Photo courtesy of ABC Family
It seems like the more I watch Switched at Birth, the more I feel like I’m watching a soap opera. The multiple stories run concurrently, intersect, and result in further developments. Nonetheless, it’s important to note the show has not lost its appeal to me, but instead makes me reflect upon internal experiences and relationships I’ve experienced in my life.
The latest episode, Les Soeurs d’Estrees, focuses on relationships — particularly, parent/child relationships.
I’ll note that as perspectives of both children and parents were shown throughout the show, I identified — and sided — with the children. But, at the same time, my mom and dad often told me as a child, “Wait until you have your OWN children and then you’ll understand what I mean.” This holds true as it brings us full circle from child to adult to parent.
Before digging into the parental/child relationships, it’s important to understand the implications and impact that Emmett’s bike has in the storyline. The connections Emmett and Daphne have with the bike are representations of a bigger picture – one that creates a powerful storyline.
Sure, you can justify calling Emmett and Daphne sentimental, however, there are certain emotions elicited from their connection to “Ripley,” the bike Emmett needed to sell to pay his $5,000 fine.
For Emmett, the bike represents a bond he shared with his father. For Daphne, it epitomizes a feeling of being free. This reference to feeling free is two-pronged: number one, the desire to break away from parental control, and number two, not having to worry about how their deafness impacts others, a thought insinuated by Daphne when she tells Bay it was a time they didn’t have to worry about their voices.
While the respective connections are at the heart of the show, discussing each parent/child relationship will take up too much time. Nonetheless, the parent/child relationship I want to stress is between Melody and Emmett.
We all know Emmett’s mother, Melody, is a relatively strict mother and has been harsh on Emmett for having a hearing girlfriend. These are huge contributing factors in driving Emmett away from his mother and toward his father, and the episode shows that regardless of whether you are Deaf or hearing, the essence of the parental/child relationship will hold true in children – all children eventually want to gain independence from their parents.
And while it upsets me as a Deaf person how Emmett was arrested, he did commit a crime and has to face consequences. Moving away from his mother and with his father may not be the best thing for Emmett to do, and I believe Emmett doesn’t yet fully understand the ramifications yet due to his emotional and psychological immaturity.
After all, he’s still in high school and has a lot to learn about life, and this is where his parents really need to come into the picture and work together.
The question is will they do so?
They’re already divorced, and as a viewer, we know virtually nothing about the relationship between Melody and Emmett’s father.
However, with that said, I do believe like most parents, Emmett’s parents are doing the best they can with the resources they have.
*** A side note: my inclination based on multiple Twitter feeds is that the father will be played by Anthony Natale.
Purple Digital Media Coordinator Corey Axelrod is a regular contributor to the Purple Blog. Watch for more reviews as Switched at Birth season two continues! Corey’s views and opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Purple Communications. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyaxelrod.
The latest episode made me question what I was watching. Was I watching a reincarnation of “one life to live”? In the end, we learned a few more things about the characters in the show. Namely, we find out how much Emmett loves his bike, we also find out how the other characters (Daphne and Bay) feel about the bike. I certainly can relate to things of sentimental value and can understand the emotions involved. I can’t imagine asking my own kid you would have to give up something you value to pay off a mistake. Granted, we know the family is of modest means, and not like their neighbors who come from money, but couldn’t Melody come up with a few alternatives before going to extreme measures?
It was definitely interesting how Daphne wanted to help Emmett out by selling cupcakes, then switching to lying to get money from Bay’s family. What was strange was Bay not offering any assistance whatsoever to her boyfriend except the subtle hinting of telling Daphne to ask Bay’s parents for the money even though it wasn’t explicitly stated.
Moving on to relationships, it was interesting in the end how Emmett told Melody he was moving in with Dad. Obviously the show hasn’t gotten around to explaining who dad is but eventually we will find out. In addition, we will find out what kind of relationship he will have with Emmett. It seems that Emmett is losing his relationship with the bike and replacing it with a renewed relationship with his father. Almost like a reincarnation of his bike since he had to give it up. Hopefully his relationship with dad will be worth more than the $5,000 he got for the bike. It will be interesting to see how the show demonstrates the relationship of Emmett and his dad and develops it within the storyline in upcoming episodes.
Secondly, it was shocking about the revelation on Angelo learning about Daphne being DNA tested at 3 years old and not being informed that Daphne was not his daughter. I’m not sure how I would react to that revelation if I was in his shoes but I would definitely express my outrage. It wouldn’t change my feelings of my “child” but I would have a serious heart to heart with the mother of my “child” (quote is intended for the fact that the child isn’t mine, per se).
In any event, I look forward to seeing further developments in the storyline and seeing how the show’s writers/producers proceed with these new revelations.
Switched at Birth *is* a soap opera, the same as all the other ABC Family shows (Pretty Little Liars, Secret Life…, etc.) so it’s important to keep one’s perspective when watching the show. In order to entertain and keep its young audience, the show has to develop story lines that may be silly or unrealistic. It has to be entertaining. Also, things have to happen to move the story along, so while it would make sense for Melody to come up with less extreme measures it wouldn’t be as dramatic, nor would it have helped develop the story line with Emmett’s father.
Justin,
Your reference to “One Life to Live” is quite interesting, and is not one I thought about. One thing I want to point out that is shown in the latest episode, Bay did not understand why the bike was so important to Emmett until Daphne explained to her the significance. This goes back to the issue of communication – if both users are not fluent, messages may become constricted and limited.
I will also add that we do not know anything about Emmett’s relationship with his father – from my observation, it seems as if Melody has full custody of Emmett and is caring for him full-time. Regardless, this has nothing to do with the type of relationship Emmett has with his father. We shall find out relatively soon.
Last, but not least, it is particularly interesting how Angelo seemed to take the DNA revelation quite well. I’m not certain how I would have responded and I’m not even sure I want to speculate based on the sensitivity of the situation and my hoping that I never have to endure anything of that nature.
Thank you,
Corey Axelrod
Purple Communications – Digital Marketing Coordinator
S.E.,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that the story lines are going to be written so they are entertaining – that’s what makes for good TV. This show reminds me much of ‘Revenge,’ another product of ABC. Both shows are dramatic in their own ways and the story lines provoke conflict in unimaginable ways.
Again, thank you.
Corey Axelrod
Purple Communications – Digital Marketing Coordinator