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The Best Episodes of Modern Family Season 2

Every episode of Modern Family Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Modern Family Season 2!

The Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan is a wonderfully large and blended family. They give us an honest and often hilarious look into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted, embrace of the modern family.

Genre:Comedy
Network:ABC

Season 2 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Modern Family" season 2 is "The Old Wagon", rated 7.9/10 from 2989 user votes. It was directed by Michael Spiller and written by Bill Wrubel. "The Old Wagon" aired on 9/22/2010 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Kiss".

  • The Old Wagon
    7.9/10 2,989 votes

    #1 - The Old Wagon

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2010

    Phil finally agrees to sell the old station wagon but only after a family trip down memory lane; Cameron asks Jay for help when Mitchell decides to build a life-size princess castle for Lily.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Bill Wrubel

  • The Kiss
    8.0/10 2,958 votes

    #2 - The Kiss

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2010

    Gloria decides to honor her late grandmother by cooking more traditional Colombian meals; Claire finds out Alex is interested in a boy; Mitchell's aversion to public displays of affection causes an argument.

    Director: Scott Ellis

    Writer: Abraham Higginbotham

  • Earthquake
    7.7/10 2,881 votes

    #3 - Earthquake

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2010

    When an earthquake hits, Claire gets stuck in the bathroom with the plumber; Manny experiences an existential crisis while out with Jay; Mitchell and Cameron use the quake as an excuse to get out of a party thrown by a friend (Nathan Lane).

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan

  • Strangers on a Treadmill
    7.9/10 2,812 votes

    #4 - Strangers on a Treadmill

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2010

    Claire tries to stop Phil from embarrassing himself at a realtors' banquet by giving an unfunny speech, while Mitchell tries to convince Cameron to change his wardrobe. Meanwhile, Jay and Gloria go to a quinceañera hosted by one of his employees, and Haley gives Alex advice on how to be cool.

    Director: Scott Ellis

    Writer: Danny Zuker

  • Unplugged
    8.1/10 2,898 votes

    #5 - Unplugged

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/2010

    In an attempt to reconnect the family, Phil and Claire challenge the family to see who can abstain from using their electronic devices the longest. Meanwhile, Mitchell and Cameron attempt to get Lilly into the best pre-school and Gloria deals with the neighbor's barking dog.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Steven Levitan

  • Halloween
    8.4/10 3,146 votes

    #6 - Halloween

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/2010

    Claire gets ready to spookify the Dunphy house for the trick or treaters during her favorite holiday. She gives each family member a role to play, but nothing goes right. Cameron won't stop hating the holiday due to a traumatic childhood experience. Mitchell had a terrible day at work, and Gloria acts weird after Jay and Manny tease her about her accent.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Jeffrey Richman

  • Chirp
    7.6/10 2,749 votes

    #7 - Chirp

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/2010

    Claire and Haley have a bit of quality girl time while they're stuck at home sick, and Phil is preoccupied by the taunts of a chirping smoke detector. Gloria and Manny's surprise visit at Jay's work leads to headaches for Jay, and Cameron gets swept up by all the lights and cameras when he goes behind Mitchell's back and takes Lily for a commercial.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Dan O'Shannon

  • Manny Get Your Gun
    8.3/10 3,093 votes

    #8 - Manny Get Your Gun

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/2010

    It's Manny's birthday and the family is gathering at a restaurant to celebrate, though Manny himself is depressed about getting older. Phil and Claire decide to engage in a not-so-friendly car race on the way to the restaurant, and Mitch and Cam get sidetracked when they stop at the mall to pick up a gift.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Danny Zuker

  • Mother Tucker
    7.5/10 2,675 votes

    #9 - Mother Tucker

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/2010

    Mitchell tries to tell Cameron how he feels uncomfortable with his mom, Barb Tucker. Meanwhile, Haley breaks up with Dylan much to Phil's dismay and Claire's delight. Jay has a little stomach ache that gets exacerbated when he and Manny look it up on the Internet.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan

  • Dance Dance Revelation
    7.4/10 2,680 votes

    #10 - Dance Dance Revelation

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/2010

    At Luke and Manny's first school dance, Jay and Phil take them to the mall which turns disastrous, Claire's happiness turns into jealousy when Gloria joins the school dance committee. Meanwhile, Cameron and Mitchell learn about Lily biting other kids at the playground.

    Director: Gail Mancuso

    Writer: Ilana Wernick

  • Slow Down Your Neighbors
    8.1/10 2,915 votes

    #11 - Slow Down Your Neighbors

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 1/5/2011

    Claire becomes a determined neighborhood vigilante hoping to catch and stop a menacing car that speeds though their streets. Meanwhile, Phil is busy trying to land an important listing with a difficult client, Jay teaches Manny how to ride a bike -- only to learn Gloria needs lessons too -- and Mitchell and Cameron stumble upon a mysterious neighbor who is quite the charmer.

    Director: Gail Mancuso

    Writer: Ilana Wernick

  • Our Children, Ourselves
    7.7/10 2,769 votes

    #12 - Our Children, Ourselves

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 1/12/2011

    Phil and Claire pressure Alex to ease back on her school work, but begin to worry about their own intellectual drives. Meanwhile, Jay is upset when Gloria tries to befriend a new couple, and Mitchell runs into an old female flame.

