The story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a working-class neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls.
The story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a working-class neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls.
The show's dominant themes align with progressive values by centering on the challenges and rights of the deaf community, advocating for cultural understanding, and exploring socio-economic disparities and diverse family structures.
The series prominently features diverse casting, including central roles for deaf actors and a Latina family, which is integral to its premise. Its narrative consistently explores themes of disability, class, and cultural identity, often challenging traditional perspectives and advocating for understanding and inclusion.
Switched at Birth featured multiple LGBTQ+ characters, including lesbian and transgender individuals, whose storylines were handled with sensitivity. The show consistently depicted these characters with dignity, complexity, and agency, affirming their worth and relationships. Obstacles were framed as external, reinforcing a respectful and empathetic stance toward queer identity.
The series portrays Judaism through the character of Noah and his family, depicting their traditions (e.g., Shabbat, Passover) with respect and educational depth. The narrative explores interfaith relationships and cultural differences with nuance, presenting Jewish characters as loving and supportive, and their faith as a source of community and identity.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Switched at Birth is an original television series. Its characters were created specifically for this production, meaning there is no prior source material, historical record, or legacy iteration from which a character's gender could have been swapped.
Switched at Birth is an original television series, not an adaptation of pre-existing material or a biopic. All characters were created for the show, establishing their races within its original context. Therefore, no character could have been race-swapped from a prior canonical or historical depiction.
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources