Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 7 - Review - “En Garde” is chaotic, wholesome, and the emotional finale we didn’t know we needed

Modern Family first aired back in 2009, right in the middle of a wave of tired sitcom clichés, and delivered something unexpected: a kind, modern, and surprisingly self-aware take on the chaos of loving the people you live with.

The series is awesome, although not perfect, but it's nothing gruesome. Far from it. Some jokes don’t age well, some lines still flirt with outdated tropes. But even when it gets close to the edge, it often does so with intent.

Like that moment when Mitchell proudly announces they’ll preserve and encourage Lily’s Asian heritage, only for the doctor to reply, dry as ever, “I’m from Denver.” It’s sharp, it’s meta, and it’s poking fun at the very clichés it could’ve fallen into.

Modern Family was a hit from the beginning, stacking up awards and shaping characters who became instant pop culture icons. And now, thanks to streaming platforms and the brilliant work of its writers and producers, it’s reaching new audiences all over again.

In this piece, we’re focusing on season 1, episode 7, titled En Garde. A turning point in the first season, it feels like the closing chapter of an early arc. This is where character dynamics begin to click into place, and the emotional blueprint of the show truly reveals itself.

How Modern Family dodged every bad sitcom trend of its time

At the time, most sitcoms were still stuck in a loop of lazy writing. Friends had ended five years before and it was the epitome of outdated and insulting. Gordophobia, homophobia... the list is huge. Other sitcoms of the time, like Friends, turned bodies into punchlines, treated women like self-improvement projects, and rewarded emotionally stunted men with “fixer” dream girls. But Modern Family offered something else. It leaned into absurdity without losing empathy. It made space for softness, even in the middle of the chaos.

By the time En Garde aired, everything starts to align. Manny becomes the unlikely fencing prodigy, and Jay sees an opportunity to support him in a way he feels he never could with Mitchell. But that second chance brings up everything he got wrong. Mitchell, still carrying the weight of those childhood expectations, spirals, and Claire becomes his anchor. Their scenes are emotional gold. Honest, funny, complicated. Real sibling stuff.

Meanwhile, Phil is being peak Phil. He’s trying to unlock Luke’s hidden talent and absolutely flailing. He’s cringe, yes, but he’s also deeply committed. And for all his awkwardness, you can feel how much he wants to be a great dad. The moment when he quietly accepts that maybe Luke doesn’t need to be the best at anything is subtle and surprisingly moving.

The visual and emotional choreography of Modern's Family - En Garde

Let’s talk about the details because En Garde isn’t just emotionally smart. It’s visually and structurally brilliant. Jay’s celebration T-shirts for Manny bring that old-man-dad energy that is both hilarious and a little heartbreaking.

Mitchell and Claire, unpacking childhood trauma in between sarcastic jabs, are nothing short of iconic. The fencing match itself, intercut with everyone’s personal arcs, becomes more than a sport. It’s a metaphor. A stage. A pressure cooker.

And then there’s the dance. That final moment when Manny walks out, triumphant, and the family erupts in chaotic celebration. It’s corny, yes. But it’s also lovely. It works because it’s earned. No twist. No spectacle. Just a group of flawed people showing up for each other.

Even Phil, in all his weirdo glory, gets his moment. Creepy? Sometimes. Awkward? Always. But loving? Without question. That’s what Modern Family gets right. The humor never erases the heart. No one is written just to be the punchline. The mess is respected.

Modern Family reminds us why showing up matters

En Garde isn’t just a good episode. It’s a quiet little season-one finale-like episode hidden in plain sight. After seven episodes of setup, it brings everything together. And it does that not with speeches or twists but with dancing, eye rolls, and fencing masks.

It’s heartwarming without being corny. Chaotically wholesome in the best possible way. And it reminds us that family, whether biological or chosen (the marvellous found family), isn’t about perfection. It’s about trying. About failing and laughing and wearing matching shirts and hugging it out anyway.

Loved ones, with all their flaws and ridiculousness, are exactly that: loved. It’s a combo deal. And Modern Family, in all its weird sincerity, reminds us to appreciate what we have while we still can.

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Final rating? (This time without that touch of flair that Cam would love.) - Five out of five books Claire tried to read, but Phil wouldn’t stop interrupting.

You might also like to review our review of the pilot for Modern Family here.

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