Summary

  • Haley and Dylan's relationship on Modern Family starts off as a typical young couple filled with passion and immaturity.
  • Despite growing apart and dating other people, Haley and Dylan are constantly drawn back together.
  • Claire is the biggest critic of their relationship and even stops Dylan from proposing to Haley, but the two eventually find each-other by the finale.

Haley and Dylan have a long relationship on Modern Family full of romantic moments, a few break-ups, and a surprising pregnancy. From the beginning of the series, these two were introduced as the typical young couple filled with passion for each other and an immaturity about their relationship's future. As the series went on, they grew apart and even found lives with other romantic interests, but there was something about Haley (Sarah Hyland) and Dylan (Reid Ewing) that caused them to be drawn back together again and again.

When Dylan was first introduced in the very first episode of Modern Family as Haley's high school boyfriend, Haley's parents, Phil and Claire, had vastly different reactions to their relationship. Claire saw Dylan as too old and a bad influence on their oldest daughter, while Phil was under the delusion that he and Dylan could be best friends. From there, the relationship went through a lot of different iterations until it ultimately ended with Haley and Dylan starting their own modern family together, helping to bring the sitcom full circle.

Dylan featured in 56 episodes of Modern Family, with Reid Ewing making at least a guest appearance in every single season, even when Haley and Dylan weren't together.

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Haley & Dylan Fall In Love As Teenagers

Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode 13

While Haley has several Modern Family love interests, she dates Dylan for the longest time, and everything begins in season 1 when they meet in high school. Haley and Dylan are introduced as a couple in Modern Family season 1, episode 1, "Pilot." Initially, Claire is unimpressed with his devil-may-care attitude and unsharpened intellect, but Phil thinks that Dylan is ultra-cool and supports him and Haley's relationship.

In season 1, episode 4, "The Incident," Phil and Claire become even warier of Dylan when at a family gathering, including Claire and Mitch's mother DeDe, Dylan busts out a poorly-written song for Haley that insinuates the two have been intimate. Haley and Dylan appear together again in Modern Family season 1, episode 8, "Great Expectations" when all of the kids go over to Jay's house for a sleepover and Haley tries to sneak out to meet Dylan for a party. In the end, Dylan decides he wants to hang out at Jay's, angering Haley.

Dylan comes back again for season 1, episode 9, "Fizbo," when he attends Luke's birthday party and is nearly seduced by a zoologist who was hired to bring animal entertainment. While Haley and Dylan have a decent relationship during this time, their immaturity in love is clear but forgivable as they're only in high school.

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Haley & Dylan Break Up & Get Back Together

Season 1, Episode 14 - Episode 15

Dylan in season one with the dunphys - modern family

As many high school couples do, Haley and Dylan break up and get back together relatively quickly in Modern Family season 1. In season 1, episode 14, the two break it off, with Haley stating she needs to date someone "with a clue." This doesn't go over well for Dylan, who shows up at her house and begs for her to take him back, only to have Haley throw most of his belongings out of her window.

The installment ends with the two of them making out, much to Claire's displeasure, and ultimately their time apart doesn't last long. Dylan officially wins Haley back on Valentine's Day. During season 1, episode 15, "My Funky Valentine," Dylan upstages Phil in the romance gestures when he gets a picture painted of him and Haley together, causing her to forgive him. This ultimately causes Phil to take on the alter-ego of Clive Bixby and "meet" his wife at a hotel bar.

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Dylan Gets Closer To Haley’s Family

Season 1, Episode 16 - Episode 24

Dylan singing on stage while Cam is on the drums Modern Family

The Haley and Dylan relationship only gets more involved as Dylan finds himself intertwined with the Dunphys, Tuckers, and Pritchetts. In Modern Family season 1, episode 21, "Travels With Scout," Dylan finds his band short a drummer. When Cameron volunteers, Dylan reluctantly takes him on, only for Cam to perform a ridiculously long drum solo at their first show together.

This results in Cameron awkwardly leaving the band. Dylan finds his fate interlaced with the Dunphys yet again in season 1, episode 22, "Airport 2010." When he sleeps over secretly on the eve of their family vacation to Hawaii, he accidentally finds himself trapped in their house.

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Haley & Dylan Struggle & Dylan Has A Dream About Claire

Season 2, Episode 1 - Episode 7

Phil sitting with Haley while she looks sad on Modern Family

Modern Family season 2 saw more conflict for Haley and Dylan. In season 2, episode 7, "Chirp," both Haley and Claire come down with a nasty cold. Dylan comes by and inadvertently reveals that he had a compromising dream about Haley's mother, Claire, both angering and disgusting Claire. While Haley doesn't seem overtly concerned about Dylan's dream, and rather more annoyed than anything else, her later actions in the season suggest that this bothered her more than she let on. Otherwise, their relationship largely happens offscreen during the beginning of season 2.

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Haley & Dylan Are Broken Up Again

Season 2, Episode 8 - Episode 13

Dylan stopping Phil from playing the guitar

When Haley gets a science tutor, David, in Modern Family season 2, episode 8, "Mother Tucker," the two develop a system that involves kissing when she gets a question right or wrong. Claire rightly tells Haley that she needs to break up with Dylan, and Haley decides to do so via text message. Phil, who always supported Haley and Dylan's relationship, tries to be a shoulder to cry on for Dylan.

This eventually leads them to a restaurant where the pair talk about taking a trip to Graceland, but Haley happens to be at the same place and is upset that Dylan is moving on, unaware that it's her father Dylan is talking to. When Dylan comes by and tells her he needs space, she finally catches on that it was Phil he was with, and not a new girlfriend. Regardless, their relationship ends for a second time, but it doesn't stay that way.

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Haley & Dylan Get Back Together & She Invites Him To Mitch & Cam’s

Season 2, Episode 14 - Episode 24

Haley, Lily, and Dylan on Modern Family

Though Haley is technically dating her tutor, David, she just can't seem to stay away from Dylan. In Modern Family season 2, episode 14, "Bixby's Back," it's Valentine's Day again, and it's revealed that Haley and Dylan are still talking to one another, angering David. At the end of the episode, Dylan shows up with his entire band and performs a love song for Haley in her driveway.

She's adequately wooed by this gesture and runs back into his arms, signaling the fact that they are back together. She invites him over to Mitch and Cam's while she's babysitting in season 2, episode 18, "Boys' Night." While she lies to her uncles and claims no one is there with her, Cam thanks her for her services at the end of the episode and gives her back Dylan's shoes that he left behind.

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Claire Stops Dylan From Proposing & Dylan Stays On The Dude Ranch, Ending His Relationship With Haley

Season 3, Episode 1 - Episode 21

Haley and Dylan sitting by the fire at the Dude Ranch

If anyone was the biggest critic of the Haley and Dylan relationship it was her mother, Claire, who effectively stopped Dylan from proposing to Haley in season 3, episode 1, "Dude Ranch," one of the funniest Modern Family episodes. It finds the entire family taking a trip to a ranch in Wyoming, and Dylan tags along. There are a few misread situations as Claire tries her hardest to make Dylan feel welcome, and Dylan believes she is coming on to him.

However, things come to a head when Dylan attempts to propose to Haley while the family is seated around the fire, and Claire brutally interrupts his gesture. This causes Dylan to run off crying and go missing. The adults go searching for Dylan while debating the rightness or the wrongness of Claire stopping the proposal. Eventually, Dylan is found, though he's been hired by the ranch and their relationship ends as Haley goes back home with her family.

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Haley Tries To Make Dylan Jealous With Ethan & They Get Back Together

Season 3, Episode 22 - Episode 24

Dylan as a Dapper Dan on Modern Family

In Modern Family season 3, episode 22, "Disneyland," the Dunphys, Tuckers, and Pritchetts take a trip to Disneyland and Claire brings along her friend's nephew Ethan, in hopes that he will hit it off with Haley. While at Disney, Dylan suddenly appears as he's now working there as a Dapper Dan.

Haley tries to use Ethan to make Dylan jealous. This seems to work, as Dylan later appears to Haley in a Little John costume and admits that he didn't call her because he got fired from the Dude Ranch and was embarrassed. Haley and Dylan get back together, and Claire is thwarted again.

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Dylan Temporarily Moves In With The Dunphys & Haley Dates Him Casually While At College

Season 4, Episode 1 - Episode 13

While Haley and Dylan could have settled down together in Modern Family season 3 if Haley had said yes to him, she doesn't want to commit or have any ties. She wants to be free, and she does just that, which worries her parents as she doesn't seem to know what she wants to do with her life. This wasn't helped by the fact that Haley was kicked out of college in Modern Family season 4, episode 7, "Arrested," and leaving college.

