Why Claire Dunphy HAD To Change

Claire Dunphy might be the most important character in Modern Family.

When Modern Family began, Claire seemed like a familiar sitcom mom. She was controlling, overprotective, constantly stressed, and somehow responsible for keeping her entire family from falling apart.

But over eleven seasons, Claire became so much more.

From her chaotic parenting style to her struggles her own childhood baggage, her changing relationship with her kids, and her eventual career evolution, Claire's story quietly became one of the show's biggest emotional arcs.

And the more you look back at Modern Family, the harder it is to imagine the series without her. Because Claire wasn't just another member of the Dunphy family. She may have been the backbone holding the entire show together.