TVSquad

(S01E03) After last week's installment of Modern Family where each family stayed within their own little nucleus, this week saw the intermingling of two of them. Cameron and Mitchell didn't have time to get involved, because the somewhat snobbish Mitchell discovered the joys and wonders of Costco. "What is this place?"

I remember my first time in Costco. You do have this strange desire to grab all the carts and flatbeds and go crazy. Who doesn't need 5,000 gumballs and a five-pack of VCRs? I've still got two spares in the garage. But Mitchell and Cam's shopping spree was the B-story.

This week, the show explored relationships between parents and their children. We got to see Claire's husband Phil try to bond with Jay in a model airplane flying expedition. Meanwhile, Claire and Sofia swapped kids and shared growing and learning experiences with them. And it all worked. Everything about this show is working right now.

Even though we only got to see two of the children in this episode, I'm liking both of them. Especially Manny. That kid is something else. It was great how seamlessly he slipped into the role of mentor and peer confidante for Claire. It was a wonderfully presented conversation. I loved it when she lamented how difficult kids are and Manny sympathized, saying his "school is full of them."

Like Claire, I'd kind of forgotten that technically Manny is her step-brother and not a nephew or something like that. Milk mustache and all, though, that kid has wisdom and insight into things he shouldn't understand.

Across town, the wisdom of the Delgados continued as Sofia was counseling Claire's daughter, Alex. Alex is going through the same middle child, younger daughter syndrome that all girls her age are facing. She longs to maintain her own individual identity, thus rebelling against anything that puts her in her sister Haley's shadow.

Sofia used the perfect strategy to build that bond with Alex. By agreeing to answer any question about herself that Alex might have, she established a groundwork of trust and honesty, something Claire isn't able to do. I don't think it's Sofia usurping anything from Claire. It can be incredibly valuable to have these bonds outside your immediate family. Sometimes you simply can't talk to your parents about everything.

But wait, you say. This is a comedy. None of that's funny. And you're right, but it worked because it all rang so true and there were still moments of gentle humor throughout.

Jay hit Phil in the face with an airplane. On purpose. That was pretty funny.

I'm still not sure exactly why he did it. His reaction when it happened indicated he did it on purpose, even though he said it was an accident. I agree that Phil is incredibly annoying, but hitting him with an airplane seemed a little extreme a reaction to it. I did love the scene earlier when Phil was afraid to sit on the couch next to Jay just like Haley's boyfriend was afraid to sit next to Phil in the opening of the episode.

"Casablanca." Cameron & Mitchell = my favorite couple

[For clips and full episodes of Modern Family, check out the fine folks at SlashControl.]