A Man. And His Blog.

Season 1, Episode 15
Date of Airing: Jan 31, 2012 (ABC Family)
Watched for review: Feb 9, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 45/168

How about getting some money together, write an episode for Katie Leclerc, so she can send it in to the Emmy people. Because during the episode I was realizing she totally got her role by now. How she plays with the emotions of her character, and starts to cry … She would probably win in a crying contest against Claire Danes. Maybe it really is time for somebody to pick an episode to send to the Emmys, so that ABC Family is recognized during award shows (before The CW will be).

The episode was okay. Seems like it was all about preparing Angelo (Gilles Marini) for the remainder of this part of the season. But if the assault and battery charges were it, then I will be pretty disappointed. You don’t make such a fuzz about a secret, when the actual reasons are totally lame. It was just assault and battery. Not murder, not a bank heist, not rape. Okay, I don’t know what that means in Italian laws, and if you could get like 30 years or something, but I was expecting a lot more, after Angelo was from the Earth for two years and changed his name, and even got a phone call to warn him about upcoming events. In addition, when Angelo was telling his side of the story to the families, I was reminded by how Regina told her side of the switch story to everybody. And the latter is still the winner. This scene here was totally lame, especially since it didn’t have any emotional purpose. That Angelo was turned in makes me hope that he won’t be seen for a while. Better is.

It would make Bay (Vanessa Marano) more of an emotional character with Angelo gone. She could start hating people, since she was about to get to know her father. I was wondering during the scene, when she told her parents she would never forgive them, when they would deport Angelo, if the writers would go through that story. Now that her grandma is the evil bitch, I wonder if Bay is going to have difficult relations with her. Bay was barely seen with her anyway, so it’s time to create a story out of it. Otherwise it is getting ridiculous when the writers have Bay and Regina as a daughter/mother team, but the writers don’t do anything with it.

The romance stories were okay. I kinda like the pairings now, though I found the “vegetable” a bit too ridiculous for my taste. Especially when the discussion of Bay being deflowered by Emmett (Sean Berdy) was kept so short and so easy by the two of them. Bay was just thinking about it and found it cool, while Emmett was just suggesting it without hand signing it. And I thought Bay would be a bit more affected about the topic. But okay, talking about the “vegetable” was funny. “I don’t peel and tell”, haha. Also, Daphne (Katie Leclerc) and Wilke (Austin Butler) were sweet together. But Daphne is coming over way too innocent. As soon as she hears or see something bad, she thinks it’s the apocalypse, and two seconds later everything is back to normal again. There’s no payoff in her stories.

Which made John’s (D.W. Moffett) little side plot a bit ridiculous. Seriously, about a book? Not even I believe that. And I don’t wanna have a stupid story like John cheating on his family. At least Emmett’s father and girlfriend were cool. The exact opposite of Emmett’s mother, and Bay’s family. Could be part of a bit more comedy, when the writers continue to give them screentime. 6.5/10

Even Angelo gets his shirt-off moment

Also, Daphne still cries a lot

Season 1, Episode 14
Date of Airing: Jan 24, 2012 (ABC Family)
Watched for review: Feb 8, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 41/164

Another just-alright episode. Nothing much happened, except “Save Ripley”, which was not enough to be entertaining though. Other than that, some of the continuing storylines weren’t mine. I knew that Angelo (Gilles Marini) and Regina (Constance Marie) would get back together some day, and I’m still not happy about an eventual return of the story. Which is why I was shaking my head, when the two shared a kiss – not the moment I was waiting for. Also, I knew that Simone (Maiara Walsh) would become an important recurring character, though I don’t know if giving her a romantic plot with Toby (Lucas Grabeel) is such a good idea. If it would be Wilke (Austin Butler), it would be an interesting story, because they share history unknown to the audience. With Toby, it just seems like a normal love story. Also, it looks like the writers try to find a way to keep Toby interested for the audience.

