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The Cold (Modern Family)
The Cold (Modern Family)
The Cold (Modern Family)
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"The Cold"
Modern Family episode
Episode no.Season 6
Episode 3
Directed byJim Hensz
Written by
Production code6ATM03
Original air dateOctober 8, 2014 (2014-10-08)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Do Not Push" 		Next →
"Marco Polo"
Modern Family season 6
List of episodes

"The Cold" is the third episode of the sixth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 123rd episode overall. It originally aired on October 8, 2014. The episode was written by Rick Wiener & Kenny Schwartz and directed by Jim Hensz.

Plot

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Almost everybody has been ill and they all blame it on Mitchell and Cameron. Phil (Ty Burrell) notices, while watching the video tape of Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron's (Eric Stonestreet) wedding, that he was the one who caused the illness, due to him being sick: he sneezed on the cake, he sneezed on the champagne that Mitchell drank and he sneezed in a tissue that Mitchell used to clean himself. As everybody is healed, it is now Claire's (Julie Bowen) turn to be ill. Not wanting to be discovered as "patient zero", Phil asks Luke (Nolan Gould) to help him edit the video without ruining Jay's speech and Luke agrees to do it. They plan to add new sequences in order to minimize the incident, Luke must laugh and Phil must react to Jay's speech. However, the result is not what they hoped for: Luke's laugh is not what Phil expected, Phil appears at a table, while another Phil appears in the background, walking and eating an apple and Luke uses Phil's sneezed tissue. Luke decides that honesty is the best option and urges Phil to confess during the dinner when the whole family will watch the video.

Jay (Ed O' Neill) asks Claire to meet a client for lunch, which she agrees despite her being sick and suffering. Until she gets to meet the client, she regrets her decision when she begins to suffer from vertigo. She manages to meet the client but she passes out when he asks her for a lunch, which will take place in the revolving rooftop of the hotel.

Meanwhile, Haley (Sarah Hyland) does not want to admit to Alex (Ariel Winter) her true feelings about Andy (Adam DeVine), feelings that she even does not want to admit to herself. After a conversation she has with Alex, she decides to talk to Andy who tells her that he is glad they did not kiss the day of her uncle's wedding, because that would crush her. Haley, being sure that the one that would be crushed would be him, she kisses him. The kiss seems to not affect Andy at all, something that it is not the same for Haley.

Cameron has an important football game at school and has to decide if he has to bench Manny (Rico Rodriguez) or not. Manny tries to make his best but fails. Cameron decides to bench him despite knowing that Gloria (Sofía Vergara) will not be happy with his decision, even if the team ends up winning the game. Later on, Gloria benches Cam as well during the family dinner not allowing him to eat. Manny confesses that his stress comes from his mother who always idealizes him and that he did not want to disappoint her.

In the meantime, Mitchell meets Lily's (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) new friend Sydney (Aubree Young). He is surprised to discover that Sydney happens to be better than Lily in various activities such as playing the piano or painting. He makes the mistake to call Sydney "a know it all" making her start crying. He tries to apologize, but aggravates the situation until Sydney's mom comes to pick her up and she is mad at him.

As the whole family is gathered for the dinner, Phil has to show the video. When they play it, everyone feels uncomfortable with themselves and they fast forward it: Mitchell's horrible dancing, Cameron's crying face, Claire being hammered and Jay appears to be sweating under his armpit while speaking. Phil takes the opportunity and says that he can edit the video and cut out all the moments that make them feel embarrassed, something that fits him too since that way, no one will find out that he was the one who spread the virus to the whole family, but Lily is the only one who knows.

During the end-credits, Cameron tells Mitchell several times to come to bed, but Mitchell is watching the video of him dancing, which causes him to be shocked.

Reception

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Ratings

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In its original American broadcast, "The Cold" was watched by 10.30 million; down by 0.26 from the previous episode.[1]

Reviews

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The episode received positive reviews.

