"But Giving Up The Ghost Would Feel So Good" (First Impressions - "The Last Halloween" - Season 11, Episode 5)

There's no mention of Alex in this episode's synopsis (it's not even called a press release - e.g. no listing of any guest stars), but she does appear in some of the promo photos (no hint of a Halloween costume though) in the above link (including one which appears to be a private camera scene), so hopefully there will be a little something for her.

Getting back to this week, Alex does appear in this promo for tomorrow night's episode, so we should be spared an Alex-less episode (before I saw this I thought the chance would be very high):

It's all about confidence! Join us for a pool party on #ModernFamily this Wednesday! pic.twitter.com/1yNtyIulFM

— Modern Family (@ModernFam) October 15, 2019

More about that in the morning. 

“Take My License, All That Jive“ (“Perfect Pairs” Recap)

Just a couple of quick thoughts about this one.

One reason why I thought Alex was going to use the twins to stir up things with Bill was because I wasn't sure how they could get from Point A to Point B with the other scenario, where she uses them to move her professional life forward.

I guess they found a way after all.

“It Takes Two To Make A Thing Go Right”

Two quick things before previewing tonight's “Perfect Pairs”:

If you haven't yet seen last week's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, do so, like yesterday.  I'll probably say more over the weekend¹, but for now I'll just let my tweet from shortly after the episode aired do my talking:

For almost six years now, I've felt that @arielwinter1 had A-List talent and potential. After her incredible performance playing an imperfect but sympathetic victim on tonight's L&O SVU, I'm tripling down on those thoughts. WOW! #SVU21

— Joe D. (@noahproblem) October 4, 2019

And the first Modern Family rerun of the season will be upon us in a hurry – there is no new episode two weeks from tonight (the opener re-airs).  Presumably the Halloween episode will follow on October 30th.

And with that out of the way, let's get to tonight.  For the first time this season, we have some idea what Alex will be doing ahead of time – like the rest of the Dunphys, she'll be dealing with Haley's twins, looking for a way to use them to cross off something off her “to-do” list.  We just don't know what that is yet.

“Mmmmmm, If I Could Melt Your Heart” (“Snapped” Recap)

I don't know if anyone else here was worried, but when Claire'\s interviewer mentioned that Alex was (still) in Antarctica, I was beginning to think that we wouldn't see Alex after all tonight.¹  So, yes, there was a sigh of relief when she showed up at the start of the second act.   As it turned out, that scene I found in that Instagram post wasn't from tonight's episode (maybe next week?).

“Get Out (Leave)”

I can't think of a lot to say about tonight's “Snapped”, except for one question.

"And I Can't Swim The Ocean Like This Forever" (First Impressions - "Pool Party" - Season 11, Episode 4)

The bad news about the press release and promo photos for this episde?  There's no mention/sight of Alex in any of this.  Again.

The (maybe) good news?  There's nothing at all about any of the Dunphys.

So, maybe all isn't lost.  Yet.

And still no sign of Bill.

“Jack Frost Nipping At Your Nose” (“New Kids On The Block” Recap)

Well that was quick.   Maybe slightly too quick?