Critics and viewers often describe this episode as a standard, "middle-of-the-road" entry for the later seasons. While the physical gags work, some felt the central theme was a bit too "on the nose."
: The couple attempts to teach Lily self-reliance, which results in a misunderstanding where Cam mistakes a cleaning lady for Lily’s biological mother. [S8E13] Do It Yourself
: The mother-daughter duo attempts to fix a plumbing issue, though their plotline is generally considered the lighter, less impactful part of the episode. Critical Reception Critics and viewers often describe this episode as
" Do It Yourself " (Season 8, Episode 13) of Modern Family explores the pitfalls of self-reliance across the three households. While the episode leans heavily on its "DIY" theme, it delivers classic physical comedy, particularly through Jay’s roof-bound antics. Episode Highlights Critical Reception " Do It Yourself " (Season
“Mitch and Cam try to teach Lily to be self-reliant, in a story that practically screams the episode's theme at viewers.” The TV Ratings Guide · 9 years ago Perspectives on the Episode
: Phil tries to be a "do-it-yourself" real estate mogul by investing in a property without a partner, leading to predictable but amusing stress.
Reviewers found the episode’s plots, particularly the Claire/Haley plumbing story, to be unoriginal, though they highlighted specific comedic moments, such as Cam's mistaken identity subplot and a joke about Claire's singing.