When it comes to the cast of Modern Family, it's hard to pinpoint who the main character is. With the show centered around a unique, modern-day family, there's no one person that is considered the star of the show. But if fans of the show sit back and take a longer look at Mitchell, they may see small glimmers of a protagonist.
Throughout the show's 11 seasons, Mitchell showed tremendous growth and has experienced incredible ups and downs in his work and home life. It's hard not to view Mitchell the show's main character when fans take a look at how much he has accomplished.
He's A Pritchett
The Pritchett clan was the original nuclear family. The show centers around three people and the lives they created with the Pritchetts they married. Gloria married Jay, Phil married Claire, and Cam married Mitchell. Without the bond between the Pritchett family, Modern Family wouldn't be the show that it is.
His Relationship With Cam Was One Of The Most Memorable
Mitchell and Cam had one of the most important roles in the show because they were a same-sex couple who were denied the right to legally marry. By the fifth season, they were finally able to get married after years of being judged by strangers and even family members (cough, cough, Jay).
Their growth with one another and the inclusion of a gay couple on TV is powerful. Because of this, it definitely makes Mitchell one of the main characters on the show.
His Father-Son Relationship With Jay Was A Learning Experience
One of the biggest, long-lasting storylines throughout Modern Family is the relationship between Jay and Mitchell. Jay is a "manly man" who didn't know how to raise — let alone act — around his gay son. He brushed things under the rug and didn't want to talk about Mitchell's sexuality because it made him uncomfortable.
After Mitch and Cam got married, Jay became more outwardly accepting and not so close-minded. It was a very tense yet important storyline in the series.
Being Bullied By His Sister Had A Lasting Effect On His Personality
Mitchell wasn't just ignored by his father, take advantage of by his mother, and bullied by his classmates; he was also treated poorly by his sister, Claire. Claire was Mitch's complete opposite. She was essentially the son Jay always expected.
She was athletic, intimidating, and controlling. Because of her Jay-like nature, she treated Mitchell horribly when they were kids. This experience followed Mitchell in a negative way throughout the series. Watching how Mitchell from this treatment was a big part of the series.
His Rejection From His Father Affects His Present
Mitchell once said that he had to come out to his dad on more than one occasion because Jay ignored his truth. Not having his own identity acknowledged by his father was extremely damaging for Mitchell — so much so that it's hard for him to share public displays of affection with his husband and daughter.
Over the course of the series, viewers see Mitchell's fear of rejection in "Snow Ball," "The Future Dunphys," and in "Man Shouldn't Lie." Although he's living a happy and successful life, his past issues still haunt him.
He's Everyone's Favorite Uncle
Sure, Phil, Claire, Cam, Gloria, and Jay are fantastic role models but none are quite like Mitchell. Mitchell's honesty always shines through. Cam, Phil, and Claire tend to do too much or outshine those who are venting to them, but Mitchell is different. He is a great listener and tries to help his nieces and nephews the best he can when they come to him. Haley, in particular, goes to Mitchell when she has relationship problems more than any other adult.
His Ups And Downs With Work Are Shown As Much As Claire's
Claire and Jay's dedication to the closet industry is one of the main parts of the series. It's how Jay created an empire and acquired his wealth and it was a big deal when Claire took over and continued her father's success.
However, Mitchell's ups and downs with work are shown just as much as Jay and Claire's. As an environmental lawyer, Mitchell did it all; he worked behind the scenes, in the courtroom, and even did some freelancing. His dedication to the law was a big part of who he was.
His Struggle With Confidence Was Shown As Great Character Growth
It's hard to say who had the best character growth throughout Modern Family but Mitchell's can't be ignored. He went from a man who couldn't kiss his husband in public, couldn't tell his family about adopting a daughter, and hid things from his dad to an open and honest man sharing his truth. He stood up for himself and those below him and he spoke of body confidence. He was no longer the weak little boy Jay and his sister still saw him as.
His Growth As A Father Was A Large Storyline
Mitchell was the level-headed one when he and Cam brought home Lily but as she grew, he became self-conscious. Compared to Cam, he wasn't the protector and he wasn't the Mr. Fix-It many households have. He felt like he was failing as a dad.
But Mitchell grew into his role as a parent and really took pride in it. Lily became snarkier with age but she was kind to her family, which was a testament to Mitchell's parenting.
His Mother Issues Run Deep
Mitchell and Claire made it clear from the start that they had severe mother issues. DeDe Pritchett kind of disappeared after she and Jay divorced. As they were growing up, DeDe used Mitchell as her mouthpiece. Any time she needed to confront someone, she used Mitchell to do her dirty work. His issues with his mother were prevalent until her death.
Obviously, the theme of Modern Family is family and nobody had more family issues than Mitchell.