It’s strange to see the finale of “Modern Family,” after weeks of anticipation. One of those hours was dedicated, naturally, to “A Modern Farewell,” a documentary that looked back at the landmark ABC sitcom’s successes (five Emmy nominations for Best Comedy Series!). It also had its downs, which is not surprising considering Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s groans after receiving the fifth Emmy for Best Comedy Series!

The finale was divided into two parts: surprise the audience with Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Ferguson) moving to Missouri (not forgetting all the Dunphy children leaving their home), and then let these characters say goodbye without getting too sentimental.

This last point is well-received — too many comedies leave their roots in the final minutes and go on the waterworks — but the “Modern Family” finale failed to connect its heartwarming story about the unbreakable bonds between family members with the messy reality of people wanting different things. The show was a great success in its prime.

It was always more apparent than Phil losing his toenail during the finale’s cold opening if “Modern Family” lost a step over the years. (OK, maybe that’s not true. One Season 11 intro had Dylan screaming simultaneously with a TV person.) The show’s opening shows how chaotic it is with three grown children and two grandbabies living under the same roof.

His mom screaming up the stairs, and his sisters moving between rooms, Luke rushes for the bathroom and hits his father’s foot. This sets up the pre-titles joke in which Phil complains about his sandals season missing a nail.

Modern Family Series: Season 11 Recap: What Did It End Like?

MODERN FAMILY – “Finale Part 1/Finale Part 2” – In part 1 of the series finale, Mitchell and Cam settle into their new normal, and Phil and Claire decide that one of the kids needs to move out in order to take control of the house again.

Meanwhile, as Gloria becomes more successful at work, she notices Jay, Manny and Joe don’t seem to need her as much. In part 2 of the series finale, the entire family discovers saying goodbye is much harder than it seems on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Eric McCandless) TY BURRELL, JESSE TYLER FERGUSON, JULIE BOWEN, ED O’NEILL, ERIC STONESTREET.

We are bringing you the Modern Family finale recap on ABC. After 11 seasons of laughs with the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan, there’s a new normal for everyone in the family. Many characters went through major changes, but they will all make it through it the same way they always have: by trusting each other. How did Modern Family come to an end? You can view “The Finale Parts 1 & 2” on ABC.com and in the ABC App. Or, continue reading to see the Modern Family ending.

With their full house, they have started to sleep in the RV in the driveway. Alex learns that Dr. Arvin Fennerman is moving to Switzerland and agrees to take her place. She thinks that Arvin and she might be romantically involved (thanks to ‘s analysis of the situation), so she takes steps to ensure everything is professional moving forward.

Phil and Claire discover that Mitchell and Cam may be moving to Missouri because Cam was hired as a college football coach. Claire and Phil realize that they must cherish the time they share with their family. But is it too late?

This bit is best seen as a tribute to the show’s glory days, when clever layers of humor were found in clever verbal misunderstandings, perfectly blocked physical comedy, and clever layers of humor. It shows, at worst, how much the show has left to go, even in these final few miles. It’s not the type of marriage that can last 11+ years. The first three seasons of “Modern Family,” while they offered a great mix of comedy for all ages — pratfalls and insults — but it was also high-level, well-respected execution (tight blocking, witty wordplay, propulsive cutting) that made the show stand out.

Sofia Vergara and Ed O’Neill with Jesse Tyler Ferguson in “Modern Family”.

Recap

In the final 44 minutes, there were three to four good laughs following that model. Two of those came from personal connections that you make with random, broad-ranging jokes that feel like they were written for you. For example, I enjoyed every mention of a pig (except Hamtrak, Missouri’s livestock train, which I find a bit too close to coastal snobbery). I also love Cam and Mitchell’s choice to name their son after the street near their new house. A few of my friends did it two years ago and Rhodes is a better name than Rexford.

The other came from Ed O’Neill, who stood still during a game of charades and agreed to do whatever his family guessed. (“I want it to end. “Can we stop playing games?”) O’Neill is the best. Phil gets into bed with Ty Burrell thinking he’s being asked for comfort, but Jay is really talking to his electronic Spanish tutor. Jay and Phil have had many embarrassing encounters over the years. Jay’s explanation of talking to himself is right before Phil’s misunderstanding, making the bit feel predictable. But Phil does get one more awkward line with Gloria (Sofia Vergara).

The ending was just funny enough to make it worth the effort. It is only a shame that the series doesn’t address the final fates of its characters. Jay and Gloria seem to be fine. Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is moving to Mexico for the summer. However, he will likely be staying with one of his parents the rest of the time.

Cam and Mitchell will be moving to Missouri so that the former can coach football, and the latter can provide support. All the Dunphy children move out at once, leaving their parents in an unimaginable situation. It’s Claire Bowen (Julie Bowen) and Phil who will bring home the final sentimental note. Claire is in tears when Phil asks her husband what she’ll do. He replies, “What people always did.” Keep the porch light on. They will return.”

The final shot of the episode matches these words of wisdom. The lights go out at Jay and Gloria’s home and Cam and Mitchell’s. The same thing happens at the Dunphy house until the credits end. The shot, along with the short montage of everyone traveling that precedes it makes for a hopeful note.

Modern Family

Although it is difficult to land like this, there are many problems with the series’ final resolution. All these changes were made so quickly! Spread them over the final season to allow viewers to make big life decisions over a longer period of time. It was not the intention of anyone to see any of the main characters die (remember?), but such an open ending leaves too many possibilities for a revival, spinoff or both.

The “Modern Family” finale proves what we all know for years: It should have ended years ago when it was better equipped and able to connect all the subplots, characters and themes. We now have an ending that doesn’t want to be an end. Perhaps that’s enough for casual family audiences, but modern viewers want more.

Modern Family Season 11 Episodes 17, 18 and 19 respectively, allow us to spend some extra time with each character before saying goodbye.

Although it may seem abrupt, I have to admit that this season has not been my favorite. It’s the first time I’ve approached this season from a critical angle, rather than as a next day-on-Hulu viewer. I wonder if Modern Family was a show that you enjoy more while watching.

Ending

This series’ final hour will be a bittersweet, but mostly sweet, moment.

There are moments that don’t fit. (Claire, did you forget that you just started a new position? After being hired, no one gets enough vacation time to travel across the country.) Instead, let’s focus on the moments that do. MODERN FAMILY – “Finale Part 1/Finale Part 2” – (ABC/Eric McCandless)

The Dunphy children are leaving the nest in ways that we couldn’t have anticipated from the beginning.

Luke will be going to an out-of-state college. Did we see any indications that he would get accepted? Alex is flying to Switzerland to join her ex-college professor on a research assignment. She’s made a lot of progress since our first meeting, and Haley is finally married and settled with twins.

Although two of the sibling endings were wildcards in our opinion, we are happy for them to move out of their parents’ home and onto new challenges. We know they will always have each other no matter where they might be.

What about their parents? They get exactly what they wanted. Personally, I’d love to see Claire and Phil’s new life as empty-nesters. But it’s time to let the viewers fly the coop too.

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It was beautiful to see Jay and Mitch (more about him in a second) abandon their plans for Jay and their partner.