrSpaceman73]

Quote

  Yes, Claire and Phil, you are the people responsible for your kids still being at home. Not because you haven't told them grow up, because you have helicoptered, did things for them ALL the time and took them to parent/kid work days when they were TOO OLD to even go

I like both shows, but I often compare The Middle and Modern Family. 

two very different families with two very different approaches to raising kids. 

I know its fictional, but it is interesting to see where the kids are headed on the two shows, and you seem to be very much correct.  Phil and Claire, as much as I love them on the show, they give lip service to worrying about Haley and Luke and where they will end up in life, and they talk about it, but they actually do very little about it. 

Then Sue and Axl, the two you would worry about the most on the Middle, are both in/finishing college and have realized they better make the most of their time their and have a plan for when they get out. 

[DarkRaichu]

Heh Dylan seemed to be the only young adult in the show who moved forward with his life.  Didn't he mention he had a business last time we saw him?

Lily is so tall, she is probably already taller than Haley at this point.

Jay and Mitch bonding was sweet, especially Mitch wanting to learn to throw so he can play with Lily. 

I am tired of Cam's neediness

I blame the writers for the whole Dunphy kids storylines.  If this is what modern about the family then I do not want anything to do with it. :P

Also, a tire is pretty much ruined when punctured on the side like what Cam did.  Unless Jay had a new tire sitting on the side, there was no way Cam could fix that in only a few minutes

[qtpye]

On ‎5‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 10:26 PM, DrSpaceman73 said:

Then Sue and Axl, the two you would worry about the most on the Middle, are both in/finishing college and have realized they better make the most of their time their and have a plan for when they get out. 

This is probably realistic and has a lot to do with finances.  Sue and Axl know their parents can not support them forever.  If they live with their parents after college, they will probably have to chip in with the expenses.  The kids on Modern Family seem to look at their parents as everlasting piggy banks and finances are never a concern.

[DrSpaceman73]

10 minutes ago, qtpye said:

This is probably realistic and has a lot to do with finances.  Sue and Axl know their parents can not support them forever.  If they live with their parents after college, they will probably have to chip in with the expenses.  The kids on Modern Family seem to look at their parents as everlasting piggy banks and finances are never a concern.

It definitely is realistic and that is exactly what it does, and would, have to do with in real life. 

Mike even said so on an episode of The Middle when Sue was trying to pick a major.  He basically told her pick a major that will help you get a good job and escape from the lower middle class financial cycle of her parents.

In contrast to Modern Family, you have everyone seemingly encouraging Manny to pursue his limited artistic talent at $50000 a year universities. 

And yes Luke and Haley........basically keep saying "well they'll end up OK.......eventually". 

[qtpye]

3 minutes ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

In contrast to Modern Family, you have everyone seemingly encouraging Manny to pursue his limited artistic talent at $50000 a year universities. 

And yes Luke and Haley........basically keep saying "well they'll end up OK.......eventually". 

Yes, all these kids can dick around and survive through several failures, because their parents are able and willing to provide financial safety nets for them.  It is more important that they are "happy" then productive.

[readster]

1 hour ago, qtpye said:

Yes, all these kids can dick around and survive through several failures, because their parents are able and willing to provide financial safety nets for them.  It is more important that they are "happy" then productive.

Exactly and even when Sue was talking to Brick that Mike and Frankie were looking to change their rooms and Frankie kept avoiding answer why she kept measuring shelf space in Brick's room (since he will be done in 2 years). Plus as we know, Mike wants Axl to get a job immediately after graduation for two reasons: 1. He gets out of the house and 2. Because if he is going to live there, he's paying for room and board. Axl lucked out with a free ride to college, but as we know, he does save money when he can and Mike knows this. Hence, 23, if you can afford to live on your own, you will pay to live under my room. In MH, they keep thinking their parents are going to live forever and the parents complain about the kids never moving out, yet they helicoptered and bailed them out on everything. They don't know to even pour their own liquid allergy medicine on their own. 

[jhlipton]

On 5/12/2017 at 9:24 PM, Nalan said:

I  don't get why Alex had to come to study.  She could've just stayed at CalTech to do that. 

