Going West, or East.

Last week was the season premiere of Modern Family, and coming off of the FIVE EMMY WINS, there were high expectations for the episode.

The three families took a vacation to a dude ranch, and some seemed more able to handle the Great Out West than others. We met the characters after a summer, and not much had changed for the Modern Family.

Partners Mitchell and Cameron want to adopt another baby, a son, and Cam is afraid he isn’t masculine enough to have a son. To help him get over this fear, Luke helps coach him through doing ‘boy stuff’, including blowing up a birdhouse with explosives. Luke told Mitchell, “After this, we’re gonna have some angry birds.”  This show is too funny.

After the explosion, Mitchell ran to Cam exclaiming, “Cam! I did a boy thing!!”

Haley is trying to find love, in a wrong place, according to Claire. Her boyfriend Dylan proposes to Haley in front of the family and Claire flips out and Dylan disappears into the woods. His search effort becomes into the main conflict of the episode.

Hank, the main ranch hand adds comedic relief. He’s a typical cowboy and has nicknames for everyone in the family. Hank calls “Old Timer”, Claire is “Bossy”, Manny “Hollywood”, Phil “Buffalo Phil”.

Alex got her first kiss from a boy who lived near the ranch. Alex’s character is sterotypically known as the “nerdy sister”, so this was a nice change for her character. Also, the season premiered the new actress of Lilly and I think she did a really great job. Granted, how bad can a four year old act on camera? Her age shift will help with story lines over the season. Inevitably, Dylan decided to recant his proposal to Haley and stay at the ranch and work. “You’re a high school student,” he says. “I’m a ranch hand. It’ll never work.”

Claire was grateful for that.