This episode tells a story that desperately needs to be told and handles it in a supremely respectful way. Down Syndrome children and adults face more challenges than most, but that just makes them stronger and all the more extraordinary for overcoming the things the world throws at them. They are truly amazing people that can live rewarding and joy filled lives. There are some difficulties in raising a Down Syndrome baby and that reality makes Lily and Toby’s decision harder. The decision regarding what to do about the pregnancy will weigh heavily on Toby as he tries to navigate the influence of his family and the prejudices of the world at large. Not everyone is supportive and everyone has strong opinions on the subject which only makes Toby’s journey that much harder. The decision that is made will forever change the lives of all that love and support Toby. Here is a little sneak peek of what you can expect from each character.
Daphne encounters a topic that she and Bay have never before discussed and they find that they firmly stand on different sides. It causes a bit of friction, but nothing that the sisters can’t overcome. Both girls have other things to deal with this week like Daphne going on a trip with her mom. A trip that proves dangerous when they find themselves in a troubling position.
Bay struggles with Toby’s news and the stance she takes may surprise a lot of people. It also threatens to permanently alter the relationship she has with her brother. By the end of the episode she must decide if she can overcome her personal beliefs in order to support Toby and Lily in their decision.
Regina is ready to move onto the next step in her relationship with Eric, but first she needs one more answer regarding his past. That need will lead her to take a trip that takes a dangerous turn. Luckily she has a stubborn daughter and Daphne is there to support and protect her mom. In the end she too will have a decision to make regarding the next phase of her relationship with Eric. Will the information she uncovers aid or hinder that decision?
Kathryn is a good mother and she knows when something is wrong with one of her children. When Toby shows up at the house she immediately knows something is amiss. She stands ready to support her son, but when another member of the family blows up in epic fashion she will spend the episode trying to do damage control to save her family. In the process she comes across some startling news that leads to a big secret being revealed.
John can only handle so much and Toby’s news is the breaking point for him. He retreats to his office to try and sort out how to keep his family afloat financially in the wake of all the recent events.
Emmett and Travis spend the episode hanging out when Travis heads out to Los Angeles to catch a Chiefs game. The trip doesn’t go according to plan and Emmett may have yet another friendship on the rocks.
Toby is on a rollercoaster ride of emotion throughout this episode. The decisions made and the maturity gained will forever change him and his relationship with his family. This is Toby’s episode and Lucas Grabeel delivers heartbreaking and heartwarming performances throughout. Along with Bay he visits a school for Down Syndrome children and has an adorable encounter with a young student. It is just one of many powerful moments portrayed throughout this episode.
A lot of decisions are made by all of the characters and lives will be forever altered.
Switched At Birth has built a reputation of handling social topics with grace and they do not disappoint. Several topics are tackled in this episode and all are handled beautifully. Missing this episode is not an option.
Tune into ABC Family at 8/9c on Monday night for this life altering episode.
About the Author - Aimee Hicks
Aimee works for a local newspaper and has a BA in Broadcasting and Cinema. She has been a TV lover since before she really understood what TV was. She has a long list of shows that she loves to watch and can be found on twitter (@ahicks83) live tweeting about each new episode whenever she can. A list of her favorite shows includes (but is not limited to) the following: 12 Monkeys, Orphan Black, Outlander, Chasing Life, Scorpion, The 100, The Night Shift, Bitten, Black Sails, 2 Broke Girls, Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Continuum, Lost Girl, Faking It, Falling Skies, Finding Carter, Once Upon A Time, Orange Is The New Black, Switched At Birth, The Fosters, The Flash, The Originals, Teen Wolf, Under The Dome, & Z Nation. The upcoming shows she is most excited about are: Supergirl, Dark Matter, UnReal, Blindspot, Lucifer, Legends of Tomorrow, Stitchers, Recovery Road, Shadowhunters, Quantico, Code Black, Heartbreaker, and Chicago Med. She has a large and passionate dislike of ""reality"" TV, especially ""reality"" dating shows, but has a weakness for Americas Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance. But those two don't really count as ""reality"" shows, at least that's how she justifies those guilty pleasures. She was the original creator and co-founder of LOST Video Island (lostvideo.net) which is still operating under the management of the very capable and skilled group she turned it over to.
You can email her at aimee@spoilertv.com.
