Switched At Birth – Recap & Review – Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time

photo: abcfamily

Switched At Birth
Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time

Original Air Date: Mar 20, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

All of the previews for this hour promised a shocking ending. And to be honest, I don’t think shocking would be the word I’d use to describe it. The last scene wasn’t all that surprising (more on that later), but what happened before it was a myriad of emotions… sad, frustrating, heartbreaking, and raw.

So, here we all are, at the spring finale of this amazing show. ABC Family says new episodes will be coming soon, but Fall 2012 isn’t soon enough for me! So let’s discuss what went on in the finale!

It’s prom time at Carlton (apparently the show is not taking place in real-time/March), and Emmett and Daphne have waited until the last minute to ask their prospective dates. Seriously. It doesn’t matter if it was Monday when Daphne asked Wilke, who asks someone to prom the week of? I doubt the school announced it that week, so how about a little notice for your significant others? Bay has no problem accepting Emmett’s offer, which he did by fake proposing and have ear plugs in a ring box (deaf proms are loud). Daphne is attempting to create a banner to put on Wilke’s car, but artwork is not her forte. Bay helps her come up with an arresting motif, but as Wilke is eyeing his “wanted” posters and Daphne is slapping cuffs on him (kinky!), he declines her offer as his dad is cracking down on him over his grades and an upcoming paper. Daphne is crushed.

But what really stands out is the sisterly interaction between the two girls. Besides Bay helping Daphne with her invite, she immediately invites her to come along with her and Emmett, sans date. Bay even checks to make sure Daphne is OK with Regina doing her hair. These two have really come a long way in bonding since the show premiered. If you recall, when the show started most thought Bay was spoiled and Daphne was naïve and unworldly. But the characters have really evolved into both being the co-leads on the show, without fighting each other to boost the other’s character.

Ok, back to the events at hand. Daphne invites Travis (her classmate who works at John’s carwash) to attend as a friend. After some initial hesitation, he agrees. Kathryn shows her prom-mom giddiness by offering Bay a vintage barrette to wear and Daphne a fancy purse to use. She and John have also agreed to chaperone the dance.

Before we get to the actual prom, let’s run down some of the other events that happened…

Angelo calls Regina while Bay and Daphne are there. It seems he cleared his name in Italy, but was detained by Immigration upon his return to the states. Regina says she’ll help him find a lawyer, but after this is all over, the two of them are done-done as a couple. Angelo still wants to be with her, but Regina is adamant that they are over. In fact, so adamant, that she makes a sex-date with Patrick while the girls are at prom. (Luckily Kathryn told her how they gave Toby condoms for his prom, so she knows where to get one for her lucky night.)

On the day of prom, Kathryn and Craig pay a visit to a lactation nurse who used to work at the hospital. Colleen Vandernewt (played by E.T.’s Dee Wallace) is a wealth of information about the hospital’s pre-computer methods, including overworked nurses and smudged name tags. Unfortunately, she’s also a whack job, thinking the hospital is now barcoding the babies for the antichrist. She’ll be of no help, but they plan to use her information for other leads. Craig’s car breaks down after the visit, making Kathryn late for the prom. They talk road side, and share a moment where they find themselves face to face with a near-kiss. They pull away before it goes any further, and while Craig is all apologies, Kathryn admits it’s not just on him.

Daphne goes to surprise Wilke with a study treat, but he’s not home. Instead she meets his father (played by Corbin Bernsen) who wonders what she sees in his underperforming son. He lets her know that Wilke is being shipped off to boarding school. Daphne is stunned by the news.

Bay and Emmett head off to the prom, with his gift of a Bay-engraved motorcycle helmet. I’d be a little bugged to go on the bike, have my hair squished, and ride in a dress, but that’s just me. Since she’s distracted by Angelo’s incarceration and wondering if he even knows she misses him, Emmett offers a quick trip to visit him. Angelo comes off as less than charming when he hits Bay up for money to make calls to his lawyer in Italy.

Daphne is prepping for prom when Travis shows up to go together, clad in a tuxedo T-shirt. And then Wilke shows up, in a real tux, with a limo and corsage. Daphne is not receptive to his romantic gesture, but agrees to go, inviting Travis to join them in the limousine. Travis makes himself comfy with the snacks and champagne, much to Wilke’s sulking chagrin. At the dance, Daphne confronts him about boarding school, and when he confirms it, she wishes he would have just disappeared.

Bay is having fun with Emmett, despite her concerns about being hearing and mocked for her ASL skills (Wilke has no such concerns apparently). John catches Travis spiking some punch (a time honored tradition), and confiscates the booze. John takes a few secret swigs, but is busted by Melody who takes a much smoother swig of her own. She compliments his relationship with Kathryn and their devotion to one another. Kathryn arrives a little later, apologizes to her husband for being so cranky, and they take to the dance floor where Kathryn lays a (guilt-ridden) passionate kiss on him.

Bay suggests to Daphne that instead of being angry with Wilke, they take him out for a last, wild night (of mini golf?) with Emmett, Toby, and Simone. But when Daphne tells Wilke, she’s surprised that he’s sour on the idea of spending time with Emmett. When she pushes him for a reason, she’s floored to hear his accusation of Emmett and Simone sleeping together. She thinks he’s lying, but goes off to confront Emmett. Emmett weakly denies it, and Daphne heartbrokenly admits to Wilke that her best friend lied to her face. She wants to tell Toby and Bay, but Wilke suggests waiting until after prom. They discuss their future, or lack thereof when he goes off to boarding school, and she makes sure he knows he’s more than a pretty face. Who’d of thought that they’d be the sincere couple? (Although I still think Wilke needs to make more of a sign language effort.)

After his conversation with Daphne, Emmett realizes he’s busted. He pulls Bay outside, and with tears in his eyes, confesses his indiscretion. Bay immediately thinks it was Daphne, but he corrects her and finger spells Simone’s name. Bay is shocked and repulsed, and despite Emmett’s declaration that it was a mistake, storms off, instructing him not to follow. She goes to his bike, eyes her custom helmet, and angrily chucks it into the nearby lake.

Meanwhile, post-prom, John pays Regina a visit. He lets her know they got Angelo a lawyer, but his odds against deportation are not good. In fact, he suggests his best chance of staying in the country is to marry a U.S. citizen. …And scene!

I didn’t find the marriage suggestion twist all that surprising. In fact, it’s usually the de-facto suggestion in immigration storylines. Now, had he suggested that Angelo marry Adrianna, I would have been surprised.

But the heart of the hour was really our two lead girls. Where do you think we will find them when the show returns in the fall? Will Bay ever forgive Emmett? Should she forgive him? And is his friendship with Daphne forever damaged? Will we see the Toby-Simone fallout? And will Wilke find a way out of boarding school? Or will Daphne end up with Travis? Will the lawsuit ever be resolved? Do you sense chemistry between John and Melody? Will Regina marry Angelo? Will Kathryn further act on her attraction to Craig?

If you’re curious about the artwork the episode drew its title from, click here. It’s definitely a fitting piece, with all the entangled figures!

You’ve got my TwoCents! Now share your TwoCents, comments, feedback, and hopes for the fall season below!