The lawsuit could finally begin shaping into a bigger thing. I’m actually getting annoyed by it not becoming a real story. It’s still all about preparation and stuff, and every episode has a new issue. Okay, now they have a new lawyer, so I hope the case is getting somewhere now. But with the season still having loads of episodes, I’m suspecting that Craig (Sam Page) won’t be in all of those episodes. I’m actually predicting another change in lawyer. I don’t know why, but I just smell it. The writers are probably looking into more issues to deal with, before it goes to court. Maybe a crossover with THE GOOD WIFE would help? The ridiculous scene at the end, when Craig was talking about making noise, and John (D.W. Moffett) instantly shaking his head, was laughable though. I’m surprised the writers don’t go into another episode, making an issue out of John’s decision for or against Craig as their lawyer.

Emmett’s (Sean Berdy) drama was okay. Save Ripley was a good-enough story to fill the episode, but how it was done at the end was kinda lame. No surprises, except the fact that Bay (Vanessa Marano) and Daphne (Katie Leclerc) were working together for once. Being friends (with issues) for another episode, both realizing what the other is thinking about the situation. I want more of those scenes, but I don’t know I will get them in the next couple of episodes. I liked that Daphne’s lie to the Kennishes had consequences minutes after the lie. I wasn’t expecting that, and I wasn’t expecting for Kathryn (Lea Thompson) and Daphne to have issues because of the lie. That also makes Kathryn shine more as a mother, which is also positive. Bay already showed that she was surprised about Kathryn’s decision to take Daphne’s car keys. Maybe the writers will continue to shape Kathryn as a mother for two girls. Because that topic was never really mentioned earlier.

Regina and her salon plans… boring. Angelo getting into the business was obviously a way to get him back together with Regina, which is just lame. Don’t like it, don’t want it. But at least Angelo knows about Regina’s “little secret” – only it didn’t have any consequences. Really lame, because I wanted to see a different Angelo, after he learned that Regina knew about Bay. But Angelo feels like he just wants to be a father and a lover to his ex, without being angry or whatever. Angelo is just a pretty boring character at the moment. And that must change, before he gets really shitty.

One more thing: The hatred between Melody (Marlee Matlin) and Bay should develop. The money thing was a nice try, but I have the feeling the writers don’t know where to go with Melody in the lives of the Kennishes. 6/10

Let's drink fake champagne!

Let's listen and fall in love to a cheesy songwriter!

Season 1, Episode 13 (13)
Date of Airing: Jan 17, 2012 (ABC Family)
Watched for review: Jan 28, 2012
Number of review in MONTH/2012: 38/161

Thankfully a good episode. I was doubting my senses during the last two episodes, and if this show can manage to hold onto the quality of the first third of the season, minus the pilot. And finally there seems to be some focus in the story for the rest of the season. I kinda hate the mystery crap, especially what Angelo (Gilles Marini) did in the past two years, but as long as the writers don’t overdo all of this, the lawsuit story could actually be interesting. Even though I still don’t like it being part of the show at the moment.

So, Amanda (Meeghan Holaway) made out with somebody from the hospital board. I don’t even know why this was so important for Kathryn (Lea Thompson) and John (D.W. Moffett). I know it was all about the huge conflict of interest, but it could have been a bigger story in the episode. It was like “hey, Kathryn sees the kiss, so let’s get Amanda out of the story in the next scene.” No Build-up, no thrill of some sorts, no discussion about it. Lame execution of an interesting-sounding story. And I was actually smiling a bit, when Kathryn thought that Amanda was a lesbian, having a crush on her. How great would that story have been in the future?

Daphne’s (Katie Leclerc) basketball problems were also not really interesting. I find it ridiculous when the coach only brought her into the team, so that Buckner gets a big paycheck. I mean, in the last episode he was complimenting her play, so why not testing her play for once? I can accept though that the writers use this little idiotic storyline to give more screentime for Daphne and John. Maybe that will be the story, where I start to like that guy. At least he wasn’t as terrible as a character in this episode than in the last. Despite the fact that I still have a problem with D.W. Moffett’s delivery of dialog. I’m way too clouded about this guy to see a positive thing about his character. I’m trying, but I still hate him.

