Rewatching

[u/Chessa_Tomlinson]

I’m starting my rewatch and i’m on the second episode of S1 and i actually feel really bad for Bay. Yes she was arrested for drinking alcohol (but she was acting out because she didn’t feel like she belonged and was apart of her family), and the second Daphne moved into the guest house, they were automatically more flexible with her (for obvious reasons). They had a huge interest in getting to know Daphne, and Regina was interested in knowing Bay but not with the same enthusiasm. Regina didn’t really try to reach out to her till Bay stopped by first to get out of trouble.

I think when i first watched i didn’t start seeing the way Bay and Daphne was treated differently till later seasons, but rewatching now that im older i can see the difference from the start and its kinda of sad.

[u/Chessa_Tomlinson]

Regina packing up to leave and not thinking twice about Bay. Regina not wanting to share Daphne (which is fine because it has to be odd to suddenly have to co parent), but not really thinking about Bay at all. Insulting the lifestyle that Bay lives, calling them arrogant which also implies Bay is too.

Bay’s parents thinking about both girls (though treating them differently.) but Regina tends to think only of Daphne. It’s like she acknowledges that Bay is her child but also doesn’t. Her being like we are not here to Co-parent was weird af

[u/LostGirl2609 → u/Chessa_Tomlinson]

To be honest, Regina’s attitude in the beginning makes more sense and is way more realistic. How can you immediately embrace a stranger and treat them as if they have always been a part of the family? Even if they are your child. J&K were uncharacteristically quick to embrace Daphne so completely. I get that it was done for dramatic purposes and to show the difference between them and Regina, but especially John didn’t hide that Daphne was a dream come true in terms of his other children. I wonder if he got someone like Zara (Bay’s friend) if he would have been quite as enthusiastic. Bay was 100% valid for feeling less than Daphne. She went from having a gut feeling that she didn’t belong with the Kennishes to witnessing how well their perfect, “real” daughter fit in everywhere. It’s painful to watch for sure.

The Angelo part is not okay though. Regina didn’t bother telling him Daphne wasn’t biologically theirs because a woman picked up the phone when she called? Yeah, okay. Ridiculous. And even if she made that decision then to avoid losing Daphne, she had no right to keep Bay from contacting him. The only benefit is, Bay trying to find him by herself resulted in some of my favourite Bay and Emmett moments (hate them as a couple though, due to him being revealed as selfish, immature, and a cheater).

[u/Chessa_Tomlinson → u/LostGirl2609]

And Regina and Daphne refusing to tell Bay anything about Angelo If want really the immediate embracing, but she doesn’t really try to know her unless Bay comes to her. She’s really there just for Daphne, and that’s fine, but she kind of acts like Bay is just J&K kid. We don’t see her worry for Bay unless Bay is in her face. We don’t see talking to the grandmother about how hard it is to see Bay again (especially since we know watching back that Regina was aware of Bay the entire time) or how hard it is to be in Bay’s life, and not know her. She really is completely disinterested in her.

I don’t really like how John and Katherine are just so excited to have this new child. Katherine less because she does seem like she still tries to be good to Bay, but she clearly worries more about Daphne than Bay. Like she worries about how Daphne is doing with the switch and the changes, but Bay is going through it too.

Also Daphne is kinda weird too, Bay hadn’t done anything to her but be kind, and everyone is telling her how weird it is for her to be dating Bay’s recent ex boyfriend but she acts like Bay is being spoiled and unreasonable just because she isn’t okay with it. And then goes on to insult her.

[u/LostGirl2609 → u/Chessa_Tomlinson]

Yeah, I agree, it’s is really annoying and unfair to watch Daphne prioritized in such a blatant way. On J&K’s end, they have such a desperate need to overcompensate for everything they missed, even more so because they are well off, that they just kind of lost their minds. Their behaviour is not normal. Especially Kathryn, who loved Bay and did not want a “better” child to replace her. And yet…she was immediately extremely maternal towards Daphne. Yes, she didn’t let Grandma Bonnie give Daphne that family brooch as the biological daughter, but even her treating Bay and Daphne equally came across as weird when compared with Regina’s cool auntie attitude.

For John it’s also kind of a pride thing since Daphne is on the honor roll and a good athlete, and he feels like he got the golden heir he saw himself creating. (Maybe a reach, just the vibe I am getting from him)

Regina was very clearly showing everyone that Daphne is her child, and Bay is an afterthought. She bonded to Daphne, and Bay will at most be like a niece to her. That’s one of the most tragic parts of the show, especially later on when Regina even prioritized her boyfriend’s son before Bay (And this was all the way in season 4, too). But at the same time, I find it realistic, as sad as it is.

As far as Daphne goes, she pours all of her vitriol and internalized anger at the switch on Bay - who had all the opportunities she was denied, and yet is an outcast, not very good at school, and constantly moody and gloomy. For how kind Daphne is to random people, her treatment of Bay is one of the main reasons why I severely dislike her. Also, obligatory, sharing boyfriends with your sibling is disgusting. There are plenty of guys out there for crying out loud.

[u/ZestycloseTomato5015 → u/Chessa_Tomlinson]

It annoyed me when Regina says she doesn’t get a say in how Bay is raised and the kennishes dont with Daphne. Ummm that’s literally YOUR choosing Regina… you dont WANT to cuz its only about Daphne for you 😤

[u/Wooden_Subject_9057 → u/ZestycloseTomato5015]

That's exactly how I felt watching it too.    I

[u/0verth1s]

Omg now is the perfect time for you to start listening to our Switched at Birth recappodcast!!

[u/Chessa_Tomlinson]

And Regina and Daphne refusing to tell Bay anything about Angelo and getting upset that she wanted to know him.