Switched at Birth season 5

Switched at Birth was renewed for a fifth season by Freeform in October 2015.[1] In March 2016, it was confirmed that this ten-episode season would be its last.[2] The fifth season premiered on January 31, 2017.[3]

Switched at Birth
Season 5
Starring
No. of episodes10
Release
Original networkFreeform
Original releaseJanuary 31 (2017-01-31) –
April 11, 2017 (2017-04-11)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 4
List of episodes

The one-hour scripted drama revolves around two young women who discover they were switched at birth and grew up in very different environments.[4] While balancing school, jobs, and their unconventional family, the girls, along with their friends and family, experience Deaf culture, relationships, class differences, racism, audism, and other social issues.

Cast edit

Main edit

Recurring edit

Episodes edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
941"The Call"Allan ArkushLizzy WeissJanuary 31, 2017 (2017-01-31)0.60[5]

Early in her trip to China with Daphne, Bay contracts a serious illness and spends weeks recovering. When she does, the summer is almost over and she has not seen much of the country so she convinces Daphne to stay the whole school year. Travis joins them, and begins a relationship with Bay. 10 months later, the three are called home when Emmett overdoses on a mix of medications. Bay, Daphne, and Travis decide to stay in Kansas City. Daphne is upset to learn how behind she is in her studies; she also learns Mingo has a new girlfriend and that there is no housing for her at the university. Regina allows Bay to stay in the empty apartment above the Cracked Mug with Travis, but Bay tells Travis she wants Daphne to move in with her instead. Regina attempts to end her relationship with her much younger secret boyfriend, Luca. Mingo invites Daphne to a karaoke costume party. His costume is of Lil Wayne and he takes a selfie with Daphne, causing outrage from some who view it as blackface.


Title reference: Taken from the 1902 painting The Call by Paul Gauguin.
952"This Has to Do with Me"D. W. MoffettWilliam H. Brown & Liz SczudloFebruary 7, 2017 (2017-02-07)0.54[6]

Title reference: Taken from the 1914 painting This Has To Do With Me by Francis Picabia.
963"Surprise"Stephen TolkinTerrence Coli & Colin WaiteFebruary 14, 2017 (2017-02-14)0.52[7]

Toby and Lily come for a visit with the baby. They are fighting because Lily misses work, while Toby is working too much and not helping with the baby. Toby reveals his gambling problem has returned. They decide to move back to the States. Lily gets her job back at the university, and Kathryn will help with the baby. When Bay tries to rekindle her friendship with Mary Beth, she is upset to learn Mary Beth is now dating Tank. Regina decides to go public about her relationship with Luca. John teases her about the age difference, but relents after she scolds him for applying a sexist double standard. Kathryn and Daphne are both supportive and happy for Regina. Daphne is having nightmares about Bay's illness in China and is then concerned about Bay's health and well-being when she is displaying some possible relapse symptoms relating to the illness. Luca recognizes it as PTSD. Luca accidentally spills the secret about Bay's illness to Regina and Bay and Daphne have to tell everyone about it.


Title reference: Taken from the 1891 painting Surprised! by Henri Rousseau.
974"Relation of Lines and Colors"Carlos GonzálezLinda Gase & J.R. PhillipsFebruary 21, 2017 (2017-02-21)0.52[8]

Title reference: Taken from the 1939 painting Relation of Lines and Colors by Georges Vantongerloo.
985"Occupy Truth"Jeff ByrdTalicia Raggs & Lizzy WeissFebruary 28, 2017 (2017-02-28)0.51[9]

Title reference: Taken from the painting Occupy Truth by Miles Regis.
996"Four Ages in Life"Janice CookeTerrence Coli & Lenn K. RosenfeldMarch 7, 2017 (2017-03-07)0.44[10]

Title reference: Taken from the 1902 painting Four Ages in Life by Edvard Munch.
1007"Memory (The Heart)"Lea ThompsonLinda GaseMarch 21, 2017 (2017-03-21)0.50[11]

Title reference: Taken from the 1937 painting Memory (The Heart) by Frida Kahlo.
1018"Left in Charge"Dawn WilkinsonLiz SczudloMarch 28, 2017 (2017-03-28)0.47[12]

Title reference: Taken from the 1904 painting Left in Charge by Philip Eustace Stretton.
1029"The Wolf Is Waiting"Jill D'AgnenicaTerrence Coli & William H. BrownApril 4, 2017 (2017-04-04)0.43[13]

Bay meets the man who molested Travis when he was twelve: his uncle. She tries to make him tell his mother about what happened and reconnect. Chris tries to make Daphne cheat on his drug test so he won't get kicked out of the baseball team for using steroids. Regina finds out her coffeehouse is being robbed, so she put security cameras all over the place. She finds out the culprit is Eric, who has returned to get back a secret stash he hid in the coffeehouse so he and his son, Will, can start a new life. He asks her to come with him, but she refuses.


Title reference: Taken from the 1914 painting The Wolf is Waiting by Kay Nielsen.
10310"Long Live Love"Steve MinerLizzy Weiss & Linda GaseApril 11, 2017 (2017-04-11)0.49[14]

Title reference: Taken from the 1923 painting Long Live Love by Max Ernst.

Reception edit

U.S. ratings edit

No. Episode Original air date Timeslot (EST) Viewers (million) Adults 18–49 rating Cable rank (18–49) Note
Timeslot Night
1 "The Call" January 31, 2017 (2017-01-31) Tuesday 9:00 pm
2 "This Has to Do with Me" February 7, 2017 (2017-02-07)
3 "Surprise" February 14, 2017 (2017-02-14)
4 "Relation of Lines and Colors" February 21, 2017 (2017-02-21)
5 "Occupy Truth" February 28, 2017 (2017-02-28)
6 "Four Ages in Life" March 7, 2017 (2017-03-07)
7 "Memory (The Heart)" March 21, 2017 (2017-03-21)
8 "Left in Charge" March 28, 2017 (2017-03-28)
9 "The Wolf Is Waiting" April 4, 2017 (2017-04-04)
10 "Long Live Love" April 11, 2017 (2017-04-11)

References edit

  1. ^ Swift, Andy (October 21, 2015). "Switched at Birth Renewed: Season 5 Coming to ABC Family/Freeform". TVLine. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  2. ^ Bentley, Jean (March 11, 2016). "This Long-Running Freeform/ABC Family Show Is Saying Goodbye". Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  3. ^ Weiss, Lizzy [@Lizzy_Weiss] (October 17, 2016). "Hey so....the premiere date of our final season of #SwitchedatBirth has been moved one lil week. (Instead of Jan 24), it will be JANUARY 31" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "ABC Family Announces Pick-Up of "Switched at Birth," "The Nine Lives of Chloe King" and "The Great State of Georgia"". The Futon Critic. January 31, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 1, 2017). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.31.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  6. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 8, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.7.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  7. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 14, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.14.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  8. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 23, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.21.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  9. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 1, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.28.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  10. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 8, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.7.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  11. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 22, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.21.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  12. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 29, 2017). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.28.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  13. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (April 5, 2017). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.4.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  14. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (April 12, 2017). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.11.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.

External links edit