How Modern Family Ruined Haley’s Story Arc

Did Modern Family fail Haley? For most of the show’s run, the oldest Dunphy daughter was pigeonholed as the pretty, dumb, popular character – but did the show let her down by not letting her be more? Haley is actually really good at a lot of things – even if those things aren’t necessarily valued as much as her sister’s academic intelligence. There was an opportunity to use Haley to explore and celebrate the elements of intelligence that society often devalues – her social savvy, her growth and learning as a romantic partner, even her smarts as a mother.

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00:00 Haley Dunphy could have been so much more
01:08 Haley was actually super smart
05:02 WREN
06:16 Haley's disappointing return to Dylan
08:29 Why her "redemption arc" was cliched
10:24 The merits to her arc

[MnMsandOreos]

It’s funny, Dylan actually went through the arc that Haley should have gotten. He achieved professional fulfillment despite his “dumbness”

[Crimson]

Haley should’ve ended the series starting her own business, maybe get knocked up by Dylan but doesn’t end up marrying him. They co-parent together and Andy comes back into her life.

[dcamaraman]

Honestly they failed Manny and Lilly even more, why does no one talk about these wasted characters?

[nanalove]

I think the pregnancy would have been better with Alex cause it would have taken everybody by surprise : Claire was so focused on Hayley not becoming like her that she forgets Alex could too, so she is in shock when it happens.

[Svengali]

Haley's story always has been about her being pretty and always involved a guy. Her story should've broken the trope and made her achieve something solid with her hardwork and street smarts. Alex's story should've ended with her being more interested in human side of science

[bertkesurf]

Much like Joey from Friends, they developed him so well, until about season 8 or 9, and then they regressed him and he lost maturity. It's like the writers got lazy and just took him back to his season 1 attitude.

[summerskull]

Haley deserves her own spin off so we can finally see her reach her full potential

[leiutos]

I hope you can explore Alex's story as well. Kind of sad how Haley had exactly Claire's story, even if her and Dylan will probably end up as happy as Claire and Phil in the future. But Alex.. She was always only "the smart one" but dates nerdy teenagers as an adult, had an initially-secret man-child lover and she literally threw away a 'dream' job with great pay and ended up with Haley's ex (ew) and left for a 'lousy' job.

[anishka]

I think it's very reminiscent of real life that Haley's plans don't turn out the way she intended, or that she couldn't unlock her full potential due to her accidental pregnancy - but in the end, she still managed to create a life full of love and laughter for herself. I wouldn't say that her choice to keep the baby and marry Dylan ruined her arc, her life just went a different way than perhaps the viewers expected. Her choice to lead her life that way doesn't need to be dismissed and disrespected in order to recognize that she was a smart and talented woman who could have had a great career as a single woman, but simply chose not to.

[nicolehall]

Was her role written predominantly by men?
Sure seems like it.
Men rarely realize the pretty girl can also be intelligent, not to mention deeper than the average puddle

[passiveaggressive]

I never understood why they made her drop out out of college. But that’s just me who values a good education

[lessultanas]

I kept being disappointed that Haley showed so many talents and it never paid off. Sometimes it felt like she was plain bullied in her own house. Any job she got she basically did good if not great

[studiostyx]

I'd like to think Modern Family fans ultimately understood and appreciated Haley better than the writers, which is pretty sad.

[scorpioj]

haley should get her own spinoff show where she navigates the world as a newly divorced single mom and comes back to the fashion world.

[srami]

I just think it’s a cop out for shows to simply rely on some stereotypical bs. Why not allow a character grow and reach his/her full potential?

[benhallums]

NOW MRS. HALEY WOODSEN (DAKOTA JOHNSON) AND HER FAMILY OF WOODSENS DUE TO FARRAH MARSHALL MARRIED TO MR. THOMAS "TOM" WOODSEN (MADLYN SWEETEEN & TOM VERICA) ARE ALL STILL IN LOS ANGELES, CA. USA.

[rapbattlefan]

At 10:11 I could’ve sworn that was Walter White in the car!

[TSLtt]

TBH they *did* kind of show that Alex's drive had a toll on her, and she had to begin therapy because of the pressure. I absolutely could relate to that. But I wish they continued to show that Alex continued to go to therapy (instead of just in that one episode), and show that Hailey continued with her business work and be successful in that way. Even Luke gets a job, and settles down, but they did not even really translate what one could argue to be neurodiversity as a child into his adult life.

[Lilagrace]

Wait I just watched an episode in season 11 where Haley mentions recruiting people for NERP her job, doesn’t that mean she’s still working and a mom? I mean NERP is not the ideal job but she’s working, people forget that she’s a working mom not a stay at home mom in the last season. It probably could be due to them not showing her at work anymore in the final season but she references working still.

[Shomig]

Do you think that her real life health challenges may have affected her role in the series?