Switched at Birth EP on Finale's 'Family Triangle,' Reunion Hopes and еще 

concluded its five-season run on Tuesday in much the same way it started: with a strong sense of family as the Kennish-Vasquez clan laid on their front lawn together, gazing up at a rare comet.

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The final sight of unlikely sisters Bay and Daphne splayed across the grass was meant to evoke the “iconic image” of the show’s early key art, executive producer Lizzy Weiss tells TVLine, adding that she hopes the series finale leaves viewers feeling “the same way when you shut it off as you did when you started, that this is a very special family that you wanted to be part of.”

The show’s central love triangle also took a familial turn when, rather than moving to Japan with her boyfriend Travis, Bay asked her ex Emmett to accompany his “brother.”

“That was very intentional,” Weiss says. “There was a lot of discussion about Bay as a young woman and that the conversation kept getting framed as, ‘Which boy was she going to choose?’ and we were are all very sensitive to that. She’s a young woman in her own right.”

Still, Bay and Travis reaffirmed their commitment to each other as a long-distance couple, while Daphne and Mingo reunited. Elsewhere, Regina convinced Eric to turn himself in so they could one day be together, and Kathryn discovered that before the switch was unearthed, John thought Bay wasn’t his daughter, but stuck around anyway.

Below, Weiss talks about her vision for the series ender, the storylines that got cut and the possibility of a reunion.

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TVLINE | How much of this ending was what you originally envisioned before you got the news that the show wasn’t coming back?

There were general decisions that were made, like that Bay and Travis stay together. But I don’t know that we knew the exact moves of the story until we were faced with that in the moment. I always knew that we would shake up John and Kathryn one last time and remind everyone that they’re the center, and they will not be moved as a couple. But a lot of it we decided in the moment after many, many weeks of throwing things around.

TVLINE | The news came down while you were in the middle of production on the season. So were there certain things that you had to speed up or that you didn’t quite get to?

There were decisions we may have taken more time with. I always wanted to have Toby give up music and choose to move into a career with disability. That probably would have been over the course of the next ten episodes. We did it faster; that’s OK. Speaking of Toby, we wanted to explore that family becoming Jewish, and the Kennishes throwing a Passover seder and how fun that would be. It was more like there were stories and episodes we were bummed we didn’t get to do because we thought the fans would love them. But there wasn’t one big turn where I felt like, “Oh God, that will never be told.” All of the key stuff with the key players, we got to do.

Like with Regina, we always knew that Eric was the guy, and that Luca was for now. And I actually like how it turned out. We did it really quickly. It felt urgent; it felt exciting. She had to make that decision really fast. The elegance of her starting the show as a single mom and ending it with a new partner and a new son was just really beautiful to me.

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TVLINE | You said you knew Bay and Travis would stay together. There was never any debate about which guy Bay was going to end up with?

There certainly was debate. But after much debate, the room felt pretty clear this is how things shook out in the course of the series. It’s not like a hundred episodes ago, I knew this. But a show evolves…. It felt like Bay had moved forward and didn’t want to go back. And Emmett’s become a different guy. He’s going through some rough times, and she’ll always be there as a friend. This choice she made to ask Emmett to go with [Travis], first of all, that was intended to honor the whole heart of the show, which is siblings by unusual circumstances, which is what Bay and Daphne are, and so are the guys. So there was a sweet symmetry to that. It just felt like there was a little bit of a triangle without being a triangle. We know that these three will always be connected. They’ll always be having Thanksgiving together, if Bay and Travis end up together in the long run. They will always be sitting at each other’s table, and maybe it’ll be complicated and weird, or maybe it won’t, but for now, the triangle is not quite a love triangle. It’s a family triangle.

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TVLINE | Mingo made a late-in-the-game play for Daphne’s heart. Why did you decide she should be with him?

You just reminded me Mingo may be one of the only ones that we did have bigger plans [for] in the long run. We definitely were going to take our time and have fun with that story. We wanted the ex-girlfriend to visit and cause some problems. We did have to get there faster. That was one of the things that got shortchanged. But that’s OK.