During this time in her life, she wants to be young, have fun, and enjoy herself no matter what. Despite their more casual relationship, Dylan temporarily moves in with the Dunphys in season 4, episode 1, "Bringing Up Baby." He stays there for the summer before Claire kicks him out. In addition, Dylan remains a figure in the Dunphy's lives, as evidenced by season 4, episode 13, "Fulgencio," when he acts as Phil's driver in The Godfather tribute montage.

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Haley Thinks About Starting A Family & They Break Up Again

Season 4, Episode 14 - Episode 24

Haley, Lily, and Dylan Taking a Selfie in Modern Family

Despite Haley and Dylan being in a casual relationship while she figures her life out after dropping out of college, she starts to think about what it would be like to have a family with him. In Modern Family season 4, episode 14, "A Slight at the Opera," Haley and Dylan babysit Lily and Joe.

Their trial run as parents goes surprisingly smoothly, until leading up to the end when Haley declares that she has done all the work, and Dylan takes issue with that. Their relationship doesn't last, and while there's no official breakup scene, the pair remain on hot and cold terms for the rest of the season.

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Haley Feels Totally Lost & Dylan Continues To Help Haley's Family

Season 5, Episode 1 - Episode 24

Andy and Haley looking at each other on Modern Family

In Modern Family season 5, Haley seems lost, and a bit troubled. She meets Andy, who she has a huge crush on almost immediately. Andy is more practical and successful than Haley, and he seems to have his life together more than Dylan, which makes him a fascinating love interest for Haley.

The two dance around one another and flirt a lot while displaying a lot of chemistry, Andy is serious about his girlfriend Beth. In terms of Haley and Dylan, her high school sweetheart remains a constant background figure, despite the pair not being in an official relationship. Dylan appears three times in Modern Family season 5.

The first time is in episode 3, "Larry's Wife," when Cam elicits Dylan's help to dig a grave for their recently deceased cat Larry, and he ends up breaking a pipe in their front yard. The next time is in episode 9, "The Big Game." In the installment, Haley runs into Dylan at Alex's high school homecoming football game, where he reveals that he wrote "Haley Dunphy Dome" on the bottom of the bleachers, but forgot to put a space between the D-O and the M-E.

Finally, Dylan and Luke come up with a scheme to get fireworks in the Modern Family Christmas episode, "The Old Man and the Tree," which results in disaster.

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Haley Seriously Considers Dating Andy

Season 6, Episode 1 - Episode 24

Haley and Dylan experience a cooling-off period in Modern Family season 6, as the focus is pulled into Haley and Andy's budding romance. In season 6, Dylan seems pretty far from Haley's mind. She realizes that she feels strongly that Andy could be her one true love, but he is still with Beth. Haley isn't ready to be with Dylan forever at this point on the show, and she's focused on Andy, wondering if there could ever be a chance for them. Dylan only makes one quick cameo appearance in episode 16, "Connection Lost."

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Haley Gets Back Together With Dylan For The Wrong Reason

Season 7, Episode 1 - Episode 5

Phil sitting on the couch with Haley and Dylan on Modern Family

In the Modern Family season 7 premiere "Summer Lovin'," Andy asks Beth to marry him. Haley doesn't want to be alone and feels bad about this rejection, so she gets back together with Dylan, but it is clear that her heart is elsewhere. Things get even more complex when Dylan lives in the Dunphy home for a second time in episode 3, "The Closet Case." The two continue to date on and off-screen, with Dylan staying in the Dunphy home and Haley still secretly pining for Andy. It's a complicated arc in the Haley and Dylan relationship.

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Haley Can’t Get Over Andy & Dylan Dumps Her, So They Date Other People

Season 7, Episode 6 - Episode 22

Haley and Andy kiss in Modern Family

When Haley and Dylan have an awkward encounter at the movie theater with Andy and Beth in Modern Family season 7, episode 6, "The More You Ignore Me," their relationship drama comes to a head. When Haley sees Beth and Andy looking so perfect with one another, she envies what they have and breaks it off with Dylan.

In turn, Dylan tells her that she's too immature. However, Haley's love life becomes full of drama in season 7, episode 7, "Phil's Sexy, Sexy House" when Haley and Andy kiss. After carrying on a secret relationship and then being free to date openly, Haley and Andy break up when he moves away in the season 7 finale.

