When does Modern Family season 9 start?

So you’ve probably already heard the bad news: season 10 will probably be the last for the family-centric sitcom. But we have some good news for you, too: Modern Family season 9 is right around the corner.

Get ready to really savor Phil’s antics, Claire’s well-intentioned nagging and Gloria’s tight dresses, because it’s looking like you’re only getting two more seasons of them — and the comical situations that come about for the family, especially when all three of these combine. You’ve seen all three camps of the big, hilarious family weather disaster, celebrate triumph and lean on each other through life’s daily obstacles, big and small. It’s only natural if, at this point, the cast of Modern Family feels a little like your family.

So when are you going to be reunited with these on-screen extensions of your own rambunctious group of relatives? Scroll to the bottom of the page to find out exactly when Modern Family season 9 starts or keep reading to relive the highs and lows of the season 8 finale to catch up.

How did the Modern Family season 8 finale leave things?

Although it’s been far from front-and-center, Luke and Manny’s graduation was a reoccurring theme throughout the season. We’ve seen the two boys — who, need we remind you, were just innocent little kids when we first met them all the way back in season 1 — learn the ins and outs of parties, successfully navigate the mature work of job hunting and generally accept and grow into a heavy burden of adult responsibility.

It’s only fitting, then, that the season culminates in their graduation on an episode aptly named “The Graduates.” It’s yet another touching benchmark moment for the families that audiences have come to expect from the show, though the rest of the episode and season as a whole has been called a little scattered by some. As has been typical for the show, scenes cut between the different parts of the three families in short episodes.

Still, it’s a pivotal moment to see the two kids we met in season 1 begin the part of their lives in which they move away from their parents. At least when Haley (kind of) did it, and Alex followed, there was still Luke and Manny, the still pretty innocent duo around. Now it’s all left to Lily and Joe, who pace well behind the three Dunphys and Manny. On that note, we’ll leave you to wonder where the heck season 9 will take us.