Sitcoms from the 2000s have continued to give us some of the best on-screen BFFs, fathers and sometimes even the best mothers. But today we are talking about one of the most underrated dads from ABS’s Modern Family. The show remained popular for 11 seasons, with all the characters developing their own massive fandoms and shippers. One of the characters that garnered a massive fan following over the years is none other than Phil Dunphy played by Ty Burrell. Married to Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen), Phil was father to three kids Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter), and Luke (Nolan Gould). Their usual everyday adventures, often turning into misadventures kept the fans hooked
The show also followed the likes of Claire’s brother Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his husband Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) who also started a family of their own and adopted a daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons). Meanwhile, Claire and Mitch’s father Jay (Ed O’Neill), his younger wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara), and her lovable son Manny (Rico Rodriguez) also led the show as the main cast. The families grew and much like Lily, Gloria and Jay also welcomed another kid in the family aka Joe (Jeremy Maguire). These characters continued to grow in front of the audience and their relationship deepened with each season.
Claire and Phil often didn’t see eye to eye, nor did their kids. Throughout the run time of the 11 seasons, Phil was often bashed by his kids, and his father-in-law but also found friends among the unusual family members. However, Phil’s fans still believe the Dunphy father deserved much more than what he got from the Pritchett family. Sometimes it was Clarie, while other times it was their kids who found him embarrassing. Meanwhile, Jay especially in the early episodes never wanted to interact with him, the incidents where Jay has been mean to Phill are countless. We are taking a look at all the times, Phil Dunphy deserved better from everyone in Modern Family.
Phil Dunphy Isn’t Funny But He Keeps Trying
Phil often made up phrases and wholeheartedly believed they made total and perfect sense. While Claire and the kids did get annoyed and embarrassed because of it, the actor and the character both are hilarious. He loves to laugh and makes others around him feel better too. Fans continue to praise the character for keeping life light-hearted and fun. Phil’s quotes are also some of the show’s most unforgettable lines.
Ducks Imprinting On Claire Instead Of Phil Dunphy
In a way to apologise Luke brings ducks’ eggs from the unsellable house and gives them to Phil. He graciously accepts the gift and nurses them for weeks. But as Phil says, “through some sick fluke” Claire is the only one there when the eggs finally hatch and ducklings are born. The hacklings then imprint on Claire, while Phil tries to get it transferred it doesn’t work for him, as usual.
All The Times Luke, Haley and Alex Are Embarrassed By Him
Phil is the coolest on-screen dad, but the kids are often embarrassed by him. He tries to stay trendy, understand their problems, and remain their friends but it never ends in the best way for him. He accompanies Haley to college and surprises Alex on campus. When Luke sets off to high school, he too is too embarrassed to be seen with his dad. All three are often seen ditching his efforts and are often unappreciative of how much he cares for them.
Gil Ruins Phil’s Career Day Speech
At school, on Luke’s career day, Phil is also invited to give a speech and talk about his respective careers. He sets up for a hip presentation acting out as a young aspiring realtor, but his nemesis aka Gil Thorpe interrupts him and throws him off his timing. As Haley and Alex never invited him, Phil was excited and wanted to put his best foot forward but is unable to get his point across.
All The Times Jay Was Mean To Phil
Jay Prichett never liked Phil for his daughter, but years later he continues to demean his son-in-law. While Phil does his best to prove his worth, Jay always makes him feel inferior and even calls him Phil Dumphy. Claire too is seen complaining about the same, but Phil’s effort is rarely appreciated by Jay or the rest of the family. One incident has Phil excited to work on a model plane, but Jay flies the plane right into his face. He then runs to make sure his plane is alright without caring about Phil’s pain.
Claire Ruined Awesome land
Claire was seen as a hard-core Halloween fan, but when she was busy one year and the task fell on Phil, he created the kind of world he was happy for. Phil builds Awesome Land where everyone is happy and everything is dreamy. But when Claire comes back home, she basically stomp on his lifelong dream and turns his AwesomeLand into a haunted house.
Claire Hides His Speech For Realtor’s Banquet
Before the Realtor’s Banquet, Claire believes Phil’s speech full of jokes won’t work for the crowd and even ends up stealing his index cards. Claire even gets her brother Mitch to help Phil make his speech for the event. But in the end, Phil improvises and ends up being awarded in laughter and applause by everyone in the audience.
Manny Tasers Him
On realising they can spend Christmas together, the family ends up picking tasks to celebrate an express Christmas on Dec 16. Manny accompanies Phil in getting a mint condition baseball card for Jay, a meaningful gift. But when the situation goes haywire when Manny freaks out and accidentally zaps Phil. The spasms make Phil crush the card, leaving it disfigured.
A family man through and through, Phil always came through when his people needed him. It didn’t matter if it was his wife or kids or in-laws, Phil was always there. Fans also believe him to be the perfect and ideal husband to Claire Dunphy.
