Jay and Gloria are just one of the beloved couples on Modern Family. Due to their age difference and a whirlwind romance, these two weren’t always understood or respected but they did adore each other in their own way. While everyone thought Jay and Gloria were arguing, they were just talking. They communicate through volume, which is where the comedy kicks in.
However, they didn’t always make sense to viewers, or even to their family members. There were small red flags that got viewers talking. What exactly did Gloria and Jay see in each other? Viewers aren’t convinced that they fit in with the likes of Claire and Phil, or even Mitchell and Cam.
10 On-Screen Chemistry
One of the reasons why fans loved Phil and Claire as a couple was because of their chemistry. Both actors did a great job of adding physical touches to make them look like a married couple who was comfortable with each other. Viewers petitioned to get Cam and Mitch to become more physical and kiss on-screen, but what about Gloria and Jay? They rarely kissed and viewers can count on one hand the number of times Gloria called Jay sexy. Gloria and Jay had their believable moments but they weren’t as charismatic as the other couples.
9 Gloria Would Have Never Dated Jay If She Knew Manny & Him Didn’t Like Each Other
In the first season, Gloria and Jay were only married for a couple of months before they started the documentary. And surprisingly, Manny and Jay never used to get along. Manny gave Jay sly remarks and didn’t listen to him.
Likewise, Jay made a rude remark about Manny harshing his buzz. With Jay being an older man, Manny was in the way of Jay sailing off in the sunset with Gloria. But if fans think about it, there is no way Gloria would have married someone who didn’t like her son. Manny is her first priority and the star of her life. Why would she marry Jay knowing the two didn’t like each other?
8 Whatever Happened To Jay’s Spanish Lessons?
A long-running joke in the series is that Gloria’s Colombian accent makes it hard for her to say certain English words. But at the same time, Gloria is proud of her Colombian roots and hates that she has no one else in the family speaks Spanish. Manny lost his Spanish and had no interest in it, which saddened her.
Jay decided to take Spanish lessons at the end of “Queer Eyes, Full Hearts” to make Gloria happy but that was the last time he attempted speaking her native tongue. Later in season 11, Jay tried taking Spanish lessons again but continues to only speak to her in English. What was the point?
7 Would Gloria Marry Jay If He Wasn’t Rich?
Fans are torn on whether or not Jay and Gloria would have worked out if Jay wasn’t a wealthy man. With Jay being older, successful, and richer, some fans think Gloria was after a comfortable life for her and her son.
On the contrary, other fans argue that Gloria has a deep love for Jay because of what Manny said. Manny told Jay that Gloria had a ton of attractive and wealthy men banging down their door for a chance to date Gloria but she turned them down and chose Jay instead. With Jay, she finally met her match.
6 Was Jay Attracted To Sonia?
As gorgeous as Gloria is, Jay may have once preferred her sister Sonia. At Joe’s christening, Jay told the story of how he met Gloria. He said that he saw Gloria and Sonia eating at a diner and sent over a piece of pie to Sonia. However, Sonia was in the bathroom by the time the pie got to the table, so Gloria thought Jay sent it to her. After talking to Gloria, Jay fell in love with her and the rest is history. But we can’t ignore the fact that Jay liked Sonia before he liked Gloria.
5 Where Did They Meet?
Speaking of how Jay and Gloria met… It’s been said on numerous occasions that Jay and Gloria met at a diner. They two started talking over pie and slowly began dating. However, in “Undeck the Halls,” Jay tells Mitchell that he met Gloria at a wedding and they conversed over chocolate cake. This was clearly a continuity error because the Sonia vs. Gloria storyline has been brought up more than once.
4 What Do They Have In Common?
It’s hard to come up with a list of 10 things that Gloria and Jay have in common. They both enjoy relaxing by the pool and long lunches, but is that all their marriage is made of? Gloria is a vibrant woman who loves dancing, cooking, and going to church. On the other hand, Jay loves golfing, flying airplanes, and watching football.
The two are obviously at peace in their own home but they worried about their relationship after Jay retired. Now that he was home all day, what were the two of them going to do and talk about? They had contrasting personalities.
3 Jay Judges Manny’s Standards — But Did He Encourage Them?
Manny never felt like a child when he was a child. He and Luke were the same age and had nothing in common besides going to the same school. Manny was always sophisticated and acted well beyond his years, which Jay loved and hated.
One has to ask if Manny was born this way or if he acquired this sense of entitlement after living under Jay’s roof. In one episode, Jay told Manny that he was eating cereal out of a bucket when they first met. That’s a far cry from the kid who drinks afternoon espresso. If Jay had a problem with Manny’s ritzy personality, he shouldn’t yell at his wife over it; he should look in the mirror for supplying the lifestyle.
2 Stella
The only thing that gets in between Jay and Gloria is their dog, Stella. But what doesn’t make sense is how Stella came to be a Pritchett. Gloria was the one who introduced Stella into their household and practically insisted she be their family pet. Jay was the one completely against the idea and didn’t want her.
But as time went on, Gloria hated the dog and Jay seemed to love the dog more than Gloria! Did the writers forget that Gloria used to love Stella… or did she grow to hate her the closer she became with Jay?
1 Their Parenting Differences
Jay and Gloria’s parenting differences became more obvious when Joe came along. Gloria hated the fact that Jay wasn’t a present father with Claire and Mitchell and didn’t know why he couldn’t tell them he loved them. With Joe, she wanted things to be different.
Unfortunately for her, they argued over him eating vegetables, how he treated adults, how he acting during sports, what kind of school he should attend… It makes fans wonder if they would have worked out had she and Jay been a younger couple.
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