Joshua Alston from The A.V. Club gave the episode a B grade, stating that it was an improvement over the previous episode. Alston also praised the Haley-Andy storyline, saying: "Part of me wishes there was another way to do the gradual build of a romantic relationship between an unlikely pair, but if this is the only way to do it, Modern Family is doing it pretty well".[2]

Leigh Raines of TV Fanatic rated the episode with 4.5/5, stating that in the episode "all tied together nicely, with a bunch of great Modern Family quotes". Raines also praised the Haley-Andy storyline, labeling it her "favorite part".[3]

References

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The Cold (Modern Family)

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"The Cold" is the third episode of the sixth season of the American television Modern Family, and the series' 123rd episode overall. The episode originally premiered on ABC on October 8, 2014. Directed by James Alan Hensz and written by Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz, the episode centers on a contagious cold spreading through the three interconnected families: the Dunphys, the Pritchetts, and the Tuckers. It highlights the show's signature style and humorous take on modern family dynamics through interconnected storylines. In the episode, Phil Dunphy edits Mitchell and Cameron's wedding video, uncovering that he unwittingly brought the cold home from the event, infecting the family. He uses editing tricks to hide his role as "patient zero." Meanwhile, Jay Pritchett and Gloria support Manny as he deals with practice, with Gloria's encouragement pushing him to toughen up. At the Tucker household, Cameron's excessive coddling enables Lily's bratty behavior, leading to Mitchell's intervention during a playdate with her friend . The episode received positive reception and earned a 7.8 out of 10 rating on based on user reviews from over 2,400 voters. It drew 10.30 million viewers in its initial U.S. broadcast. It exemplifies 's blend of relatable domestic chaos and heartfelt moments, with standout performances from the underscoring the series' enduring appeal as a portrayal of diverse, life.

Episode overview

Production details

"The Cold" is the third episode of the sixth season of the American sitcom and the 123rd episode overall. It was written by Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz and directed by Jim Hensz. The episode carries the production code 6ARG03 and originally aired on ABC on October 8, 2014.

Cast and characters

The episode "The Cold" features the core ensemble cast of Modern Family, depicting the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker families in their typical interconnected dynamics.
ActorCharacter
Phil Dunphy
Claire Dunphy
Jay Pritchett
Haley Dunphy
Alex Dunphy
Luke Dunphy
Rico RodriguezManny Delgado
Gloria Pritchett
Mitchell Pritchett
Cameron Tucker
Lily Tucker-Pritchett
Recurring character Andy Bailey, portrayed by Adam Devine, appears as Jay's assistant and Haley's budding love interest in the episode's subplot. Guest star Aubree Young plays Sydney, Lily's precocious friend who becomes central to Mitchell's storyline.

Storyline

Plot summary

The Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker family is plagued by a widespread , which everyone initially attributes to Mitchell and Cameron after they returned from their . In the Dunphy household, Phil discovers while reviewing footage of Mitchell and Cameron's wedding that he is the true source of the illness, having sneezed directly onto the wedding cake during the reception. Eager to conceal his role, Phil enlists his son Luke to help edit the video using a green screen setup in an attempt to remove the incriminating sneeze, but their efforts are comically inept and ultimately unsuccessful, leading Phil to confess the truth to the family later. Meanwhile, Claire, suffering from vertigo caused by the cold, pushes through to impress a high-profile real estate client during a lunch meeting at a revolving rooftop restaurant; she ends up passing out briefly from dizziness but recovers just in time to salvage the deal. Haley, grappling with her attraction to Andy—Jay's assistant—finally acts on her feelings by kissing him, which ignites unexpected romantic tension between them. Over in the Pritchett home, Cameron, acting as coach for Manny's youth football team, benches Manny after he underperforms during a game, prioritizing team strategy over favoritism despite Manny's disappointment. This decision strains relations with and Gloria, who are attending to support Manny, until Manny reveals that the pressure to excel stems from his desire not to let down, prompting a . Mitchell, meanwhile, inadvertently upsets Lily's new friend at by making snide comments about her precocious intelligence during a playdate, causing to cry and her mother to storm off in frustration. Mitchell's competitive streak with the "" highlights his insecurities, but he later apologizes to Lily. The episode culminates at a family dinner where Phil's confession exposes him as patient zero, leading to humorous backlash and finger-pointing among the relatives as they confront the true origin of the cold, though the illnesses begin to subside.

