Sitcoms have been a television staple for decades, with many popular shows running for over a decade. Sitcoms have followed businesses, families, and friends through the ups and downs of life. From “The Big Bang Theory” to “The Office,” there is no doubt a wide range of characters to grow to love, and “Modern Family” is no different.
Modern Family truly dives into the dynamic of a large family and the challenges that they face as individuals, within the immediate family, and as a whole. It combines the crazy stories of the Dunphy, Prichett-Tucker, and Delgado-Pritchett families, even providing interviews, styled like those observed in “The Office.” These interviews open a window into the characters themselves. Wants, hopes, dreams, confessions, plans, and even big secrets can be revealed to the audience this way. New context to previous or upcoming events can not only provide sympathy for the character, but elevate the humor of a situation. Although these are not limited to showing up at the beginning or end of a scene, each interview provides a piece of vital information to aid the viewers in becoming emotionally invested.
Not all of the emotional moments are comical, with many expanding on the arduous nature of creating and investing in true interpersonal relationships. It takes careful practice to listen to what our peers are saying before formulating a response or introducing a personal bias. This is excluding the societal standards that may or may not be acknowledged by characters due to the environment he or she was raised in that influence personal bias and dictate societal convention.
These characters all being in different stages of their lives also adds to the unique viewing experience. From infancy to retirement, all the characters have lessons to learn that shape them right up to the final episode. The various standpoints of the characters not only provide crazy, laugh out loud moments, but provides chances for the audience to recognize similar situations in his or her own life.
I would highly recommend “Modern Family” to anyone that is looking for a lighthearted show, not only for the humor or the family dynamic, but for being designed to appeal to families as a whole. Despite some adult humor, the content is perfect for ages of pre-teens and beyond to enjoy. With the characters at different ages and on different paths through life, none of them have a wrong or right outcome, highlighting that differences are meant to be celebrated in all walks of life.