Under Pressure (Modern Family)
| "Under Pressure" | |
|---|---|
| Modern Family episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 12 |
| Directed by | James Bagdonas |
| Written by | Elaine Ko |
| Production code | 5ARG11 |
| Original air date | January 15, 2014 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Under Pressure" is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 108th overall. It was aired on January 15, 2014. The episode was written by Elaine Ko and directed by James Bagdonas.
In the episode, Alex suffers a meltdown during her birthday party due to the pressure she is always under with school and responsibilities and she finds herself a therapist. Jay, Phil and Claire take their kids classes at an open day at school and while Jay and Phil have fun taking Luke and Manny's lessons, Claire realizes how much pressure Alex must feel every day and understands her for the first time. Luke and Manny go out on a double date while Cameron has a presentation as a gym coach for his students' parents. During the presentation, Gloria fights with another mother and the three of them, including Cameron, end up at the principal's office. Back at home, Mitchell and Lily meet their new neighbor Asher who is environmentalist and passionate about ecology.
"Under Pressure" received positive reviews from the critics.
The family is gathered for Alex's (Ariel Winter) sixteenth birthday party but Alex, under the stress for all the work she has, suffers a meltdown. The following day, Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) try to talk to her about what happened, but she tells them that she has already found a therapist (John Benjamin Hickey).
At the therapist, Alex explains that several years ago, she participated at a spelling bee contest and she wanted desperately to win even though she knew that there was no prize or money involved. She feels bad about always wanting to be the best and feels under pressure since she has the impression that no one in her family understands her.
Meanwhile, it is open house at the high school and Claire takes Alex's classes while Phil takes Luke's (Nolan Gould). Claire begins to realize how difficult it is for Alex to always see competition everywhere and be under pressure. She has never had any issue in the past with Haley (Sarah Hyland) and Luke since they are not as self-reliant or as driven to succeed as Alex. When Claire struggles to solve a simple arithmetic operation she understands how Alex must be feeling every day.
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