The BEST episodes of Switched at Birth season 1

Every episode of Switched at Birth season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Switched at Birth season 1!

Switched at Birth, a one-hour scripted drama, tells 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.

Last Updated: 9/23/2024Network: FreeformStatus: Ended
Pandora's Box
star
8.05
576 votes

#1 - Pandora's Box

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/25/2011

As Bay and Emmett's relationship continues to get more serious she become conscious about his apparent love for Daphne. Meanwhile, Daphne is upset with Regina after learning the truth and spends the day hanging out with Wilke in her old neighborhood. During the Deposition, Kathyrn and John are blind-sided by what they learn and, later everyone confronts Regina over her lies and she comes clean about knowing all about the switch for the past 12 years and how. With no one but Toby willing to give her a chance she packs a few things and leaves.

Directors: Elodie Keene
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Street Noises Invade the House
star
7.91
375 votes

#2 - Street Noises Invade the House

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 10/22/2012

The Kennish and Vasquez families are starting to fall apart. Daphne and Jeff's relationship is exposed, causing them major problems. Bay and Zarra take off without telling anyone. Meanwhile, the trial reaches a shocking conclusion.

Directors: Steve Miner
Writer: Lizzy Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Stag Hunt
star
7.86
560 votes

#3 - The Stag Hunt

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/18/2011

After the Kennish's learn of his involvement with the stolen exam and a talk with Regina, Toby decides to turn himself in and not let Wilke take all the blame. Meanwhile, Bay and Emmett continue to bond in her hunt for her biological father and, Daphne learns of a life changing secret that Regina has been keeping from her.

Directors: Michael Lange
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The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters
star
7.82
427 votes

#4 - The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/13/2012

Daphne and Bay plan the perfect birthday for Emmett - an ASL zombie movie shoot with their friends and family. While Emmett is excited about the event, he's also torn up inside about what happened with Simone and how it will hurt Bay. Simone wants to keep what happened between her and Emmett a secret, but someone finds out and threatens to expose their secret. Meanwhile, Kathyrn is devastated to find out that John has been revealing some secrets of their own and Regina has second thoughts about contributing to Kathyrn's book.

Directors: Elodie Keene
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This Is the Color of My Dreams
star
7.76
437 votes

#5 - This Is the Color of My Dreams

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 9/3/2012

Bay returns from a trip abroad with a new boyfriend, but she must face issues from her past concerning Emmett and Angelo. Meanwhile, Daphne seeks employment help from Kathryn; and Regina impulsively makes a big decision.

Directors: Steve Miner
Writer: Lizzy Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Trial
star
7.76
309 votes

#6 - The Trial

Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 10/15/2012

The lawsuit against the hospital comes to a head as Angelo returns in time for the beginning of the trial. Meanwhile, Bay scrambles to return the money she "borrowed" from John to help Zarra. Daphne and Jeff struggle in their relationship; and Emmett, Nikki and Toby form a new band.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Tempest
star
7.74
484 votes

#7 - The Tempest

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2012

Simone dares Daphne to go over and kiss a guy; the guy is up for it, but his girlfriend is not as excited about this.

Directors: Mel Damski
Writer: Anne Kenney
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Dogs Playing Poker
star
7.73
550 votes

#8 - Dogs Playing Poker

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/4/2011

After learning that Bay has secretly been seeing Ty both John and Kathryn insist on having him over for dinner. Knowing that they're going to use the dinner to interrogate him, Bay tries to prepare, but she's nowhere near prepared for the secret Ty reveals. And Daphne's morals are tested when Toby ropes her and Emmett into a poker game, but it soon becomes clear that he may be in over his head.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Writer: Joy Gregory
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Protect Me From What I Want
star
7.71
455 votes

#9 - Protect Me From What I Want

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/14/2012

One of Regina's clients owns an art gallery and Regina gets him to look at Emmett's photos.

Directors: David Paymer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Art of Painting
star
7.71
461 votes

#10 - The Art of Painting

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/21/2012

Regina has a display at an art gallery. Daphne and Wilke lead a tour at Buckner Hall for several boosters. She's supposed to be talking up the school, but her focus goes elsewhere.

Directors: Norman Buckley
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Tree of Forgiveness
star
7.69
402 votes

#11 - Tree of Forgiveness

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 9/24/2012

Daphne tries to ignite a spark between Robin and Emmett at the bike show held at John's car-wash. Meanwhile, John is livid when the car wash is tagged, and Kathryn tricks Toby into getting out of the house.

Directors: David Paymer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Les Soeurs d'Estrees
star
7.68
520 votes

#12 - Les Soeurs d'Estrees

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/24/2012

John and Kathryn meet with several new possible lawyers concerning their legal issues with the hospital. Also, Kathryn's writing a memoir about her experiences.

Directors: Arlene Sanford
Writer: Joy Gregory
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Paradise Lost
star
7.65
550 votes

#13 - Paradise Lost

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/1/2011

it is Bay and Daphne’s birthday, and the Kennishes have decided to buy each daughter a car. While Bay is excited, Daphne is apprehensive about allowing them to shower her with a gift she knows her mother, Regina, could never afford. After Regina’s been hiding out at Melody’s house for a few days, she hopes to return home to celebrate the girls’ birthdays together with the Kennishes. Meanwhile, Bay and Emmett’s relationship is blossoming, but like most things, has been kept a secret.