Cal Tech has at least one library that Alex could have studied at.

[msrachelj]

On 5/11/2017 at 3:23 PM, Traveller519 said:

As someone who appreciates alone time, I empathized with all the adult characters except Cam this week. I'm also very glad that while Gloria was appreciative of what he did, she shut him down from patting himself on the back given how some of the events shook out.

Now, Phil and Claire, I know this is going to sound rough, but with Luke graduating high school there is no reason your children still need to be living with you. They are all adults now, you are free and clear to tell them they need to be self sufficient. They're always welcome in your house, but they no longer live there.

Not everyone is willing or wants to just kick their kids out of the house went they graduate high school. Different children need different things. And these kids are no where near mature enough to go out on their own. Although, Haley could hook up with another too old for her man because I can't see her being independent and living alone.  Alex could board at college, then I see her returning home too, unless she gets some street smarts. Luke is played as an idiot , so don't know about him.

[readster]

21 hours ago, msrachelj said:

Not everyone is willing or wants to just kick their kids out of the house went they graduate high school. Different children need different things. And these kids are no where near mature enough to go out on their own. Although, Haley could hook up with another too old for her man because I can't see her being independent and living alone.  Alex could board at college, then I see her returning home too, unless she gets some street smarts. Luke is played as an idiot , so don't know about him.

The problem is, both Claire and Phil want their kids to get out of the house, but don't change their helicoptering behavior (Claire especially). That kind of parenting I have seen first hand (not me) how damaging that can be to children in their early adult life. Even if they know how to cook and clean for themselves, they are unaware how to deal with: budgets, paying bills, being self aware of things. Sure Luke pulled a fast one on the car, but still that was still in Luke's character of: "Playing a trick to get something he wants" he has been doing since day 1. For Haley and Alex, one keeps saying how she wants more in life, but still falls on petty ways. The other is the classic: "Too smart, but not street smart." Which  has gotten really old. 

[Mrs. Hanson]

6 hours ago, readster said:

The problem is, both Claire and Phil want their kids to get out of the house, but don't change their helicoptering behavior (Claire especially). That kind of parenting I have seen first hand (not me) how damaging that can be to children in their early adult life. Even if they know how to cook and clean for themselves, they are unaware how to deal with: budgets, paying bills, being self aware of things. Sure Luke pulled a fast one on the car, but still that was still in Luke's character of: "Playing a trick to get something he wants" he has been doing since day 1. For Haley and Alex, one keeps saying how she wants more in life, but still falls on petty ways. The other is the classic: "Too smart, but not street smart." Which  has gotten really old. 

 

6 hours ago, readster said:

The problem is, both Claire and Phil want their kids to get out of the house, but don't change their helicoptering behavior (Claire especially). That kind of parenting I have seen first hand (not me) how damaging that can be to children in their early adult life.

I agree so much.  Not all kids are ready to fly at 18, some are.  My 19 almost 20 yr old lives at home - fine with me.  He does work and attend college.  My just turned 18 yr old is launching to college and he is cocked and ready to go.  Helicopter parents....ugh.  I have a friend who got overinvolved in her daughter's spat with her friend (her and the other mom were friends) and it was ugh........LET THEM FIGURE IT OUT.  The girls were 19!!!!

Back to Phil/Claire - I really hope they do not go the baby route.  Ugh.  Claire is (and this is NOT picking on Julie Bowen) the most uninteresting and unappealling character to me.  It is hard to write the stay at home housewife as all that interesting.  I could not take Claire's complaining about her life when she was a STAY AT HOME to older kids!!!  Now she is back at work.....as CEO of a very successful company.  Nice life!    The thing is, Cam was a stay at home dad but his character is so multifacted he is my favorite!!  Fizbo, starting football player, he is a lot of things.  I never get tired of Missouri!!  Claire could be that way too:  (spitballing here):  Have her afraid of some common animal or afraid of port potties (I have a friend who actually refuses port potties!!!) or she was hooked on D&D as a youth or something like that.  

Loved Mitchell and Jay bonding.

Do not like Dylan returning.  I want Andy back!!!  I want her to be Hailey Bailey!!!