"The One That Got Away" is the 24th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Modern Family, and the 48th episode overall. It is the last episode of season 2. It was originally aired on May 25, 2011. The episode was directed by James Bagdonas and was written by Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh and Dan O'Shannon.

The episode follows the family trying to create a special day for Jay's birthday, while only he wants is to spend a quiet day fishing. Claire and Mitchell try to recreate a photo of the two of them while they were kids to make a special gift to Jay, Cameron goes to bakery to buy a cake but he gets into trouble, Phil tries to pass Gloria as his wife at the mall when he runs into his college nemesis and the kids try to make a special video as a gift to Jay. Everyone gathers at the house for the birthday, but the dinner ends up a disaster.

The episode received positive reviews from critics.

It is Jay's (Ed O'Neill) birthday and all he desires is to have a quiet birthday while fishing on the lake, but the family misinterpret him as wanting a big celebration. In their frantic scramble to put everything together, all they manage to do is to ruin Jay's day who ends up not going fishing.

Claire (Julie Bowen) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) want to make a special gift to their dad; recreate a photo of the two of them while they were kids. They dressed up the way they were on the photo (Mitchell is dressed up as a sailor) and they go to their childhood home to take the picture. When they get there, no one is at home so they decide to climb the fence, take the picture and go. While trying to take the picture, the dog of the owners' sees them and they wind up trapped in the back yard. They end up calling Jay to come and help them.

Meanwhile, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) goes to the bakery to buy a cake for Jay but he gets himself into trouble when people hear him talking on the phone. Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is on the other side of the line asking for advice for a girl he likes. Cameron is telling him what to say and people misinterpret his words, thinking he is talking to an underage girl. While crying he calls Gloria (Sofía Vergara) to ask her to take the cake but Jay accidentally took her phone so he is the one who ends up going to buy the cake.

Phil (Ty Burrell) runs into his old college nemesis, Glen (Rob Huebel), while at the mall with Gloria and Lily. When Glen keeps making fun of him, he decides to make him think that Gloria is his wife. Glen gets impressed when he sees Gloria but he tells Phil that he was thinking he had married Claire and that he was jealous of him back in college because he was dating her. Phil realizes how lucky he is for having Claire and after going back home he tells her all the time.

Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould) want to do a special gift for their grandfather; a video with all the family talking about Jay and wishing him happy birthday. The material they have though is not the best and Luke says he will edit it to make something awesome.

At the end of the episode, the whole family is at Jay and Gloria's home for the birthday dinner. Jay's day at the lake is ruined, Stella drops the cake on the floor and the presents Jay gets are not the ones someone was expecting. Luke wants to save the day with the special video but when he plays it no one likes it and it leaves Jay with a headache. Finally, Manny is the one who saves the party who tried to make Jay's wish about fishing come true at the house's pool.

The episode ends with Mitchell telling Cameron that he wants a second kid. Cameron immediately agrees asking if they could get a boy this time.

"The One That Got Away" was written by Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh & Dan O'Shannon and was directed by James Bagdonas, his first and only credit for the series. This episode was given a rating of TV-14 L.^[1] The episode was filmed on March 9^[2] and March 10, 2011. The episode also features a guest appearance from Rob Huebel as Glen Whipple, Phil's old college nemesis.^[1]