Modern Family Season 9 Episode 22 Review: Clash of Swords
Kim Russell
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We got hints about what's to come next season on Modern Family Season 9 Episode 22 when Mitch and Cam ended up with a new kid, Manny left town, and Pritchett's Closets received a buy-out offer.
There is a lot to talk about, but let's start with Mitch and Phil. I love it when they are featured in an episode. They're both nerds and have a love for fantasy/sci-fi genres, so it makes sense they would attend HeroCon together in cosplay.
For those of you who don't know, cosplay is just a fancy way to say costume at fandom conventions.
Never mind how I know that.
Anyway, the last time these two got together in the nerdy kind of way, it was in Modern Family Season 7 Episode 18. Mitch and Phil were going to a see a fandom sci-fi movie together when they were offered gummy bears laced with pot.
Spoiler! They ate the gummy bears.
That's why we chose our secret warrior signal. My first suggestion was to blow a Viking horn. Don't google that, by the way.
Phil
If you haven't seen it, watch it. You will cry laughing. Seriously.
Back to this episode, I knew it was going to be funny as soon as I saw them on the couch together. The only thing that irks me is that, once again, Mitchell is keeping secrets.
Mitch came clean in the end, and his explanation about his fear of being made fun of by his family made sense. So, he's forgiven.
This time.
Mitch and Phil have this funny kind of chemistry that instantly gets me ready for a laugh.
Their personalities play off one another so well, I wish they were paired off more often. I suppose if they were, though, it wouldn't stand out and be so special.
I loved watching them at the convention. Phil believed so completely he'd been hit by the fool's wand that he determined his fate.
Phil has such a child-like wonder about him. It's nice to see someone share that with him.
I know you're scared, but you should feel proud. You took kind of a weird kid and turned him into somebody so comfortable with himself, he's willing to take on a pretty big adventure.
Cam
The closest he gets to that with Claire is their shared love of bad movies, which is adorable. They haven't attended one of those in a while. We only have one more season for them to share a movie.
Hello? Writers? Add that to the list.
The next big storyline was Pritchett's Closets. Claire took over years ago, but Jay can't let go completely.
Would you expect him to, though? The company is part of his identity. You can't ask a man like that to be completely hands-off.
When those nerds (wait, I'm sensing a theme) from EzraVision came in with an offer to buy the company, Jay turned three shades of red.
Nobody, but nobody was buying his baby.
Claire, with her level head and her identity not so tied up in closets, sees the future. I was proud of Claire for doing her research, and finding a solution that would be good for both EzraVision and the future of Pritchett's Closets.
I think we're in for a lot of fun next season when the merger happens. Jay plus high tech equals hilarious. I'm looking forward to that.
The whole Manny going across country thing was okay because it tied into why Gloria was so obsessed with having a grand kindergarten graduation party for Joe.
Hey, you're blocking the driveway. Hit the road already.
Haley
Her baby is leaving the nest, spreading his wings and driving across country.
Alone.
What mother wouldn't be upset? An empty nest is no joke. Her nest isn't empty quite yet, but she and Manny have a special bond.
It makes sense Gloria wants to make every moment count with Joe. Gloria sees the future and what all mothers face in the future.
There are finite times when you can celebrate these moments of fun and innocence.
I suspect Manny will be back for next season with lots of new stories to share.
Speaking of Gloria, did you notice how she says Doctor Donna Duncan? It comes out sounding like dun dun dunnn. Ha!
Perfect for an archnemesis. Would you say?
There were a couple of things that surprised me. Pam's in jail.
Um, what?
Yes, Cam's dad is a bit of a grump but seems kind enough. Cam's mom is very doting, so when he said that they weren't good with him at that age, it struck me as odd.
Margaret is very vulnerable! I've had to rescue her a bunch of times from cults and an Amway pyramid.
Jay
Maybe the show added that so it would make more sense for Cam and Mitch to keep Cal while Pam is in prison. I don't know.
I'm not really sure why staying with Mitch and Cam wasn't the first choice anyway. They wanted a second child, and now it fits since Lily is missing.
What? Lily's not missing?
Oh, my bad. I guess we just don't see her much.
I imagine next season Cal will be living with the Tucker-Pritchetts, so that should be interesting to watch. I wonder how Lily will take it.
All in all, I enjoyed the episode, although not everybody made it in. I'll be back to watch the last season of Modern Family to see how it all ends and making predictions as I go.
Related: Modern Family Season 9 Episode 21 Review: The Escape
Over to you! What did you think of Clash of Swords? How did you feel about the Pritchett's Closets merger on the horizon? Did you enjoy watching Phil and Mitch together?
Leave me a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Not all of them, just the ones about Modern Family!
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Kim Russell was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in January 2019.
