Plot Synopsis

Two teenage girls discover that they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital, and they struggle with their footing and identities after their families meet and decide to live together. Bay Kennish, a rebellious and talented street artist, grew up in a wealthy family with a father who is retired professional athlete, a stay-at-home mom and her brother Toby, and in her high-school chemistry class she discovers that her blood type doesn't match either of her parents. Daphne Vasquez, a promising athlete, grew up in a working class neighborhood, living with her single mother and her grandmother. When Bay's family seeks out Daphne, they find a typical teenager who plays on the basketball team at her deaf and hard-of-hearing school, but they also find a family enduring financial difficulties. When the Kennish family asks Daphne, her mother and grandmother to move into their guest house, the girls -- and their families -- get to know each other. At the end of the first season, the court ruled against the hospital, awarding Angelo five-million dollars and the Kennishes won one dollar; meanwhile, Angelo's problems started immediately when Regina realized half the money was her's and when a pregnant woman came into the court house looking for him. Season 2, which premiered on Monday, January 7, 2013 at 8pm ET/PT on ABC Family, opened with millionaire Angelo buying lavish gifts for the families. Plus, John and Kathryn considered a run for public office. SWITCHED AT BIRTH returned for its third season on Monday, January 13, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT on ABC Family. Season 3 -- and senior year -- meant big changes for Bay and Daphne, as the Carlton School for the Deaf received an influx of hearing students who were not happy to be there. Daphne began working at a free clinic as part of her probation from the Senator Coto blackmail scandal, and bonds with Campbell, a pre-med student with a spinal injury. Bay was inspired by her art teacher, Teresa, and took an art class at a local college. Toby tried to unite a divided Carlton by coaching girls' field hockey, and Kathryn dipped her toes into new territory when she made friends with Renzo, a gregarious tap dancer. SWITCHED AT BIRTH returned for the last half of its third season on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT on ABC Family, picking up the day after the winter finale, as the show's characters deal with the consequences of decisions made the night before: Kathryn deals with the reality of being a herotica novelist, Regina is torn between the pull of her old neighborhood and her new life, and the girls need to summon courage to face a moment of truth they never anticipated. SWITCHED AT BIRTH began its fourth season on a new night: Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT on ABC Family. The season picks up right after graduation with the family and Emmett discovering Bay's impulsive decision to take the blame for Daphne, and no one is happy about it. Meanwhile, Daphne is determined to prove herself worthy of her switchster's sacrifice while also dealing with the challenges of starting college. With both Emmett and Daphne heading off to college, Bay finds that taking the blame for Daphne may be harder than she thought. Daphne struggles to adapt to being a pre-med student as she faces her own guilt for letting Bay take the fall for her illegal actions. Regina frets over what will soon be an empty nest. Bess Armstrong and Max Adler will recur throughout the season. On Monday, August 24, 2015 at 8pm ET/PT, ABC Family premiered the "To Repel Ghosts" episode of SWITCHED AT BIRTH. In the show's summer premiere, Bay is haunted by her breakup with Emmett and struggles to figure out where their relationship fell apart. Daphne's excitement about her new relationship with Mingo is hampered by her friends' opinion of him. John and Kathryn's new accountant has some bad news. Regina digs deeper into the story of Eric's ex-wife, and everyone is shocked by the news that someone is pregnant. The fifth and final season of SWITCHED AT BIRTH premiered on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT on Freeform. Season 5 includes the topical issue of campus race relations -- culminating with an episode told from the perspective of several African-American characters -- and the milestone 100th episode of the series. In the season opener, "The Call," Daphne and Bay are so enthralled with China that they stay longer than anticipated, but after 10 months, they get an emergency call and drop everything to return home. Once there, Daphne tries to integrate herself back into campus life but finds that things have changed without her. Bay is mixed up about her feelings towards Emmett who is struggling with his own problems. Meanwhile, Kathryn and John quarrel over her job and Regina feels guilty about a secret tryst.
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On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT, Freeform premiered the series finale of SWITCHED AT BIRTH. In the 90-minute series ender, "Long Live Love," Kathryn becomes nostalgic when she realizes that it's been five years since the switch was discovered and the two families started living together. As she searches for memories, Kathryn discovers a long buried family secret -- stretching all the way back to the switch -- that changes everything. Daphne competes against Mingo for a six-week paid internship in sports medicine. Bay is celebrated for her tattoo work in a magazine spread, but her struggle to prove herself as an artist to John threatens to destroy their relationship. Toby meets Amelia (guest star Lauren Potter), a young woman with Down Syndrome who changes his perception about his son's future. Melody, Emmett and Travis make some major decisions about their lives, and Regina takes a chance on love.