Games People Play (Modern Family)

"Games People Play" is the 23rd episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 95th episode overall. It was aired on May 15, 2013. The episode was written by Ben Karlin based on a story by Danny Zuker and it was directed by Alisa Statman.

"Games People Play"
Modern Family episode
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 23
Directed byAlisa Statman
Story byDanny Zuker
Teleplay byBen Karlin
Production code4ARG24
Original air dateMay 15, 2013
Guest appearance(s)

Plot

Phil (Ty Burrell) gets a new RV after selling a house and he wants to go to Yellowstone National Park for the summer, so he takes everyone on a test-drive just to get a taste of what the trip will be like. Claire (Julie Bowen) believes that the trip with an RV is not a really good idea because she knows that having all the kids together in the same place can easily turn into a disaster. Without saying anything to Phil, since she is always the one saying "no" to his ideas, she lets him discover it by himself. Things though are not going the way she had in mind.

In the meantime, Manny (Rico Rodriguez) tries to find his backpack that he thinks he has left in Luke's (Nolan Gould) room. Gloria (Sofía Vergara) breaks-in the house along with him and Jay (Ed O'Neill) to search for it. Instead of that, Gloria and Jay end up snooping through Phil and Claire's stuff, something that they also do later at Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron's (Eric Stonestreet) house since Manny remembers that his backpack is not in Luke's room but at Mitch and Cam's house instead. While snooping around, they find out that they were not invited to a games' night and they start wondering why Mitch and Cam would not invite them. What they do not know is that they were invited but Manny forgot to give them the invitation.

Meanwhile, Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) participates at a gymnastics competition and she is doing great. Cam and Mitch's competitive spirits, though, make the parents of the other kids turn on them.

Reception

Ratings

In its original American broadcast, "Games People Play" was watched by 10.03 million; up 1.01 from the previous episode.[1]

Reviews

"Games People Play" received positive reviews.

Leigh Raines from TV Fanatic rated the episode 4.5/5. "The Pritchett clan ranks high among TV's most competitive families. In "Games People Play," we saw just how much their competitive nature can rub off on other loved ones."[2]

Michael Adams of 411mania gave the episode 8/10 saying that the episode was "just so enjoyable". "Not too much going on, no real craziness, just 3 simple story-lines that all had very funny moments. This is what a sitcom should be."[3]

Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave a B grade to the episode.[4]

Despite the good reviews, Zack Dionne from Vulture rated the episode only with 2/5 stating that last week's family affair at the roller rink (see episode 22) is a tough act to follow.[5]

References
  1. Amanda Kondolojy (May 16, 2013). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Chicago Fire', 'Modern Family', 'American Idol', 'Criminal Minds' & 'Supernatural' Adjusted Up; 'Nashville' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013.
  2. Leigh Raines (May 15, 2013). "Modern Family Review: Winnebag-No". TV Fanatic.
  3. Adams, Michael (May 15, 2013). "Modern Family Review - 4.23 'Games People Play'". 411mania.
  4. Donna Bowman (May 15, 2013). "Games People Play". A.V. Club.
  5. Zach Dionne (May 16, 2013). "Modern Family Recap: How I Prevented My Summer Vacation". Vulture.
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