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Haley Moves On With Rainer

Season 8, Episode 1 - Episode 18

Nathan Fillion as Rainer Shine with Phil and Haley on Modern Family

Haley forgets about Dylan in season 8 as she dates Rainer Shine, who is much older than her. Haley knows that she shouldn't marry Rainer, which leaves the door open for Haley to realize that she really loves Dylan. Rainer is so different from Dylan as he's conceited and convinced that he's always right, whereas Dylan thinks more about Haley than himself, which is one reason why Haley and Dylan are a good match. While Haley moved on for a time, Dylan did as well, much to Haley's chagrin.

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Dylan Gets Married & Haley Questions Her Choices

Season 8, Episode 19 - Episode 22

After Haley and Rainer break up in Modern Family season 8, episode 18, "Five Minutes," she feels more lost than ever before. This is only exacerbated when Dylan waltzes back into her life in episode 21, "Alone Time."

Dylan shows up at the Dunphy home and reveals that he's married to a woman named Elaine and is now a father to her three children. The event clearly upsets Haley and causes her to question her choices and trajectory in life. At the time, Haley and Dylan are cordial with one another, but he's clearly in a different place in life than she is.

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Haley Dates Arvin, But The Relationship Doesn't Feel Right

Season 9, Episode 1 - Episode 22

Claire, Haley, and Arvin together

There is yet another Haley and Dylan cooling-off period during Modern Family season 9 when Haley moves on to Arvin and Dylan enjoys married life offscreen. Haley and Arvin's season 9 relationship is interesting and sweet and not without insecurities on both sides. Haley doesn't feel smart enough for Arvin, and he doesn't think that he's cool enough for her. Seeing Haley in a relationship with someone other than Dylan, it becomes clear that Haley and Dylan have an easy and natural connection, and they can be themselves around each other.

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Dylan Gets Divorced & Haley Sees Dylan Behind Arvin’s Back

Season 10, Episode 1 - Episode 3

Dylan standing on the Dunphy's front yard in a heart on Modern Family

Haley and Dylan prove that their love is a force that can't be stopped in Modern Family season 10. In episode 1, "I Love A Parade," Arvin is preparing for his trip to Switzerland, but Haley becomes distracted when Dylan returns and admits to her that he got a divorce. She kisses Dylan while on her way to say goodbye to Arvin, and the Haley and Dylan flame is once again back on.

In episode 2, "Kiss and Tell," Haley wrestles with telling Arvin the truth about the kiss, and eventually her conscience wins out, upsetting Arvin deeply. She makes matters worse when she sleeps with Dylan.

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Haley & Dylan Get Back Together For Good

Season 10, Episode 4 - Episode 6

Haley breaking up with Arvin in Modern Family

Haley is forced to choose between Dylan and Arvin in Modern Family season 10, episode 4, "Torn Between Two Lovers." Both Phil and Claire have differing opinions on who Haley should be with, and each tries to influence her decision. Love wins out in the end, and Haley and Dylan wind up becoming endgame for the series. Arvin officially breaks up with Haley, and she begins dating Dylan again. The two are quite happy together, and their relationship has never been better. However, this carefree dating period is short-lived when the couple gets some unexpected news.

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Haley & Dylan Are Unexpectedly Pregnant

Season 10, Episode 7 - Episode 19

Things take an unexpected turn for Haley and Dylan in Modern Family season 10 when she finds out that she's pregnant with his children. In episode 7, "Did the Chicken Cross the Road?", Haley and Dylan go to a carnival, and he injures her while on the bumper cars. While at the hospital, Haley finds out about her pregnancy and immediately spirals. Mitch and Cam were the first in the family to find out about Haley's pregnancy on Modern Family. Alex and Luke also find out the news in episode 9, "Putting Down Roots."

Haley and Dylan spend most of episode 10, "Stuck in a Moment," trying to figure out how to break the news to the rest of the family. It all ends with a botched attempt as Dylan dresses as Santa and gets stuck going down the chimney, but Haley breaks the news plainly and Claire is surprisingly thrilled. Trying to do it all on their own, Haley and Dylan temporarily move out in episode 11, "A Moving Day," only to promptly move back into the Dunphy house at the end of the episode after they find out they're expecting twins.

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