Ep 14. The Storm

The episode opens with the Dunphy family preparing for a storm that’s heading towards Los Angeles. Phil is trying to keep the family calm while simultaneously assembling an emergency kit and turning the house into a makeshift bunker. Meanwhile, Claire is worried about a work presentation that’s scheduled for the following day, but the storm is making it impossible for her to prepare. Elsewhere, Cameron and Mitchell are dealing with their own storm: an old friend is coming to visit and they’re worried that his wild lifestyle might cause some trouble.

Just as the storm starts to hit, Phil begins to worry that the rest of the family may not be taking it as seriously as he is. He starts to frantically go around the house and check all of the windows and doors, making sure that everything is secure. Haley, who’s just returned from a trip to the store, is horrified to see her dad acting like a “crazy prepper” and decides to leave the house to go hang out with her friends. Phil tries to stop her, but she manages to get away. Alex, who’s struggling to figure out what to do with her boyfriend, Bill, during the storm, decides to go to the movies with him, leaving Phil even more frustrated.

As the storm intensifies, Claire’s work presentation is canceled. She decides to take advantage of the opportunity and spend some quality time with her kids. They decide to play a game of Charades, which ends up being a lot of fun, but Claire can’t stop worrying about work. She sneaks into her home office to finish her presentation, but she can’t get anything done because the storm is causing too much chaos. Eventually, everyone in the house starts to lose power, which makes it even more difficult for Claire to work.

Cameron and Mitchell’s old friend arrives and it quickly becomes clear that he’s not quite the wild party animal that they remembered. He’s actually settled down quite a bit and is now a stay-at-home dad. The three of them spend the afternoon catching up and reminiscing about old times. However, things take a turn for the worse when the storm hits full force and they’re forced to hunker down indoors. The three of them start to get on each other’s nerves, but they eventually work through their differences and bond once again.

As the storm begins to die down, Phil realizes that he may have overreacted a bit. He starts to relax and enjoy the company of his family, who have all come together in the face of adversity. They spend the evening chatting and playing card games, content in the knowledge that they’re safe and together.

Overall, this episode does a great job of tapping into the anxiety that many people feel when it comes to dealing with natural disasters. It also highlights the importance of family and the ways in which we can come together during difficult times. The performances are strong across the board, with each actor bringing their own unique energy and humor to the episode. Ultimately, “The Storm” is a strong installment in a consistently excellent series.