Basically, just Adam [Hagenbuch] and Katie [Leclerc] had such great chemistry. We created him a little bit because we wanted to get Wilke back, and [Austin Butler] was on that MTV show [

] in New Zealand, literally 5,000 miles away… And then Mingo became his own character and delighted us in his own way, and we all forgot about Wilke and became all about Mingo. … We always did intend that they were The One [for each other]. I just love that scene between them at the end where he says, “I’ll turn down the internship,” and her answer is so surprising. He thinks he’s being magnanimous, and she says, “Don’t do that. Take it, teach him. Teach the world.” So I just liked that as a model for the kind of couple they’re going to be. He’s a very, in some ways, traditional guy. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’s going to be talking about disability rights. But if they end up together, he will. And sometimes, those kind of opposites-attract [types] really do work in the long run.

TVLINE | The final image of the show is very sweet — and is

a flash-forward. Are you leaving the door open for a reunion movie or something of that sort?

Who knows what will happen in ten years, if there’ll be an appetite for it or if everyone will want to do it? But it feels like the door’s open. I would be happy to, if all things point in that direction. If things end up that all you have are 103 episodes to revisit, I’m really proud of those, and I hope that they live on beyond this generation.

TVLINE | Some shows like to go forward in time and show where the characters end up. Did you specifically want to avoid wrapping things up too neatly like that?

Yes. First of all, we’ve done that a little bit. We did two, even though they were imaginary, very important moments when Angelo died. We saw Daphne in her wedding dress, though we didn’t know who she was marrying, and we saw Bay delivering twins, and we didn’t know if Emmett [was the father] or who.

] was doing that, and they were, of course, quite successful. So we didn’t want to do exactly the same thing since they were doing that at the same network. And — especially, as you bring up, could we maybe have a reunion in 10 years? — I didn’t want to box myself into, “Oh, we already said Daphne’s going to be this kind of doctor.” Or, “We already said Bay does end up with Travis,” or, “Bay doesn’t end up with Travis.” It’s an ending, it’s a period… but there could be a return and a new paragraph in ten years.

fans, what did you think of the show’s swan song? Grade it via the poll below, then hit the comments to back up your pick!

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I’m happy with the ending. Surprised but pleasantly so that it ended up Daphne/Mingo, and Eric’s return was a good twist. I’m glad that Bay didn’t go to Japan because of Travis. She needs to do her own thing. Overall, this was a really satisfying finale.

Daphne/Mingo to me just confirms that Wilke was her endgame and that makes me happy lol

Yes! I loved Wilkeand Daphne! Mingo is the next best choice for her.

I knew she was supposed to be with Wilke and as I hate Mingo I will hope for that down the road. I am happy with how everything else ended.

Agreed. I wish Wilke has come back but I do like Mingo as a character. He doesn’t have the same unexpected depth Austin Butler gave Wilke but I found him to be sweet and actually appropriate for Daphne in College.

So sad that such a show is over. I feel like there are so many stories left to tell and to have a show that positively explores: “disabilities”, deaf culture, latina culture, complex family dynamics, love and above all…. Sisterhood.

The growth of Bay and Daphne from two strangers that envied each other to loyal and devoted sisters ….

Can’t touch that, it’s amazing. I want more, I really do…. :(

Mendez I couldn’t agree more! I am sad the show is over and quite shocked because like you said their story isn’t over… so many stories to continue telling for so many of the characters. I kind of feel cheated… like someone stopped reading a book half way thru. I really hope the show picks back up and continues.

I liked the finale but there was so many things left unsaid. The relationship between Bay and Emmett left me heartbroken, I was really rooting for those two, I know Travis is good for her but i just feel that Bay and Emmett were it. I hope they do a reunion soon not 10 years down the line. It will be nice to really wrap up the characters right. Bay and Emmett and even Daphne. I want to know how the dream with Bay having a baby pans out and Daphne getting married but to who? Also Ty who was Bays ex boyfriend that got deployed. This show needed at least another season sooo sad it ended 😔

I totally agree… but overall loved it, sad to see it come to an end!!! Hopefully it will return in 10 years or less😉. And I must stress on Ty please include him need to put my mind at rest 😁.

