Episode 'Modern Family' Season 2, Episode 15 - Princess Party Recap

In last night's episode of 'Modern Family,' we learned that sometimes our mothers aren't out to get us.  They just save their best resentment for the second wife.

After watching the latest episode, I do believe that the writing is getting consistently better. Perhaps it's the afterglow of a successful awards season, but the show certainly isn't resting on its laurels.

There was an abundance of exceptional quotes in this episode, especially between Mitchell and Cameron.

In "Modern Family"s premiere season, I felt that M&C were trying too hard. Yet whatever reservations I had about their acting have long since disappeared, because a princess-themed birthday party was the perfect opportunity for Mitchell and Cameron to hash it out: The issue of Princess vs. Clown is on the table.  Who will emerge the victor?  The one who stays in character the longest, that's who! 

When Mitchell told Cameron that one of Lilly's friends couldn't make the birthday party because her mother would be in Chicago, Cameron got all hopped up on bathtub gin: "Oh, that's fantastic!  What part is she playing?"  Everyone's comedic timing was spot-on last night, but Mitchell and Cameron won. 

Mitchell: "If the shoe fits."
Cameron: "They don't.  They're comically large."

Shelley Long returned as nana Dede, and brought Claire's ex-boyfriend with her (played by Matt Dillon, who was having an oustanding hair day).  Claire was a little too on-edge because of Dede, emptying at least five bottles of Chardonnay.

Phil was smart enough to prepare their kids for the worst. "That's what grandmas do sometimes, children.  They make mommy crazy, then she drinks a lot of white wine and then she won't get out of bed the next morning because she has a headache.  It happens, especially during the holidays."

In the midst of training his children to stop, drop and roll if and when wine bottles are thrown, Phil neglected to A) Cut cheese with a knife B) Wash his hands after.  Now not only does Phil's hand reek of cheese, but so does Luke's hair.  Claire doesn't need this on top of finding Dede in the arms of a limo-driving, wine cooler-loving Robbie Sullivan.Talk about passionate kisses.

"I didn't want to dirty a knife," Phil explained to Halie after she pointed out the pungent aroma coming from his hands.

Robbie Sullivan: "Phil, how do you know Claire?"
Phil: "I know Claire from...being married to her."

I agree with Manny.  I think Gloria should have selected a cashmere throw for Lilly instead of a book created to give the toddler nightmares. What an easy "out" it would have been for Jay to avoid Gloria's friend's daughter's first communion in return for Gloria's absence at Lilly's birthday party, due 100% to Dede.

But like Gloria said, the family must be together during all momentous occasions: "I'm going to miss Alex's graduations, all of Halie's weddings!"  It's about making memories and attending your wife's friend's daughter's first communion. 

Mitchell to Claire: "It is amazing, the freaks we used to date."
Cameron: "Hello Govnah!"

In the end, it wasn't Claire, Mitchell or Jay that Dede had a problem with.  It was a Xan'd out Gloria who went against her better judgment and attended Lilly's birthday party.  Now she's half in the bag and flat on the ground, thanks to Dede's stealth ex-wife skills.  They don't teach that stuff in divorce court.