Modern Family redefined family sitcoms, so much so that it has become an Emmy-winning series that lasted for an impressive 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020. It has cemented a place for itself in television history and has, in fact, served as the inspiration for one of WandaVision’s sitcom episodes. There’s no denying that the legacy of Modern Family was its hilarious, yet sensitive, spin on what constitutes familial love: instead of just showing the love between one middle-class, white American family, Modern Family showcased one large, multi-generational, and multicultural family, each with their own connections, complex history, and spotlight.
Every season, Modern Family treated audiences with hilarious Valentine’s Day-themed episodes. With the special day just around the corner, here’s a ranking of each of the Valentine’s Day-themed episodes for you to enjoy—whether you have a date on the 14th, or not.
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7 “Paris” — Season 11, Episode 13
While this episode takes place in the City of Love, there isn’t too much of the Valentine’s magic as some of the earlier episodes themed around this day. The kids, except Manny, are also absent from this episode, meaning that about half the main cast don’t play any part at all in this episode. However, this is still worth a watch this Valentine’s season, if only for the hilarity that ensues when Phil meets one of Claire’s former lovers only to discover that he is also a magician.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Jay, meanwhile, is ready to receive an award for his extensive service to the closet business. At the last minute, Gloria and Manny discover that the award is actually going to Earl Chapman, Jay’s old rival, and try to hide it from him. When he finds out, he is furious—but all’s well that ends well as the episode concludes with a sincere speech from Jay on top of the Eiffel Tower.
Cameron has a dream of performing as his clown persona in Paris, until he discovers that there’s a European clown going by Fizbeau, while Mitch tries to dress as a French man but can’t fully immerse into the lifestyle. Overall, this is a sweet episode, and the heartfelt moments will definitely get you in the Valentine’s spirit.
6 “Do You Believe In Magic?” — Season 8, Episode 12
When Phil feels that the romance in his marriage has fizzled out, he spends all of Valentine’s Day trying to impress Claire and reignite the spark. Claire still has a few tricks up her sleeve, though, much to Phil’s delight. Mitchell and Cameron spend their day trying to get Lily, Haley and Sal to stand up to the men in their lives. This ends in disaster for Haley and Sal, who both end Valentine’s Day in negative positions- Haley has broken up with her boyfriend and Sal even got violent. Alex discovers that one of her mother’s co-workers has a crush on her and while she’s initially uncomfortable, she becomes more open to the idea by the end of the day. Finally, Jay is in trouble with Gloria for favoring Joe so much. He insists that it’s harmless until he is shocked by Joe picking up his bad habits as well as his good ones, and is faced with a difficult situation. While not explicitly romantic in nature, this episode showcases familial love primarily, leaving viewers with the idea that Valentine’s Day can still be a positive and fun day, no matter what their relationship status may be.
5 “Written in the Stars” — Season 9, Episode 14
While viewers are used to Phil and Claire role-playing on Valentine’s, this episode sees Jay and Gloria give it a try to spice up their evening. Of course, this doesn’t end well for the two and Gloria is arrested, killing the mood they were trying to create. While the two are enjoying their evening together, Phil and Claire are watching Joe, who has developed a crush on Claire and spends his evening trying to get a rise out of Phil. Elsewhere, Mitch and Cam are treating Luke to a Valentine’s meal, and are treating him like a womanizer in the line. Luke’s Valentine’s is inadvertently ruined by this when he realizes his girlfriend is in line behind them and heard everything. Mitch and Cam are forced to right the situation. True to form, Manny makes a Valentine’s card for Gloria, and Alex tries to impress her Professor but is disappointed by his preference. This episode is a refreshing take on Valentine’s Day, with all the characters experiencing borderline ridiculous mishaps on the day of love.
4 “Twisted Sister” — Season 6, Episode 14
In this episode, Gloria’s sister Sonia (played by Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz) comes to visit. Jay believes she wants to enter a relationship with him- initially no one believes him but as things escalate Manny realizes this is the truth as well. Meanwhile, Phil and Claire have a great night role playing, until Claire realizes that Phil is more in love with her alter ego than who she is. Mitchell and Cam visit one of their friends with an anniversary present and find out upon arrival that their friends are newly divorced, meaning an anniversary present isn’t necessary anymore. Hilarity ensues through all of these storylines, and the episode has a happy ending for everyone involved, leaving viewers on a happy note for their Valentines.
3 “Bixby’s Back” — Season 2, Episode 14
After the disastrous evening they shared in “My Funky Valentine,” Phil and Claire decide to take Valentines easy, and end up in a restaurant packed with the elderly getting the early bird special. Phil ends up on a mobility scooter, and Claire promptly changes the plan despite Phil’s cluelessness. Jay and Gloria have a date at the same restaurant, but Jay has planned a private dinner at home. His plans are dashed when Gloria gets them into the restaurant, and he desperately tries to get the plan back on track. Their evening is saved by Mitch and Cam, who actually made the reservation that Gloria stole. But their night is not going perfectly either- Mitch has an assistant who seems to be sabotaging their relationship and Cam assumes Broderick has a crush on Mitch until he’s corrected by Broderick himself. The kids at home also have Valentine’s Day plans- well, except for Haley. Manny spends the evening trying to make a move on her, but his plans are foiled when Dylan comes back into the picture. With a brilliantly funny ending, this episode is truly one of the greats of the whole series and is not to be missed this Valentine’s Day.
2 “My Funky Valentine” — Season 1, Episode 15
Potentially the most universally beloved Valentine’s episode of Modern Family, in this episode the audience is introduced to Clive Bixby and Juliana, the alter egos of Phil and Claire. After being upstaged by Dylan, Phil feels that the usual plan of going to Fratelli’s just won’t cut it anymore, so he suggests that they spice it up by role playing in a hotel bar. Elsewhere, Mitch has had a hard day at work and was not able to give his closing speech that he’d worked on for a long time. Until, Manny reveals how his grand Valentine’s gesture had been claimed by another student. Mitch and Cam take it upon themselves to play Cupid and save his Valentine’s Day. Jay has taken Gloria to see renowned comedian David Brenner but is dismayed when he becomes the target of jokes about his age in relation to Gloria and runs for the hills after the embarrassment becomes too much. When the role play goes a bit too far and Claire gets her jacket stuck in an elevator, an assortment of acquaintances runs into the pair and try to help an increasingly flustered Claire- until the day is saved by an unlikely hero. As the first Valentine’s episode in the series, there is just enough joy and second-hand embarrassment to make this episode essential viewing.
1 “Heart Broken” — Season 4, Episode 15
The number one pick shows Julianna and Clive returning yet again for a spicy Valentine’s encounter- only this time Claire ends up in the emergency room, a mishap that Phil blames on himself for being “too sexy.” In Jay and Gloria’s house, the two are excited to be intimate again for the first time after the birth of Joe- however their day ends up much busier than initially thought as the viewers witness their bedroom plans be foiled time and time again. However, Mitch and Cam’s storyline for this episode is what truly makes it. The two host a ‘Lonely Hearts’ Valentine’s party for their single friends, and when Cam insinuates that Mitch isn’t fun, he goes overboard. So overboard, in fact, that Dylan has moved in by the next morning. They spend the day arguing about who invited him to stay and who should kick him out, until finally Lily takes initiative and stands up to a bewildered Dylan. This episode includes everything that makes Modern Family so special, and ends on a light-hearted tone, sure to improve anyone’s Valentine’s Day.