See for me, I agree that I feel like Bay and Emmett were it, but on the other hand I know me and if they had put Bemmett together at the finale it would have felt way too forced and like they were catering to the fans and not doing the organic thing, and I would have been pisssssssssssssssed. The ending they chose was much better – it was open-ended in many ways but also cemented that Bay can handle herself now and that her identity doesn’t rely on the guy she’s with and I love that.

I was really hoping that Bay and Emmett would end up together too. Or at least, they would allude to that. I think it would have been perfect if when Emmett rode up on his bike and they were talking about being each other’s first loves, he would’ve given her one last kiss and said something like “Who knows? Maybe still is…” and left it at that. Still would’ve allowed Emmett and Travis to work on their relationship, would’ve allowed Bay to forge her own path but would’ve at least given viewers a little bit of hope on that relationship since it was kind of central to the show. Especially since Bay was Emmett’s first hearing girlfriend and they learned so much from each other.

I wasn’t crazy about Regina’s storyline as a whole this year either (didn’t quite seem believable to me). Plus, I really liked Luca.

Overall, I was really satisfied with the finale though. Liz has always done a good job with the show. She maintained the heart of it without getting too dramatic or schmaltzy. I felt like ABC FreeForm mainly cut this because it didn’t fit with their new “hip” agenda and I think they did it a huge disservice, especially by waiting so long to bring this season out. Kudos to the actors as well. They’ve always seemed proud of this show and I appreciate that. It’s one of the rare, few shows I felt like you could watch with your older kids and not worry about what was going to be said or shown. It encouraged discussion and for the most part gave a realistic look at life. It will be missed.

I miss Ty and Mary-Beth’s ending didn’t feel good enough, her character deserved more

I really liked the finale. The only thing I didn’t like was Bay and Emmett not ending up together. I know in real life, in most cases, people don’t end up with their first loves, but I would have rather Bay end up with Ty if she didn’t end up with Emmett. I liked Travis better with Mary Beth. Love Daphne and Mingo. In my opinion the writers screwed up the storyline when they had the “rape not rape” story with Bay and Tank. That story created drama for Bay and Emmett that was unnecessary.

I see your point, Dionne, but I really respected them for writing that into the story line because I felt that it dealt with a serious topic in a sensitive informative way. Date rape or even friendship rape is something that young women can fall victim to. I appreciated the way it was handled.

I was okay with the “rape” storyline. I just didn’t like what it did to Emmett’s character. I think the fact that Bay couldn’t say for a certainty that Tank raped her made Emmett feel like she cheated. Tank definitely took advantage of her and I appreciate them telling this story because it happens more often than people think. I agree with you that it was an important story to tell.

Didn’t they know this was the shoes last season before it began? In explaining practically everyone’s ending shes saying if they had more time etc. They had ten episodes and they focused on the black lives matter storyline for a good portion of the season. I liked that storyline but I don’t understand why they did it in the final season rather than focusing on moving the characters they’ve been writing for for years towards where they wanted them to be in the end.

No they didn’t know it was the last season until the 2nd or 3rd last episode when shooting. By then it was too late, they had already shot most of the episodes. But in saying that, it was a great way to finish with finding out so late, they did a great job of trying to tie all the loose ends and give it a completed feel.

If you read the article, it clearly says that they didn’t know this was the final season until partway through production. It was the second question asked above, and the answer was extensive. You need to read the article.

Although we knew last year that this would be the final season, I believe that the writers had already written many episodes and they had already filmed a few episodes. These cable shows are sometimes filmed several months in advance before it actually gets aired because of the way the cable networks air their shows. Knowing this, I think the writers did a good job wrapping up the series.

it’s a shame that tvline didn’t cover this show as if it were Pretty Little Liars or I don’t know say Gilmore Girls?

the second I saw Daphne wear that shirt, i was thinking that hey she’s wearing the same shirt as that promo art, I wonder if….. and by the time the show ended, yeah thought so

Dumbassss🖕🖕🖕 Bay and Emmett FOREVER.. They were supposed to be Endgame. That was such a bad ending !!!!!!!!!!! BEMMETT FOREVER this is so stupid they did not happen. Even Phillip is pissed and he doesn’t even watch the show.

