"This Is Where I Long To Be: La Isla Bonita"

Well. well.   One week before the final season begins, we finally have some idea about what happens with Alex.  Too bad the most likely scenario doesn't bode well.

Here's the link to the TV Insider article in question.  As to what's in store for Alex, well, here's what they're saying (bold parts are my emphasis):

Haley's move into marriage and motherhood hits sis Alex (Ariel Winter) hard. The Caltech grad is in Antarctica working on an ice floe, (Co-creator Christopher) Lloyd says, "but seeing her older sister have kids, those wheels start turning for her."

I'll get to the "wheels start turning for her (Alex)" part shortly, but the biggest takeaway from this statement for me is obvious:  It look like Alex will not actually be home for at least the start of the season.  The question is, for how long?

It is possible that Alex is only doing this for the summer (presumably this is her first assignment of her new job).  However, it is also just as possible that whatever project with which she is involved could be more long-term, possibly even lasting the entire season (I seriously doubt she'll be gone that long, but...)

So what does this mean for how much we see of Alex for as long as she's in Antarctica?

Now, in a better world (i.e. where the show hasn't treated Alex as an afterthought for the past ten years), there would be fantastic potential for this development.  Mainly, having Alex in an entirely new environment (Antarctica) away from her immediate family would leave open the door for many new stories for Alex, including possibly finding a new romance there (i.e. the above wheels turning).

But in the world we know, it's more likely that we won't see much of Alex's life in Antarctica.  If she's only there for the first episode or two the pain will only be temporary (probably we only see her briefly on someone's computer screen at best), and maybe it sets up a big homecoming for an early episode as her first real story.  But if she's gone for multiple episodes, then we could be looking at a ton of Alex-less episodes, and very little chance of even a small story until she returns.

And the longer she's not back home, the longer it is until we see Bill in any meaningful way.  Now, when she does return, that may be when the "wheels start (really) turning", but maybe she does meet somebody in Antarctica and breaks up with Bill at some point (before or after she returns).

So which is more likely?  A quick stay in Antarctica or a long one?  I'm still thinking about this - I do have my annual prediction post coming up (hopefully Sunday or Monday) so maybe by then I'll be ready to take my guess or maybe there will be more clarification.