Emmett’s (Sean Berdy) arrest was an interesting story. But I have the feeling the writers are giving Emmett way too many emotions, and scenes where he thinks about his life and his status as a deaf teenager. I loved the whole drama between him and Melody (Marlee Matlin), and I wish for it to continue, so I’ll have more of Marlee Matlin, but Emmett gets too much attention at this moment. Not Daphne, who should be in front and center at the moment, but Emmett, whom I don’t consider being part of the main story arc. He’s just a supporting regular, and the writers haven’t quite managed to bring him into the main action of the show yet. The writers want to bring in all the drama, and how the deaf see the world and think about hearing people – but with the exception of Emmett dating Bay (Vanessa Marano), it has nothing to do with the story of the show. Bay is almost the only constant in Emmett’s life, connecting him with the other characters. (When Emmett and Daphne are talking, it’s mostly just the two, without anyone being involved, and it’s also mostly a recap/review of events already happened. So I don’t count that in very much).

And Regina (Constance Marie) and Angelo hanging out together? Well, I still believe the two will eventually get back together (that also destroys the possibility of Regina going back to the bottle, which is fine by me), but I kinda don’t like that Regina is in Angelo’s hands again. I wanted more hate between Angelo and his family. Daphne still hates him, so why not Regina? After all, she also has something to say about the fact that he left the family… 7/10

Awkward moment makes awkward face

Happy ending for a troubled couple

Season 1, Episode 12 (12)
Date of Airing: Jan 10, 2012 (ABC Family)
Watched for review: Jan 17, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 34/157

It was an okay-episode. Good for one reason: Angelo wasn’t part of it, and therefore the whole drama around the lawsuit wasn’t here. I can imagine that this story will be important in the future of the season, particularly the final third of it, so I’ll take any episode which doesn’t have the lawsuit in front and center. It’s still a storyline I don’t like very much, and only David E. Kelley could maybe save it. But how on Earth is Kelley writing for ABC Family. Though, when I come to think of it, it would be cool.

The only great think about the episode was the discussion between Emmett (Sean Berdy) and Melody (Marlee Matlin) about Bay (Vanessa Marano) and Emmet’s decisions. It’s great to have no sound at all, but see the acting of both Sean and Marlee, which was superb here. Nice that the producers got to show another reason why SWITCHED AT BIRTH is underappreciated at most. Sure, it’s still not the perfect TV show, but it’s better than anything else on the network. Anyway, I found Melody’s hate towards Bay a bit over the top some times. Like the first meeting before the dinner, or the whole Monopoly board game scene. I know there is a meaning behind those scenes, but I didn’t like that Melody comes over as so bitchy and protective to her son, even though she doesn’t even know anything. The speech therapy story for example: Why wouldn’t she accept his decision and leave him be? (Though I have no idea how deaf people really think about that topic)

Daphne’s (Katie Leclerc) story was uncool though. Wow, she has new friends, and wow, she finally has fun in her life. The dare game in the club was hilarious, but when I see Simone (Maiara Walsh) not paying for the drinks, loving that Daphne gets fake IDs, and ultimately loving all bad stuff … no wonder she dated Wilke in her past. I don’t like that Daphne gets involved with the wrong people (Bay was right, ha), and that Wilke (Austin Butler) also gets in the mix, with the writers teasing there might be something going in between him and Simone in the future. Which also means there are going to be problems between him and Daphne. That’s clichéd storytelling, and I hate such obvious clichés. In addition, I can’t believe that Bay and Daphne were so cold to each other, when Bay wanted to tell her about Simone. Every good friend would have said something, despite the past they share – here the writers chickened out, just for the story.

