A New Family Series…
Posted by andreasherrel on July 19, 2011
This is a new series on ABC Family that I stumbled into. It is set in my hometown of Kansas City, although so far none of the settings in the actual storyline are any place I recognize. But I was intrigued by the show’s concept and really happy to see that Constance Marie, Lea Thompson, and D.W. Moffett are back at work.
According to IMDB.com the concept of this series has been done at least twice before. Once as a film in 1991, based on a true story, and again in 1999 in a made for TV production.
Switched at Birth
This current take introduces the families when the girls are teenagers. Bay (Vanessa Marano) is raised in the wealthy Kennish family (D.W. Moffitt and Lea Thompson) alongside a brother (Lucas Grabeel), while Daphne Vasquez is raised on the other side of the tracks by a single mother (Constance Marie).
I have now watched the first three episodes. I like it, but I am having a hard time with the arrogance of the Kennish family. All of their actions are motivated by their own desires. For example, both Kathryn and John Kennish have made a case for adjusting Daphne in some way that will allow her to be able to hear, because she is deaf. Although she reads lips, does sign language, and also speaks as she signs, they have encouraged her to augment herself instead of them trying to learn her language. Although that was finally addressed in this week’s episode and I think they did a good job with it.
Another example is the daughter, Bay Kennish, who has decided she has to find her biological father. Her biological mother, Regina Vasquez, has asked her to drop the issue because of the personal pain, but she’s going full steam ahead regardless. And although I understand her need to know both parents, the show has not done a good job of having her get to know her mother yet. We have seen minimal time of the two of them getting to know each other, and yet it’s now an imperative for Bay to find her father. It is annoying and insensitive.
Switched at Birth is a really fascinating study of class. Even with its minor irritations, I want to know how these characters are going to develop, and would love to do an in-depth paper in the future.