Character arcs

In the episode, Phil Dunphy's arc centers on his transition from to regarding the spread of the illness within the family. Initially, Phil attempts to conceal his sneeze at Mitchell and Cameron's wedding—captured on video—as the likely source of the cold, reflecting his well-meaning yet clumsy approach to avoiding conflict and maintaining his image as the fun-loving father. This underscores his parenting style, often prioritizing harmony over honesty, but his eventual confession, prompted by the situation's escalation, highlights a moment of growth in owning his mistakes and reinforcing family bonds despite the chaos. Claire Dunphy experiences a rare display of through her vertigo episode, which disrupts her typically controlling persona and forces her to confront physical limitations amid the family's sickness. As the usual pillar of order in the Dunphy household, Claire's struggle with while handling daily responsibilities contrasts sharply with her control-freak tendencies, revealing an underlying of and the pressure she places on herself to appear unbreakable. This arc emphasizes her emotional depth, showing how illness strips away her defenses and allows for subtle growth in accepting help from others, particularly Phil. Haley Dunphy's storyline marks a progression in her romantic maturity, as her kiss with Andy represents a shift from her history of casual flings toward more genuine emotional investment. Facing the discomfort of the and tensions, Haley's interaction with Andy evolves from avoidance to a tender moment of connection, illustrating her growing ability to navigate relationships beyond superficial attraction. This development ties into her broader journey of self-discovery, highlighting a step toward stability and in . Mitchell Pritchett's social awkwardness is accentuated when he upsets Lily's friend during a playdate, driven by his overthinking tendencies as a . In an effort to boost Lily's confidence against Sydney's precociousness, Mitchell's well-intentioned but misguided comments expose his insecurities about and social dynamics, echoing patterns of anxiety in his character. This conflict prompts a realization about the importance of authenticity over competition, fostering minor growth in embracing Lily's unique qualities without comparison. Cameron's arc revolves around his role as coach, where he grapples with balancing fairness and familial loyalty by benching Manny for underperforming during the football game, despite the resulting tension with and Gloria. As the enthusiastic guardian, this decision reflects his effort to prioritize team needs over personal relationships, leading to reflection on the challenges of within the dynamic and subtly advancing his development in assertive . Among the minor arcs, Luke Dunphy's attempt to assist with editing the wedding video fails comically, showcasing his tech-savvy enthusiasm clashing with practical limitations and adding levity to the family's ordeal. Meanwhile, Manny Delgado grapples with disappointment from being benched, which amplifies his frustration with external pressures and contributes to a brief exploration of resilience in facing setbacks on the field. These lighter developments reinforce the episode's themes of familial support without overshadowing the central conflicts.

Broadcast and reception

Viewership

"The Cold," the third episode of Modern Family's sixth season, drew 10.30 million viewers during its original broadcast on October 8, 2014. This figure marked a decline of 0.26 million viewers compared to the previous episode, "Don't Push," which attracted 10.56 million viewers on October 1, 2014. The episode aired in ABC's 9:00 p.m. ET/PT slot as part of the network's Wednesday comedy block, which featured family-oriented sitcoms including The Middle and The Goldbergs leading into it.

Critical response

The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, who appreciated its return to form after the previous episode while noting some familiar tropes in its execution. described "The Cold" as a major improvement over the previous episode "Don't Push," praising the cohesive theme of family members trying to impress one another and the resulting variety in storytelling that generated more laughs by treating characters as free agents outside their usual home settings. However, the review critiqued the episode for starting slowly and lacking particularly observant insights into its central illness motif, with the family dinner and video viewing party feeling somewhat forced despite its graceful culmination. TV Fanatic awarded the episode a high rating of 4.5 out of 5, highlighting the effective use of illness-themed comedy to tie the subplots together amid the post- chaos, which allowed for chaotic family humor centered on the spread of a . The particularly lauded the fresh dynamics in the Haley-Andy storyline, calling their interaction the favorite part for building on unresolved tension from the season's episodes and delivering a that amplified their chemistry. The episode holds an user rating of 7.8 out of 10 based on over 2,400 votes. Across reviews, common themes included appreciation for the episode's comedic exploration of vulnerability during illness, which connected back to the emotional highs of the recent family wedding, providing a relatable backdrop for the Pritchett-Dunphys' antics. Critics also pointed to predictable elements, such as Phil's earnest but over-the-top , as a minor drawback that relied on established character beats without much innovation by the sixth season.
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