Summary

• The chemistry between Jay and Gloria in Modern Family was not as strong as other couples, possibly due to the Jay and Gloria age gap.
• Jay and Gloria's relationship should have been more complicated due to their different approaches to parenting Manny.
• Jay never followed through with learning Spanish, despite Gloria's pride in her Colombian roots and desire for someone in the family to speak the language.

One of the central couples on Modern Family was Jay and Gloria Pritchett, but their relationship has come under scrutiny thanks to some strange things like the Jay and Gloria age gap or the question "how did Jay and Gloria meet?". The main theme of Modern Family was to usher the traditional American family model into the 21st century by focusing on three couples and their children. While the Dunphys embodied the typical nuclear family, the Tucker-Pritchetts were led by gay couple Mitch and Cam and the Pritchetts were a blended family working through their second marriages. However, the three families were all connected through Jay Pritchett.

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One of the biggest questions on Modern Family was "how did Jay and Gloria meet?", as the two came from very different backgrounds and the Jay and Gloria age gap raised a few eyebrows. Jay Pritchett had two adult children by the time he and Gloria got married, whereas Gloria had a son from a previous marriage that was around the same age as Jay's grandson Luke. While the couple certainly had their sweet moments as they became parents once again much later in life, there were a fair few things about their romance that didn't make sense to viewers.

Gloria & Jay Didn't Have Much Chemistry

All Of The Main Couples Have More Chemistry

One of the reasons why viewers loved Phil and Claire was because of their chemistry. Both actors did a great job of adding physical touches to make them look like a married couple that was comfortable with each other. But what about Gloria and Jay?

Whether this had to do with the Jay and Gloria age gap or not, the pair were seen fighting and bickering more often than they were being sweet to one another. They rarely kissed and viewers can count on one hand the number of times Gloria complimented Jay. Gloria and Jay had their believable moments but they didn't have as much onscreen chemistry as Phil and Claire.

Jay & Manny's Relationship Should Have Complicated Their Marriage

Jay Didn't Initially Like Manny

One of the things that made the Jay and Gloria age gap more apparent was their differences in raising Manny. It was made abundantly clear that Gloria would've killed for her son, which points to the fact that Jay's treatment of Manny, especially in Modern Family season 1, should've caused more of a problem in their marriage. In the first season, Gloria and Jay were only married for a couple of months before they started the documentary. And surprisingly, Manny and Jay didn't get along. Manny gave Jay sly remarks and didn't listen to him.

Likewise, Jay made a rude remark about Manny harshing his buzz. With Jay being an older man, Manny was in the way of Jay sailing off in the sunset with Gloria. But if viewers think about it, there is no way Gloria would have married someone who didn't like her son. Manny is her priority and the star of her life, often leading to the sweetest or the creepiest Manny and Gloria moments. Why would she marry Jay knowing the two didn't like each other?

Jay Never Learned Spanish

Jay Told Gloria He Would Learn Spanish

Along with the Jay and Gloria age gap, there were big cultural differences in their relationship. A long-running joke in the series is that Gloria's Colombian accent makes it hard for her to say certain English words. But at the same time, Gloria is proud of her Colombian roots and hates that she has no one else in the family who speaks Spanish. Manny lost his Spanish and had no interest in it, which saddened her.

Jay decided to take Spanish lessons at the end of "Queer Eyes, Full Hearts" to make Gloria happy, but that was the last time he attempted to speak her native tongue. Later in season 11, Jay tried retaking Spanish lessons but continued to only speak to her in English. It wasn't the worst thing that Jay had ever done, but it came close.

Jay Liked Gloria's Sister First

Sonia Is Younger Than Gloria

If the Jay and Gloria age gap weren't strange enough, it could've been stranger as it was revealed on Modern Family that Jay initially liked Gloria's younger sister, Sonia. At Joe's christening, Jay told the story of how he met Gloria. He said that he saw Gloria and Sonia eating at a diner and sent over a piece of pie to Sonia.

However, Sonia was in the bathroom by the time the pie got to the table, so Gloria thought Jay sent it to her. After talking to Gloria, Jay fell in love with her and the rest is history. But viewers can't ignore the fact that Jay liked Sonia before he liked Gloria, and one of the worst things Gloria did in Modern Family was stealing her sister's opportunity to leave Columbia.

Jay & Gloria's First Meeting Is A Modern Family Plot Hole

There Are Two Different Stories Of Jay And Gloria Meeting

One question that is still on viewers' minds even after Modern Family ended is, "how did Jay and Gloria meet?". Turns out, it's something of a Modern Family plot hole. It's been said on numerous occasions that Jay and Gloria met at a diner. The two started talking over pie and slowly began dating.

However, in Modern Family season 1, episode 10, "Undeck the Halls," Jay tells Mitchell that he met Gloria at a wedding, and they conversed over chocolate cake. This was clearly a continuity error because the Sonia vs. Gloria storyline has been brought up more than once.

Jay & Gloria Have Little In Common

Jay And Gloria Have Very Different Interests

This could be partially due to the Jay and Gloria age gap, but it's painfully clear that the Modern Family couple have very little in common. While they both enjoy relaxing by the pool and long lunches, that's not all that marriage is made of, and the two share few hobbies.

Gloria is a vibrant woman who loves dancing, cooking, and going to church. On the other hand, Jay loves golfing, flying airplanes, and watching football. The two were obviously at peace in their own home, but they worried about their relationship after Jay retired. The two wondered what they were going to talk about and do together since their personalities conflicted.

Gloria's Attitude Toward Stella Makes No Sense

Gloria Hates The Family Dog

Besides the Jay and Gloria age gap, the only thing that gets in between Jay and Gloria is their dog, Stella. But what doesn't make sense is how Stella became a Pritchett.

Gloria was the one who introduced Stella into their household and practically insisted she be their family pet. Jay was the one completely against the idea and didn't want her. However, as time went on, Gloria hated the dog and Jay seemed to love the dog more than Gloria. It seemed as though the writers forgot that Gloria used to love Stella, and was the one who initially brought her in.

Jay & Gloria Have Different Parenting Techniques

Gloria Wants Jay To Be A More Present Father

Jay and Gloria's parenting differences became more obvious when Joe came along, and it was one of the many things that made their relationship confusing. Gloria hated the fact that Jay wasn't a present father with Claire and Mitchell and didn't know why he couldn't tell them he loved them. With Joe, she wanted things to be different.

Unfortunately for her, they argued over him eating vegetables, how he treated adults, how he acted during sports, what kind of school he should attend, and countless other things. It makes viewers wonder if they would have worked out had she and Jay been a younger couple on Modern Family.