    Director: Adam Shankman

    Writer: Bill Wrubel, Dan O'Shannon

  • Caught in the Act
    8.9/10 3,947 votes

    #13 - Caught in the Act

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/19/2011

    It's Phil and Claire's anniversary, and when the kids go to surprise them with breakfast in bed, they get a surprise of their own. Jay and Gloria's plans for a Vegas vacation are ruined because of a brutally honest email accidentally sent to Claire, and Mitchell and Cam try to get into a new restaurant owned by a mom at Lily's preschool.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Steven Levitan, Jeffrey Richman

  • Bixby's Back
    8.0/10 2,715 votes

    #14 - Bixby's Back

    Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 2/9/2011

    Claire and Phil decide to reprise their role-playing adventure from last year's Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, Jay's surprise plans for Gloria keeps getting interrupted, and a secret admirer comes between Cameron and Mitchell.

    Director: Chris Koch

    Writer: Danny Zuker

  • Princess Party
    7.5/10 2,683 votes

    #15 - Princess Party

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 2/16/2011

    The guest list for Lily's princess-themed birthday party gets a little out of hand when Mitchell decides to invite his mom, much to Claire's dismay, and disinvite Fizbo, much to Cameron's dismay. Things get even more strange when DeDe shows up with Claire's old high school boyfriend in tow, and Jay and Gloria each turn to their own unique methods of dealing with this gathering of misfits.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Elaine Ko

  • Regrets Only
    8.0/10 2,703 votes

    #16 - Regrets Only

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/23/2011

    Phil and Claire have a huge fight and Phil hasn't a clue as to what it was over, so Gloria steps in to counsel Phil while Jay counsels Claire. Meanwhile, Jay has some regret in buying Gloria a karaoke machine, and Cameron is in full prep mode for a huge fund-raising event and asks Mitchell and Luke for help.

    Director: Dean Parisot

    Writer: Abraham Higginbotham

  • Two Monkeys and a Panda
    7.6/10 2,627 votes

    #17 - Two Monkeys and a Panda

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 3/2/2011

    Claire runs herself ragged trying to fix the relationship between Haley and Alex, while Phil sneaks off to the spa. Meanwhile, Gloria is horrified by Jay's morbid plans to purchase two side-by-side crypts in preparation of their death, and Cameron decides he wants to write a book that celebrates the fact that Lily is adopted, but soon learns something new.

    Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller

    Writer: Carol Leifer

  • Boys' Night
    8.2/10 2,793 votes

    #18 - Boys' Night

    Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 3/23/2011

    Luke becomes friends with a curmudgeon old neighbor, which does not please Phil and Claire. Meanwhile, Gloria and Manny try to get Jay to join them at the symphony, but in an attempt to avoid the concert, he instead ends up with Mitchell and Cameron on their "boys' night out" while Haley babysits for Lily.

    Director: Chris Koch

    Writer: Steven Levitan, Jeffrey Richman

  • The Musical Man
    8.2/10 2,826 votes

    #19 - The Musical Man

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 4/13/2011

    Cameron is overzealous in his planning of the spring musical performance at Luke and Manny's school. Jay's brother visits while Phil convinces the family to be in his new TV ad.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan

  • Someone to Watch Over Lily
    8.0/10 2,603 votes

    #20 - Someone to Watch Over Lily

    Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 4/20/2011

    Mitchell and Cameron assess their family members in trying to decide who would best take care of Lily should anything happen to them.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Bill Wrubel

  • Mother's Day
    8.0/10 2,700 votes

    #21 - Mother's Day

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 5/4/2011

    Claire and Gloria's Mother's Day excursion outdoors with the kids turns into the mother of all disasters. Meanwhile, Phil and Jay share an awkward moment when they stay home to prepare dinner for everyone, and Cameron worries about gender roles in his relationship with Mitchell.

    Director: Michael Spiller

    Writer: Dan O'Shannon

  • Good Cop, Bad Dog
    8.1/10 2,717 votes

    #22 - Good Cop, Bad Dog

    Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 5/11/2011

    Jay advises a dog trainer, while Phil and Claire switch parenting duties to the kids' chagrin. Mitchell has an extra Lady Gaga ticket when Cameron ends up sick.

    Director: Fred Savage

    Writer: N/A

  • See You Next Fall
    8.1/10 2,691 votes

    #23 - See You Next Fall

    Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/18/2011

    The whole family is gathering at Jay's before heading out to Alex's graduation ceremony from middle school, but while at the house, Jay is preoccupied hiding a botox mishap from everyone, Cameron is upset about Mitchell's habit of laughing at his expense, and Phil tries to sympathize with, yet also criticizes Claire on her impending breakdown over the kids growing up too fast. All of this, plus a faulty gate, could mean their missing Alex's big moment.

    Director: Steven Levitan

    Writer: Danny Zuker

  • The One That Got Away
    8.0/10 2,617 votes

    #24 - The One That Got Away

    Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 5/25/2011

    Jay wants to go fishing on his birthday, but the family insists he have a big party, leading Claire and Mitchell to get trapped in their childhood yard, Phil to encounter his college nemesis at the mall and Cameron to have trouble at the bakery.

    Director: James R. Bagdonas

    Writer: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan, Dan O'Shannon