Switched At Birth – Recap & Review – The Homecoming

photo: abcfamily

Switched At Birth
The Homecoming

Original Air Date: Aug 8, 2011

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@
thetwocentscorp.com

Tonight we bid adieu to the inaugural summer season of one of television’s newest hit shows. When we first started watching, we thought it would be the season finale, but ABC Family gave us an early gift with the promise of another twenty-two episodes in this first season.

We’ve gotten to know the Kennish and Vasquez families and a handful of their inner circle. But tonight that circle is dramatically increased by one. So let’s see how this last episode for a while plays out, shall we?

We open with Daphne and Emmett hanging out in his room, planning a Carlton fundraiser. Daphne has all sorts of ideas, but she is stunned to learn that Bay and Emmett have already worked out a carwash event with John. Noticing photos of Bay on his wall (previously shrined to Daphne), she quickly realizes they now have a thing going. She’s upset and can’t believe it after Emmett had told her he’d never go for a hearing girl. She doesn’t, however, tell Emmett about her growing feelings.

Bay is busy with an art show at Buckner, when she notices a man (Giles Marini) admiring her art. She’s quickly shocked to learn he’s not a mysterious art dealer, but is, in fact, Angelo Sorrento- her birth father. He tries to talk to her, but they’re interrupted by John. Bay covers his identity, but is resistant or intimidated to actually converse with her long lost father. He lets her know he’ll be in town at a hotel for the next three days.

Daphne confronts Bay over her hidden relationship with Emmett. She’s angry and tells Bay that she could never know Emmett like she does. Bay retorts that the point of dating is so they can get to know each other. Bay thinks Daphne is just lashing out because her life is falling apart. She keeps the news of Angelo’s visit to herself. Bay later tells Emmett about meeting Angelo and being unsure what to do next, as Angelo hasn’t done anything to her personally. Emmett, clearly already understanding Bay, tells her there is no way she will be able to stay away.

Daphne and Emmett are at the car wash preparing for the charity event. They get into a tremendous fight, made even more powerful by the overlapping sign language and subtitles. She finally admits to liking him, but he blows up at having waited eight years for her to notice him. They share a brief kiss (which I didn’t think had as much chemistry as he does with Bay), but he quickly pulls back, declaring he is with Bay.

Bay goes to see Angelo, who lets her know he found out about the switch via the newspaper article. She wants to know more about why he left, but he says it’s a story for when they have more time. She thinks if this is to continue, it can’t be a secret. So, she takes him home and springs him on her parents. John is absolutely livid, ordering Angelo out of the house and threatening to call the police. Daphne walks into the room and is horrified by the surprise guest. She gives him a moment to explain himself, but he doesn’t know she can read lips and thinks she doesn’t understand. She storms off, and is somewhat comforted by Regina, who insists she didn’t know he was coming and she won’t let him hurt her. Daphne wants nothing to do with Angelo.

Kathryn talks to Bay about their concerns over Angelo. Bay convinces her that this is not about them. This is about the part of her that’s always felt like she didn’t belong and her need to explore it. Kathryn, to her credit, understands and promises to talk to John for her.

At the carwash, Daphne is cold with Emmett and resistant to Wilke’s overt flirting. But when Bay, Toby, and Wilke share a laugh about Wilke running through the carwash, Emmett feels left out. He picks a fight with Bay about her not learning sign fast enough, having to interpret for him, thinking she’ll drop him, and not being part of her hearing world. To her credit, Bay instantly realizes that Daphne told him about her feelings. Emmett walks away.

Angelo and Regina meet and, well, restate everything we already knew. He left because he thought she cheated and Daphne wasn’t his. He thinks if the switch hadn’t happened, they’d still be together. Regina thinks he came back for his now-rich daughter. Back at the hotel, John visits and wants to talk man to man. Angelo cuts to the chase and insinuates he wants in on the hospital lawsuit. He even claims to have an affidavit from one of the nurses, claiming she worked 36 hours beyond union rules that night. The Kennish’s lawyer is unsure if they should use it, as if it’s fabricated, they could be complicit in criminal activity. She thinks they should take the hospital’s recent settlement offer.

Emmett, after a brotherly visit from Toby, goes to see Bay. He admits he’s not comfortable with the hearing world, but she’s different. He always thought he’d wait for a deaf girl. But then, in a moment which had to have melted the hardest stone hearts, Emmett uses his voice and emotionally tells Bay, “I just want you.” (And ‘fess up in the comments section if that totally choked you up and brought tears to your eyes.)

Throughout the hour, Wilke and Toby excitedly talked about playing the East-West Festival in St. Louis (which I don’t think really exists). The catch is that Wilke booked the gig with the hook of a deaf drummer. Emmett is resistant, but agrees to go by the end of the hour. As they all go to leave, Emmett kisses Bay goodbye to Daphne’s chagrin and Wilke declares (to Toby) his interest in Daphne. After they’re gone, Daphne coldly informs Bay that she’s not giving up on Emmett. Bay, in return, says she wants to get to know Angelo better.

Kathryn likens Angelo-John to her rocky relationship with Regina. She gets John to relax a little, but then admits she feels lost in the whole switch situation. After dealing with John’s anger, the girls’ feelings, and navigating Regina, she doesn’t know who she is anymore, but she intends to find out.

Regina is dejected when the bank declines to finance a loan for her to start her own salon. She’s surprised by a visit from Angelo who tells her he plans to share whatever lawsuit money he gets with her and wants to be a family again. Regina is stunned into silence, but a curious Kathryn watches the whole thing from the kitchen window.

So … wow… that all happened. It was relatively small moments in terms of reveals, but definitely an hour packed full of emotions. The Bay/Daphne/Emmett scenes were so powerfully acted by all three of the young actors. I know the hyped plot was Angelo’s introduction, but I could have watched the teens all hour. I know people seem to be divided between Daphne and Bay and who they think is more spoiled/selfish/etc…, but I think they’ve both had their worlds shaken and are trying to find their way. I truly don’t believe either is the sole victim or vixen here.

So are you excited for more in 2012? You’ve got my TwoCents, now share your TwoCents, comments, and feedback below!