I also didn’t like the whole basketball thing, besides Daphne having the balls to stand up against John (D.W. Moffett). I just don’t like John. At all. He’s still the asshole character, and now I can’t figure out if it’s because D.W., or if the writers are not able to make a good character out of John (that’s why I don’t love the lawsuit storyline, btw). I really, really hope that’s going to change, or I will hate all the storylines with him. Waah, I don’t know, but even when he calls Daphne “Sweetie”, I wanna kill him. Something is wrong with me. I CAN’T STAND THAT GUY!

Kathryn’s (Lea Thompson) remorse was also a bit lame, but it promises something for the future. I never saw Kathryn or John doing something. Did they ever work since the pilot? So, with Kathryn probably writing a book, it would be nice to see how the famous midwestern rich people get their money, and make money. And it would keep Kathryn busy with a storyline. 6/10

Boys will be boys with a summer job (in a TV show aired in January)

Even in this case, though son doesn't like his mother at the moment

Season 1, Episode 11 (11)
Date of Airing: Jan 3, 2012 (ABC Family)
Watched for review: Jan 5, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 29/152

Yes, I’ll confess that I was absolutely loving this show at the end of the first part of the first season. That I was expecting a lot from it from the rest of the season, since I could start trusting the writers. That I was able to love a show airing on ABC Family. At least now I know I should scale back my expectations again. After all, I’m about to believe this show is so good, because I had low expectations, and because the pilot was so shitty.

The episode was alright, nothing special, and was working only in one scene, while the stories couldn’t really wow me. The conflict between Bay (Vanessa Marano) and Daphne (Katie Leclerc) wasn’t really much of a conflict here, since they are bot fighting for Emmett (Sean Berdy). Instead, Daphne was just releasing her anger towards Wilke (Austin Butler), while Bay didn’t even try to show Daphne she’s serious about her relationship. Instead she was just fighting with Emmett herself about the way she sees their relationship. Not really a thrilling storyline, but I like how Emmett sees the relationship and the factor that he’s deaf. So, I liked the scene, when he explained the situation with the hot dog guy to Bay, while Daphne was translating. Touching scene, and one more scene where I was understanding a character more. If the scene would have just been cut after the explanation – because anything else coming after this didn’t really fit. That scene felt way too extended to deliver a proper message.

The lawsuit wasn’t really mine. So, the nurse carries all the guilt, even though she can’t even remember. So, Kathryn (Lea Thompson) talked to her, even though she shouldn’t have, and made the story more an emotional piece about how a nurse works a 48-hour-shift. As a mother, as a normal woman, as somebody who has nothing to say on this world. As if the writers already try to bring excuses to cut the storyline for good. Which wouldn’t be so wrong. But I also think that the nurse’s appearance showed the writers’ seriousness about going fully into the story. Which is why I’m conflicted about the story here. Especially since the writers could have chosen a better path to make Kathryn interested in it, or more emotionally involved.

The night out for Bay, Angelo (Gilles Marini) and Regina (Constance Marie) was okay. It was so predictable that Regina and Angelo would clash together, but I liked the outcome of it: bay is not so happy anymore, and could actually end up hating Angelo as much as Daphne does (which also means the two girls still have a connection despite fighting for their big love). I just don’t like that Regina’s past as an alcoholic gets back up again. That makes the story shine in a way, as if the writers want her back to the drinking. Because alcoholism is such a great topic, where you can deliver messages en masse to the watching families and youth. But for a TV junkie like me, it’s just a boring thing to do. Clichéd, stereotypical, predictable. Which is why I hope the writers don’t do it.

Guitar Face, alias Free Booze… basically boring. The band story should have been in the background of the story only, not making it a full-fletched story for most of the teenage characters. Because it didn’t bring anything, except a good idea by Toby (Lucas Grabeel), and some more confusion in Emmett’s life as a deaf drummer. Not my cup of tea. But at least it’s a better story for Toby than his gambling issues. And it’s a way for Wilke to be busy, besides flirting with Daphne. 6/10

Let's get the beer!