I don’t think organically they would have gotten back together at this point. Emmet lost himself and needs to heal and be him again. He was kind of awful to Bay.

I would like Emmet and Bay to find each other later in life, experienced and steady on their feeet.

That’s the only way I would have bought into a Bemmet ending. I do love Travis and think he’s a more selfless and devoted boyfriend then Emmet can be.

But again, if we had more time with these characters (especially more then 10 episodes) we may have seen that.

I really enjoyed this show. However the one plot that angered me most and stopped me from allowing my kids to watch this show was Daphne’s relationship with her much older boss, the cook/chef. That plot was horrible. She was still in high school and dating an adult male, which is technically rape. I think that was one big misstep on the writers’ part, but thankfully they ended that storyline, but the damage to the show was already done.

I really enjoyed the finale. But it wasn’t entirely satisfying. For me the entire season was just too rushed. The show deserved a full final season.

I am so pleased with the finale! It was exactly how I envisioned it. I figured Regina would end up with Eric. Daphne with Mingo. Although I thought eventually Bay would get back with Emmett, I am still happy that her and Travis are together and giving long distance a try. I am most happy about Bay’s career and how that played out.

I am going to miss the show but I am happy it ended here. They were ready to end it. Everyone was ready to go off, start their lives, college, job opportunities..etc.

What a great ending. Really liked this show, going to miss it. Glad that Bay and Travis are together, Travis is awesome. Really always liked his character. The final shot of Bay and Daphne was nice, it is great that they are so close, almost like twins. Although, there was a lot of photoshop in the picture above, as Daphne does not have that much hair at all, since we saw what it looked like when they were on the lawn. So that wasn’t necessary, keep it real :)

Lived the final scene ,just like the s1 d d cover,promo pics.I am not sure how much I like the ending-Regina with Etic,Daphne with Mingo ect.Bemmet should’ve ended up togetherIll miss this show.I ve asl through it and started online cause if it.Katie and Vanessa especially were terrific.ive become hard of hearing and am getting AIDS soon so I can relate to Daphne a bit.

I absolutely loved the show. Am going to miss it. Looking forward to everyone wanting to come back. I think​ it ended way too​ soon but it was a great ending​. Well done!

I feel in love with this show!! I so wish it didn’t end!!! My heart broke and tears ran down my face when this ended! I loved all the characters but especially Regina. Through it all no matter how hard it all was, she fought through it to show Bay she truly loved her daughter! Please have a reunion show!!! Don’t go!!!

Perfect finale. I was really afraid that they were going to slap Bay and Emmett together at the end and it just would not have made sense. They love each other but they aren’t in the same place anymore. Bay and Travis have grown together and are a wonderful couple. I’m perfectly happy believing they stay together after the finale and it’s so great that she chose her career and helped the boys save their relationship. Really well done.

Great show that I’m really going to miss! loved the finale, though, and will hope for a reunion show in the future.

I’m so sad this show has ended. Right now in today’s world, we really need something like this to show the world the importance of family and accepting everyone regardless if they are different or have a disability. Please bring this show back! I have 4 grown children and we watch this show every week, texting back and forth. It was amazing! Plus we have all started to learn sign language! Thank you for an amazing 5 years but am really hopefully for another 5

I was disappointed 😔. Thought it would of had a renuion with emment and bay and regina getting married

The last show was awesome, but the show was at a great story line to go on! It could have gone on a couple more years with everyone going on with their lives. I think you stopped it at the wrong time in my opinion. There still was to much missing. The show wasn’t cancelled, so did you guys just get tired of writing a Great story or what? I think you let us watchers and true lovers of show down big time!!!!!!

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