Modern Family already threw fans for a loop when Season 10 featured the death of a "significant" character, which many complained didn't live up to expectations. However, the ABC comedy apparently has something much more shocking on the horizon. That's what the stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Sarah Hyland are teasing, anyway. First, here's how Ferguson excitedly put it.
There's a major thing happening this season. It's beyond. It's big. I think you'll be surprised.
Before the recent reveal, it would have been hard to imagine a bigger Season 10 event than Modern Family's death, which created a lot of buzz for the show in previous months. Now that hype has fizzled, fans can latch on to Jesse Tyler Ferguson's tease that something "big" is coming later in the season. Ferguson told THR he's thinking viewers will be surprised by what's coming but didn't give any clues as to what will go down.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson isn't the only cast member from Modern Family teasing this big plot event. Co-star Sarah Hyland backed him up, confirming this new storyline is a big shock in her opinion as well. She also doled out a bit more info as far as who may be involved, which could once again send the show's fans into a frenzy of speculation.
[It's] bigger thing than the death. It was a shock, that's for sure. There's a lot happening with Haley, but I can't say.
Sarah Hyland could be teasing that this shocking Modern Family storyline could be centered around Haley -- a pregnancy? -- or could at least involve her. We can't say for sure, of course. , and it's also possible the big shock hits the family pretty hard and Hyland is just specifically referencing what's going on with the character she plays. Those answers will probably be on lockdown until the big reveal, leaving Modern Family fans set up for another potentially morbid guessing game.
SPOILER WARNING for those who haven't yet watched the latest episode. Skeptical Modern Family fans may be wary, however, with some feeling they've been on this speculation ride before. Tempers flared when Season 10's "significant death" turned out to be DeDe Pritchett, who had only appeared in a handful of episodes. Granted, losing Shelley Long from any sitcom is a tragedy, just not one deserving of such mainstream hype.
For what it's worth, Jesse Tyler Ferguson disagreed with fans who felt that the death wasn't significant, saying that the mother of two lead characters definitely ranks as important. However, he feels that if the death news had not leaked, there may not have been as big of a fuss about it among fans. That's a good point, since fanbases have a knack for making hullaballoos out of molehills.
Of course, there's also a question of how shocking this storyline could possibly be, especially with Modern Family's future up in the air. A big game-changing development would be exciting, but it would be disappointing for some game-changer to happen, only to get left unresolved should Modern Family not return for Season 11. Perhaps the best thing to wish for is that the reveal isn't so shocking that it can't be contained within Season 10. Also: that it isn't disappointing.
Modern Family airs on ABC on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. Fall television season is in full swing, and those already feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of new shows don't have to panic. Just visit and bookmark CinemaBlend's fall premiere guide, which is jam-packed with information regarding all new offerings coming to television over these next few months.