Let's get the romance going!

Well, it was a nice summer finale, but I was reminded again that I’m watching an ABC Family show. Not that it’s something bad nowadays (after all, they have given me two shows this year, and they haven’t given me two shows in the time I know such a network exists), but it could have been less underwhelming, considering it was a summer finale. I really was expecting something of a happy end for now, and I really was not expecting for Angelo (Gilles Marini) to knock on the door and staying. Or getting into the lawsuit with some new information.

Yeah, Angelo. A clichéd character, portrayed by a clichéd actor. I don’t know what to think of him yet, but it seems like the writers know what they want. His first episode wasn’t good though, and I wouldn’t mind if he’s not staying that long. Figuring that he is going to take matters into his own hands considering the lawsuit, and thinking about getting back together with Regina (Constance Marie) to live like a family, it looks like the writers have planned a bunch of stuff with him, but I don’t know if I’m gonna like that next year. No, I really don’t want him to be such a big part of the show right now, which is why I’m totally understanding Daphne (Katie Leclerc) here. Which lets me realize something completely cool: Both Daphne and Bay (Vanessa Marano) show the two different sides of understanding the story at the moment. Bay wants Angelo to stay, Daphne and Regina don’t want to. It should be clear on which side I am; similar to last episode, where Bay wanted Regina to be part of the birthday dinner, while Daphne didn’t want to. And there’s another thing: Bay has a relationship with Emmett (Sean Berdy), but Daphne doesn’t want her to. There are a lot of differences between the two girls now, and I’m kinda surprised that they could reflect on their friendship in the future (which will defintiely be broken for at least a couple of episodes). And that’s the only good thing coming out of Angelo: He’s tearing the girls apart, making good drama out of the story.

But I really, really hated how John (D.W. Moffett) and Kathryn (Lea Thompson) were behaving, when they first met Angelo. John goes crazy again (I don’t need to repeat why I don’t like him; that was pure over-the-toptainment), and the writers continue with this “proper and appropriate channels” thing again. Only the first scene between Daphne and Angelo was strong, because there’s a deeper past lying there, which I want to have recovered for the sake of the story. Like I said, Angelo might not be a great character, but he’s the origin for great drama and storytelling. In addition, I didn’t like how Angelo allies with John for the lawsuit to get “justice”. I don’t really know if he is having a hidden agenda here (similar to Regina and her secret), or if he actually just joined the Justice League with his information about the overworked nurse (seriously, who can’t remember having overworked? Even I still know my 33-hour-shift with no sleep in the military by heart).

The Bay/Emmett romance was nice, especially how it conflicted with Daphne’s feelings. I loved the scene at the car wash, where Daphne let her words out, though I had to freeze-frame the kissing moment: Emmett was the one, who went for the kiss first, but he was saying after that, he’s with Bay (directing mistake, maybe?). Anyway, I loved the scene, when Emmett apologized to Bay, and told her she might be the one for him, followed by his spoken words. Cute, nice, and very romantic and touching. Please more of that. By the way: Nice of the writers to bring Guitar Face back on the radar. As if they wanted to keep Emmett involved with the Kennishes (more than just Bay), and Wilke (Austin Butler) as a recurring character (with chances to become a regular). 7/10

When the deaf are nuclear-angry

When the silent talks

It was a solid episode, but after last episode’s greatness, I was a bit underwhelmed. The episode wasn’t working as much as I wanted it to, and I believe that the girls were forgiving Regina (Constance Marie) a bit too fast. I really would have hoped for a bit more awkwardness between the two, so that an eventual happy end could close the first part of the season, and not make a cliffhanger out of it.