Directors: Ron Lagomarsino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Persistence of Memory
star
7.63
561 votes

#14 - The Persistence of Memory

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/11/2011

Daphne struggles to fit in at her new school as she becomes the subject of gossip at Buckner Hall after an incident in cooking class. Elsewhere, Bay and Emmett grow close while doing some research into her father together. Also, Toby finds himself in serious trouble as he struggles to pay Wilke back the money he owes him which, leads him to do something that could get him in even more trouble. Kathryn takes steps towards getting to know Daphne more after a quite heated conversation with Regina by beginning to learn ASL. And the Kennish's learn that the hospital has withdrawn it's settlement offer and wants to take the case to trial.

Directors: James L. Conway
Writer: Henry Robles
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The Declaration of Independence
star
7.62
424 votes

#15 - The Declaration of Independence

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 10/1/2012

Bay and Zarra search for a tagger who's been painting over their street art. Meanwhile, Daphne gets mixed signals from Chef Jeff.

Directors: Steve Miner
Writer: Anne Kenney
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time
star
7.61
487 votes

#16 - Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/20/2012

In the winter finale, the Carlton prom gets underway, and Travis tags along with Daphne and Wilke, while Emmett feels the weight of the secret he's keeping from Bay. Elsewhere, Angelo resurfaces; and Kathryn and John's lawyer crosses a line.

Directors: Michael Lange
Writer: Lizzy Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Intruder
star
7.57
402 votes

#17 - The Intruder

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 9/10/2012

Regina's actions rock both families. John's baseball record is in danger of being beaten. Daphne and Emmett decide to enter their zombie film in a horror film festival. Emmett has a run-in with Toby. Meanwhile, Bay meets another street artist.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Homecoming
star
7.57
600 votes

#18 - The Homecoming

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/8/2011

As Bay holds her art-show an unexpected guest makes an appearance and, Daphne opens up to Emmett about the feelings she has for him.

Directors: David Paymer
Writer: Lizzy Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Write a Lonely Soldier
star
7.55
431 votes

#19 - Write a Lonely Soldier

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/28/2012

Kathryn and her lawyer meet with Angelo's lawyer, who reveals the hospital plans to argue that Regina switched the babies on purpose. Regina meets with a mother whose daughter lost her hearing. Daphne is playing basketball at the Carlton School for the Deaf; she doesn't get along with a boy named Theo.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
We Are the Kraken of Our Own Sinking Ships
star
7.55
347 votes

#20 - We Are the Kraken of Our Own Sinking Ships

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 10/8/2012

Kathryn and John are concerned about Bay's friendship with Zarra so they invite Bay's ex-boyfriend Alex and his parents over for dinner. But during the meal, Zarra calls and begs Bay to come rescue her from a sticky situation. Meanwhile, Scuba pressures Daphne into lying to Chef Jeff for him. Plus, Toby bonds with Nikki, and Regina tries to reconnect with Patrick.

Directors: Ron Lagomarsino
Writer: Henry Robles
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Starry Night
star
7.53
566 votes

#21 - Starry Night

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/2012

Kathryn finds a nurse who may have known that Bay and Daphne were switched. Bay crashes a festival where Guitar Face (Toby, Wilke, and Emmett) is playing because she hears that Daphne is there; Emmett doesn't want a jealous girlfriend. Bay's friend and Wilke's ex-girlfriend Simone flirts with Toby.

Directors: Steve Miner
Writer: Lizzy Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Game On
star
7.53
408 votes

#22 - Game On

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/6/2012

Bay becomes involved with Emmet's custody battle. Elsewhere, Daphne's two schools play each other in a basketball game

Directors: Ron Lagomarsino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Las Dos Fridas
star
7.53
482 votes

#23 - Las Dos Fridas

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/7/2012

We meet Monica, a teenage Latina who Daphne knew from her old neighborhood. She's on a track team that practices at Buckner Hall. Monica and Simone clash when Simone suspects Monica stole her watch.

Writer: Lizzy Weiss
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Expulsion From the Garden of Eden
star
7.49
498 votes

#24 - Expulsion From the Garden of Eden

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/31/2012

Angelo attends a dinner at the Kennishs' home; Emmett goes to live with his father where a nervous Bay prepares to meet Emmett's father and is high on nerves due to her disastrous relationship with Melody. Meanwhile, Wilke has some shocking news for Daphne and a woman who has a history with John shows up. Also during one of the aired commercials it is shown that Bay and Emmett might take their relationship to the physical level. It shows Emmett asking if Bay wants to quote "stay over, stay over."

Directors: Steve Miner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Shock of Being Seen
star
7.47
427 votes

#25 - The Shock of Being Seen

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 9/17/2012

Daphne feels like she's a minute away from being fired after she causes a major accident at the restaurant. But things take a turn when her new boss, handsome Chef Jeff, asks her to stay late one night. Meanwhile, Bay uses Angelo as her excuse to get around John's rules. And Kathryn is upset when Regina gets all of the attention in her interview for the new book.

Directors: Steve Miner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV