ABC's Modern Family is known for its many plot twists. A jarring situation occurs in every episode, causing the Dunphys, Delgado-Pritchetts, and Tucker-Pritchetts to panic and frantically search for a solution. Watching these families dig themselves out of the hole they dug themselves into is part of the show's comedy.
After 11 seasons, however, not every plot twist was liked by audience viewers. Many felt that after season 6 or 7, the Modern Family writers were trying too hard, causing the show to take a nosedive. Nevertheless, there were far more good twists than bad.
Best: Jay Loving Stella
Sweet Stella made her appearance on Modern Family in the second season when Gloria tried helping a struggling man get his business off the ground. He wanted to create a dog treat system and brought Stella to show Jay how it worked. The only problem is (besides his actual business model) that when the man left, he left the dog behind.
Jay was originally very against Stella and didn't want a pet. Over time, however, Jay started to appreciate and adore Stella even more than Gloria. Their adorable bond was a fan favorite.
Worst: Haley's Pregnancy
Fans were both shocked and disappointed when they found out Haley was pregnant with Dylan's baby. It wasn't the fact that she got pregnant, it was that the character deserved a little more growth as an individual before becoming a mother. Even actress Sarah Hyland (who plays Haley) thought so.
According to BuzzFeed News, Hyland clarified "There are so many amazing mothers who are also hard workers and excel in their jobs and kill it every day in both aspects. That would have been a really cool thing to see — especially from Haley."
Best: Cam & Mitchell Welcoming A Second Baby
In the final season of Modern Family, Mitch and Cam get a call from the adoption agency and are told there was a baby who needed a home. After touring a house with Gloria, they were so inspired by the possibilities of their future that they decided to adopt the baby boy and buy the home. Seeing Mitch and Cam move up in the world and become parents yet again was great for fans to see.
Worst: When Claire Decided To Leave Pritchett's Closets
Pritchett's Closets & Blinds is Jay Pritchett's identity. He worked hard in life to create a successful company and loved it so much that he found it hard to retire. As boring as closets are to a majority of the family, Jay loved his job. That's why it was a big deal when he gave the reigns to Claire. With Claire as the new CEO, the burden was hers. Sadly, at the beginning of season 11, she no longer enjoyed her job at Pritchett's Closets and left the company. This decision shocked fans, especially considering that for years, she was so eager to work.
Best: Gloria's Pregnancy
No one — not even the characters — expected Gloria and Hay to have a baby. For starters, they were both older in age and well established; having a newborn didn't fit their lifestyle. However, they were both excited for another opportunity to be a parent.
Watching Jay as a dad to a young child was hilariously bold, especially since little Joe was a mini-me of him. And seeing Gloria go through the ups and downs of pregnancy was a fun storyline to follow. Plus, who doesn't love a new, adorable kid on screen?
Worst: Luke Dating An Older Woman
It's pretty surprising that Luke didn't have a serious girlfriend throughout the many seasons of Modern Family. Then again, it was refreshing to see him be a kid and do silly things with Phil rather than focus on a girlfriend. However, that all changed in season 10 when Luke met Janice. She was Claire's yoga teacher and the two women were similar in age.
Fans never thought Luke would be with an older woman when finally got a girlfriend. He was so naive and adventurous, a relationship between him and Janice made no sense. Thankfully, these two didn't last in the long run.
Best: All The Kids Moving Out In The Series Finale
As emotional — and kind of rushed — as the series finale was, it was a good moment to see all the young birds leave the nest. With Alex moving for work, Luke going away to school, and Haley moving into Mitch and Cam's old place, Claire and Jay were finally empty-nesters. Likewise, Jay and Gloria were saying goodbye to Manny for the summer while he went traveling with his dad. It was nice to see all the young characters with good heads on their shoulders and a desire to do something more with their lives. It was a sweet, lasting impression for audiences.
Worst: Haley Choosing Dylan Over Arvin
Modern Family fans on aren't shy about their distaste for Haley and Dylan. Haley has had some fantastic men in her life that would have been a better fit than Dylan. Sure, Dylan was her first love and someone she trusted, but men like Arvin and Andy inspired her to grow and change for the better. Going back to Dylan felt like an odd move for Haley, who has evolved so much. When she got pregnant, fans knew she was with him for the long haul. Would Haley and Dylan ever mature into the people they want to be?
Best: When Mitch & Cam Switched Rolls
In season 7, Mitchell is laid off. He takes the opportunity to slow down and get to know himself again and begins venturing into the world of painting — even though he's not very good at it. With Mitch at home and Cameron focused on working more at the school, they were both unhappy. Cameron missed being a stay-at-home dad, and Mitchell missed having a purpose. As strange as this change was for the couple, it taught them a lot about themselves and even prepared them for the big move at the end of the series.
Worst: The Bad Neighbors
In the sixth season, the Dunphys are bothered by their new neighbors that move in next door. Claire believes they're "white trash" and will make horrible neighbors. But as off-putting as they were, they had a lot of money and were actually very friendly. However, the neighbor vs. neighbor feud didn't take off like fans thought. And over time, these neighbors slowly stopped appearing on the show. But what happened to them? There was no consistency with this major change.