Summary
- DeDe Pritchett's death in Modern Family was a shocking development that left viewers emotional and showcased the show's ability to tackle heavy storylines.
- Killing off DeDe allowed the main characters to explore new emotional territory and work through their complicated feelings about her.
- DeDe's death episode was particularly moving because it highlighted the importance of love, support, and being there for each other, even during difficult times.
DeDe Pritchett (Shelley Long) wasn't always a fan-favorite character on Modern Family, but her season 10 death was a shock — though not one that happened without reason. Jay Pritchett's (Ed O'Neill) ex-wife DeDe is a quirky Bohemian who has trouble getting along with her daughter Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) and criticizes her, although she would claim that she never does anything wrong. DeDe has a better bond with Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and is kinder to Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Sofia Vergara) near the end of her life than she had been.
DeDe's character development and personal growth made it all that more shocking for viewers when her death was revealed in Modern Family season 10. Since at times Modern Family is a goofy sitcom thanks to loving but immature characters like Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell), the storyline when DeDe dies stands out for being heavy and emotional and includes some of the saddest Modern Family scenes. Killing off DeDe in Modern Family, especially so late into its run, wasn't a development anyone was expecting, but it was well thought out by the creative team.
DeDe died in Modern Family season 10, episode 5, "Good Grief". The episode is rated 7.3/10 on IMDb, and was also both the first time Lily referred to DeDe as "Nana" and the first Modern Family episode where all of Jay's grandchildren are seen together.
Why Was Modern Family Canceled After Season 11?
After over a decade of success, the iconic ABC sitcom Modern Family came to an end with season 11 but it was for a good reason.DeDe Died For A Compelling Plotline
Killing DeDe Off Allowed Modern Family To Traverse New Emotional Territory
Modern Family co-showrunner and co-creator Steven Levitan shared that he wanted to have the main characters involved in a weighty storyline, and that is why DeDe died. Levitan explained:
"We’ve never seen the entire family have to deal with such a loss. It seemed like an interesting thing to have happen... She seemed like the right character because she so directly affects so many of our characters" (via THR.com).
This worked well, as it's true that DeDe's family members all have strong feelings about her, but they need to work through them once they learn about her passing. It was emotional for viewers too, as DeDe had some of the most memorable appearances of any recurring Modern Family character.
|
Season |
Episode No. |
Episode Title |
What Happens To DeDe? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
4 |
The Incident |
DeDe Pritchett is introduced to the show as she tries to make amends for the disruption she caused at Jay and Gloria's wedding. |
|
2 |
15 |
Princess Party |
DeDe is invited by Mitchell to Lily's birthday party. She brings Claire's high school boyfriend, Robbie, which creates tension with both Phil and Claire. DeDe ends up making out with Robbie, leading to a touching moment between her and Jay where he explains he understands that she's lonely. |
|
4 |
7 |
Arrested |
DeDe shows up unexpectedly to collect an old photo album, and learns that Gloria is pregnant. However — much to Jay's surprise — this doesn't cause friction between her and Gloria but instead allows them to bond. |
|
7 |
21 |
Crazy Train |
Manny convinces the family to travel to Portland as DeDe is getting remarried. This was DeDe's first appearance in several seasons, and while she's focal to the plot, most of the episode revolves around the antics the rest of the family get up to on the train to Portland. |
|
8 |
11 |
Sarge & Pea |
At a family wedding, Jay, Claire, and Mitchell unexpectedly bump into DeDe. Claire and Mitchell are worried there will be a conflict between their parents, so try to keep DeDe and Jay apart. However, Jay and DeDe manage to be civil and polite to one-another, and there is a touching moment where they admit to their kids that they should have been better parents. |
|
9 |
20 |
Mother! |
Mitchell learns that Cam and DeDe have maintained a friendship over the years. While this initially creates tension between them, Cam soon realizes that DeDe is using their friendship as a way of maintaining an influence over Mitchell's life. The episode is set during Mother's Day and was DeDe's final appearance before she passed away. |
While it would have been possible for another character to die before the series finale, DeDe did feel like a clever choice. Because DeDe is a complicated Modern Family character, her children and grandchildren wish that they could have spent more time with her and that they could have understood her better, and they are saddened by what was left unsaid. Grieving someone else, whether a friend or a distant relative, wouldn't have the same impact.
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Modern Family has an expansive family tree made up of the Dunphys, Pritchetts, Tuckers, and Delgados - here's how every character is related.DeDe’s Death Is One Of The Most Moving Episodes
Modern Family Rarely Hit As Hard As When DeDe Died
DeDe passes away in her sleep on vacation in season 10, episode 5, "Good Grief" and her family is relieved to know that she didn't suffer. Jay is understandably at a loss for words, and he keeps talking about a sandwich that he wanted to enjoy because he's afraid of his emotions. While Jay has hurt his family, he loves them, and he feels the double impact of his own grief and that of his children. Since he is older than Gloria and a father once again to Joe (Jeremy Maguire), Jay is shocked and frightened by the passage of time that can't be stopped.
DeDe's death on Modern Family was especially moving because it's a time when the characters offer each other love and support, which drives home the overall message of the sitcom. While they might not always be happy with each other and things may change all the time, they will never stop being a part of each other's lives. They will always be there for the good, the bad, and the times when there is nothing helpful to say.
Modern Family
Modern Family is a comedy series that follows the unconventional Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker family as they redefine what makes a family in their modern age. Broken into sub-families, the three diverse groups shake up the nuclear formula with empty nesters, adopted children, gender neutrality, and more as they attempt to navigate the various pitfalls and comedic misadventures of their dysfunctional but warm-hearted family dynamic.