So, it’s the girls birthdays, and they both were expecting something else from it than it eventually came out for them. It was a bit of a cliché that John (D.W. Moffett) and Kathryn (Lea Thompson) took them both car shopping, though I totally loved how Bay (Vanessa Marano) was finding her new love in that shitty old military beetle, though I can understand the love people have for those kind of cars – it’s really stylish and has charm, but it will never be a car I’d buy. Furthermore I wondered if the Kennishes are really so rich to buy two cars at the same time. There was a little “discussion” about not naming prices very often in television, so not to scare off the viewers, who don’t have money. Especially in TV shows like this, it’s rare to hear a definite sum of something to not remind the audience about the recession and their inability to spend that kind of sum. Here, the Kennishes buy two cars, and it made me feel awkward. Now I can understand why writers try not to name numbers.

Other than that, the birthday story wasn’t really mine, especially Bay’s birthday, and how she wanted her art to be on the billboard. The “chase” scene was really awkward to look at, and I really don’t know how Emmett (Sean Berdy) managed to get the art on there. It kinda seems illogical that Emmett is possible to bring Bay’s art to a difficult place, when the two were already failing before. But it was a nice moment, when Bay saw the result, and probably fell in love with Emmett a bit more. Same goes with Daphne (Katie Leclerc), whose present was cool (and I really want to see something like Deafenstein), but I don’t like that the writers hop so late on the train of Daphne having a crush on Emmett. Like I said, I don’t really need that three-way, but as long as the characters stay interesting, it could be a not-so-annoying story. But which three-way story in television, which was only a side plot in the show, was good so far? Even Jack/Kate/Sawyer started to annoy me after a while.

I liked Emmett’s story though. First I was surprised to find out that Melody (Marlee Matlin) was in fact Emmett’s mother – that information must have slipped right by me. But I loved the discussions they have, and how the writers play on the situations of the deaf and the hearing having relations. I can somewhat understand Melody’s mother angst, and as long as the writers don’t get much into Daphne/Emmett/Bay, they really should play on the troubles between Melody and Bay, and how the mother thinks that the hearing girl is taking her son away. Could be interesting to follow up on that after a while.

Only John annoyed me. Again. I hate the custody story, and how the Kennishes want to try to get custody for Daphne, and I hate that John still hasn’t developed much. He’s still that bad-ass (for real) character, who can’t understand the situation, and is an asshole because of it. That still doesn’t bring me to like the character, and that still brings me problems to like D.W. Moffett. Hopefully he is getting a proper role in the near future, or I will always hate him for his shitty-written and unlikable roles. 7/10

Happy birthday, or not?

Even Melody has some troubles to fight

Great episode. I’m always surprised about how great the series is and has become after the hectic and laden pilot. The drama is consistently interesting and emotional; the characters become consistently likable, and the story becomes consistently one of the best ones in current television. I’m almost about to say that SWITCHED AT BIRTH is the best summer series of 2011, but there are a few more things missing to get that award.

So, everybody learned about Regina’s (Constance Marie) secret, and it seems to be the opener of pretty interesting two episodes. I really don’t know what the writers could do now, after revealing Regina’s secrets now, and I really don’t know what to expect from this show now. After all, I learned about the back-22 order between this episode and the last one, and I wonder what the first season will be all about, when the writers already seemed to have all possible storylines told for the first season. But that brings me back to the pilot: It looked like as if the pilot used storylines from the whole season. Now we’re eight episodes in, and it feels like the writers have used storylines for a whole season. During the pilot, it felt forced and it was terrible, but during the last seven episodes, it felt great, and it reminded me of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, and how them writers use the mythology of their show. Now I have trust in the writers to not lose focus for the next 24 episodes of the season. But we’ll talk about that, when the “second half” of season 1 premiers next year.

