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May. 7th, 2014 01:01 pmMan, I am getting annoyed at Switched at Birth. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, it’s an ABC Family show about, yes, two teenage girls who were switched at birth, and most people look at the title and network and assume it’s awful. I don’t blame them, either. But for its first few seasons it was the best take on disability issues that I’ve ever seen on television. One of the girls became Deaf when she was a toddler, and most of the show circles around that: the general difficulties of living in the world as a Deaf person and the reaction of her (privileged, ignorant) birth family to her Deafness, yes, but also explorations of Deaf pride/culture -- why some Deaf people choose not to have cochlear implants to become hearing, why some Deaf people are proud and happy to be Deaf, why some Deaf people would rather just live in a community of other Deaf people, why some Deaf people would not want to see hearing students being integrated into a Deaf school. Stuff like that. And the characters were well-drawn and the writing was sharp and smart and thoughtful, and all characters with disabilities are played by really great actors who also have those disabilities (MARLEE MATLIN, 4 REALZ), which, sadly, is pretty close to being a first on television*. (Think about Glee. I mean.) Whoever writes the show was clearly part of or at least very familiar with the Deaf community and very committed to presenting it accurately and intelligently. I was nuts about this show, and kept trying to talk it up every chance I got. I don’t think anyone I ever talked it up to actually started watching it, but I was trying!
Unfortunately, it seems like it’s a rare television show that can sustain high quality for long. (Ask me my thoughts on the last two seasons of Modern Family.) I mean, it hasn’t gotten *bad*, exactly. There’s still a lot that’s worth watching. But it’s drifting, and I’m sad. ( spoilers ) I don’t know. It’s still worth watching, I guess, but compared to the fantastic all-sign-language episode last season where ( spoiler ), it’s failing.
This entry presented to you by “I’m Bored at Work, Let Me Rant About Television” and the letter K.
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*It isn’t just Deaf characters. They’ve got a kid in a wheelchair this season and they found a good actor for the role and are doing a nice job with that plotline.
**OK, not the stupidest thing ever. Grey’s Anatomy, frex, has done much, much stupider things. But it was bad.
Unfortunately, it seems like it’s a rare television show that can sustain high quality for long. (Ask me my thoughts on the last two seasons of Modern Family.) I mean, it hasn’t gotten *bad*, exactly. There’s still a lot that’s worth watching. But it’s drifting, and I’m sad. ( spoilers ) I don’t know. It’s still worth watching, I guess, but compared to the fantastic all-sign-language episode last season where ( spoiler ), it’s failing.
This entry presented to you by “I’m Bored at Work, Let Me Rant About Television” and the letter K.
*It isn’t just Deaf characters. They’ve got a kid in a wheelchair this season and they found a good actor for the role and are doing a nice job with that plotline.
**OK, not the stupidest thing ever. Grey’s Anatomy, frex, has done much, much stupider things. But it was bad.