Anyway, it was perfect to let the Kennishes and Daphne (Katie Leclerc) know about Regina’s knowledge. It brought me the fantastic scene of Regina explaining, Daphne being angry, Bay (Vanessa Marano) almost literally being hit by a lightning, and John (D.W. Moffett) and Kathryn (Lea Thompson) being in the middle of lie-land – some great emotions were in those scenes, and some great acting as well. Constance Marie should be considered for some awards for the explanation scene, because I was feeling with her that moment. I could understand her, I was on her side, and I hope the writers don’t plan to make Regina the bad mother after that (otherwise the whole build-up to that scene would have been for nothing). That scene was crafting, and the last time I felt like I wanted to cry for a character was … well, I can’t remember when. I think the last time I was crying during a TV show was during Mark’s death in ER, and during a BUFFY rewatch, season 5 finale.

The revelation of Regina’s secret opened many storylines for the next two episodes: How is Daphne reacting to it, after she had pretty much a good relationship to Regina, and how is Bay reacting to it, in the middle of the search for her father? How are the two families holding up in general after this revelation, who were just getting used to living under the same roof? There are a bunch of questions, and I’m super interested in how the writers will tackle those.

Other than that, the side plots were alright, but I didn’t care much for them. First would be the alcohol and make-out session between Daphne and Wilke (Austin Butler). I was kinda surprised that teenagers were drinking booze and (almost) having sex in the back of a car in an ABC Family show. Then I was surprised that the possible romance didn’t feel much fake than I expected. Second would be the relationship between Emmett (Sean Berdy) and Bay, which seems to deepen. Which is nice, because it continues to bring conflict between Emmett and Daphne. I don’t really need a triangle relationship between Daphne, Emmett and Bay, but as long as it’s interesting (and I’m staying interested in the characters), the story could come and I wouldn’t mind.

All in all: great episode. One of the highlights of summer 2011. Definitely! 9/10

It's time to do something bad

It's time to explain

Another solid episode. As against other current summer shows, the writers at least try to take this show seriously, and during the last couple of episodes, the development of stories and characters was good enough to make me care about all of it, and let me stay hooked to the arcs. At this stage of the show, it’s fun to watch it, and I even like the resulting drama of all the storylines.

I could thankt hat the solid acting of the cast though. They developed chemistry throughout the past couple of episodes, and I’m caring more and more about the friendship between Daphne (Katie Leclerc) and Bay (Vanessa Marano), how Daphne doesn’t want Bay to find her father, because of how she thinks bad of him and how he left the family, and how Bay is so interested in finding her father, because she just wants to know about her heritage. It’s interesting to witness how the two girls clash because of it, but how this story could become the biggest indicator of their friendship. After all, they found each other because they share the same circumstance. And I really wish that the writers never lose that friendship out of side and continue to develop it.

With it, Bay’s search for Angelo Sorrento (J.R. Cacia) was good, especially after Emmett (Sean Berdy) becomes involved with it as well. It was predictable that the writers try to build a romance between the two, and it was also predictable that Daphne is not so happy about it. But it’s still interesting to learn, if Daphne disapproves of it, because of Emmett’s “hate” for hearing/deaf relationships, or if Daphne might have hoped for something to happen between her and Emmett. I’m hoping the writers are not writing a jealousy storyline here, and keep it calm as possible. Not that I need relationship storylines in this show right now, but they shouldn’t be overworked with every kind of twist and problem. Anyway, that Angelo wouldn’t be the father was predictable too. I knew the writers wouldn’t reveal that “secret” so early in the series, since the whole thing involving the father is in fact treated as a secret by Regina and the writers of the show. But it was funny to see how the girls still tried to convince that Angelo is their father (that was hilarious too), even though he already said it can’t be possible and that he’s gay. But I wonder if somebody (the girls or the writers) noticed that Angelo should have been in contact with Bay’s father in one way or the other. Maybe he bought the car from the father, or maybe they were best friends, or whatever. There could be still a connecting between Angelo and the father, but it seems like the writers have abandoned this connection already. Or maybe I’m just the only one who still sees a connection here.

The rest of the episode was okay. I didn’t dig Toby’s (Lucas Grabeel) storyline, because it was an annoying back-and-forth, which ended with him realizing his addiction and telling the truth about the situation with the stolen test. There was too much of a happy end between him and John (D.W. Moffett), and it wasn’t really to my liking. I now hope this story is over, and the writers try something else for Toby. Same thing goes with Regina (Constance Marie) and her failed two-episode romance with Bruce (Jason Brooks). I never liked that guy anyway, because his inclusion to one of the characters felt forced all the time. It was funny to hear him tell the truth though. He was fast in answering Regina’s question, if he still sleeps with Denise (Tammy Townsend) (like “Yeah, I am, got a problem with it?”).

And now the cliffhanger: interesting. That finally reveals why Regina was never interested in telling everybody who Bay’s father is, and it shines a complete different light on her character, eventually in the upcoming court case. When Regina lied about the whole situation, what is coming next? There’s a big storyline behind that, and I hope the writers are ballsy enough to use this storyline, instead of chicken out somehow and twist is around, until the story makes no sense anymore. 7/10

It's a lovely friendship between two friends, looking for their father

It's a love/hate romance between father and son

It’s about time – I can finally write something good about the show for once. Because I loved this episode! great stories (except one), great message (except one), great drama (except in one story), and a great overall feeling of the writers finally getting somewhere with this show. Except with this one story.

This one story would be Toby (Lucas Grabeel) and his money problems, and how he turns out to be the bad guy. It’s the second episode in a row with him having problems, and I still don’t buy it. I don’t buy he would risk his reputation with getting caught stealing the test, or that he would risk his relationship to his family. I only liked that poker and money seems to be Toby’s weakness and that there is a past involving all of this. But having seen Toby in the first four episodes, I still don’t get him as the character, who owes money and steals.

I also wanted to say bad things about the settlement case and how John (D.W. Moffett) treated it. So, he just wants an apology, and if possible all the money that comes with it. I still don’t like this character because of it, but since the settlement was withdrawn, and the story seems to change into an interesting way of mysterious questions and answers about the switched-at-birth case, I’m gonna take the unspoken apology of the writers and just see the previous five episodes as “introduction” to what might come.

The rest of the episode was great though. I liked Daphne (Katie Leclerc) having problems in Buckner Hall with the big girls, and I liked her opening up to Bay (Vanessa Marano) because of it. It brought a lot of character development, and finally there was an episode with Daphne, where she didn’t feel like the superior young girl, who has everything under control, even though she’s deaf. Finally she was broken down by her superiority, and finally she was fighting against the “bullying”, though I wasn’t seeing the situations as dramatic as Daphne was. With it, the Cochlear (Constance Marie) transplant story was okay – I wonder when it would be mentioned in the series, and it was nice that Daphne was brought into it and asked Regina about it as well. Seems like Regina has a lot of open mysteries and answers to give, now that she didn’t want Bay to know her father, didn’t want to give Daphne the transplant, and now has the guitar case in her closet. Dude, that’s a lot of mysteries. Seems like the writers are building Regina to be the “villain” of the series – could be neaty, if the writers are ballsy enough.

The pairing of Bay and Emmett (Sean Berdy) was great as well. First, their chemistry was clearly visible. Second, I was rooting for them. Third, I was laughing about the license plate, because I wasn’t seeing the license plate on the picture. I was actually looking again and there was no license plate on the picture. Except Emmett might have played CSI here and totally enhanced the parking ticket bit, eventually seeing the license plate – but that’s kinda ridiculous here. But whatever. I loved the “charade game” Bay was “playing” with Emmett, and I like how the search of Bay’s father turned out to be: the guitar case, the fact that he might be a musician, and of course the open mysteries. And what I noticed: Bay’s name is actually Daphne, and vice versa. Did anybody think about that?

All in all, it was the first great episode of the series. Hopefully it stays that way. And maybe Toby dies a TV death, because his story was just separated from all the rest going on – which is another reason why it didn’t look good much on TV. 8/10

At least she can be stunned too

At least they were helmets