"He Did What He Wanted" was a fairly intense Switched episode, covering a lot of ground.

There was a nice big story arc for Emmett, so that should have made some of you very happy, and I definitely have some questions regarding what's going on with him. Regina and John had a come to Jesus moment and John tried to get there first... literally. Ty and Bay moved closer and Daphne learned something new about Jace.

Let's hit the ground running!

Let's talk about Bay. When she noticed something was a bit off with Ty, she asked Marybeth, only to learn they had spent the night previous cleaning out MB's brother's room of his belongings. Tough stuff. Bay so wants everyone to be happy, and her attempt at making things come together don't always work. After a night of miniature golf with her boss and Marybeth (in an unsuccessful attempt to fix them up), Marybeth lost her brother's dog tags. 

The biggest problem I had with that was dog tags are made to be practically indestructible. They're the one thing used to identify a soldier after all hell has broken loose and they are lying in bits or scattered in rubble. How did Marybeth lose them playing mini golf?!? I guess some things are not for me to know. The poor girl can't catch a break, but she has a wonderful friend in Ty.

Bay thought she was receiving mixed signals from Ty and finally asked him straight up if he was still into her. He practically broke into song with the lovely words he spoke to her. They kissed and unless things with her father turn her life upside down, it looks like they'll launch into a solid romance. 

While Bay and Daphne didn't continue their sisterly bonding from last week, they didn't lose any ground either. Daphne was shocked to learn she wasn't invited to Jace's 4th of July party until he told her he's a political blogger and was hot on a lead that John's boss was having an affair with one of his interns. This is the same boss that was also hitting on Kathryn like a complete pig. Daphne's immediate reaction was to be shocked that Jace was gossiping behind people's backs, but he reminded her how she couldn't invoke change at Carlton with a petition - he'd done his homework on her. They're going to make a pretty good match, as well.

Daphne and Emmett were hanging out together, not only at the party but at a restaurant with his father. During that meal, his father broke the news to Emmett that he was considering getting a cochlear implant. It was as if he told Emmett he was going to go into a deep freeze until a cure for deafness was discovered.

I'm never going to understand deaf people and the controversy of getting a cochlear implant to try to improve their ability to hear. I'm not deaf and, frankly, I hope I never will be. If I'm watching Switched at Birth and understanding the message, some people may think that means I'm a bad person and perhaps even bigoted. 

I don't have a lot to compare the situation to. I was assaulted and lost my front tooth and the one beside it. I didn't hesitate to have them replaced. One of them is currently falling back out due to shoddy dentistry, and I'm not thinking that leaving a hole in my smile will add to my life experience, although if I lived that way long enough, I'm sure there are many lessons I'd learn. 

The only thing I know for sure is the look on Emmett's dad's face when Emmett told him he didn't want him to have the implant was of indescribable disappointment. Not because of anything to do with his hearing, but because his son didn't trust him enough to make a life-altering decision about his own life for himself and on his own behalf. The change wasn't going to effect Emmett in any way but something, perhaps Melody's militant stance on the issue, made Emmett think he had some say in the issue.

I would really like to hear from the deaf, and your thoughts on the matter. I'd like to know if other communities feel the same. Do the blind turn away the chance to see if given the opportunity, does someone who lost a limb prefer to live without it? 

Regina was still working very hard to keep her job and she was also dealing with two very stubborn men in her life. Angelo was spending money to the point that it made Regina worry about his financial situation, and John, with everything going on around him - Bay living with Regina, Kathryn being hit on by his boss, Toby's upcoming wedding - finally hit the wall. He and Regina had an argument, which you can see in this Switched at Birth quote: 

Regina: You have always had it in for me. What is it, huh?
John: What is it? You hid my daughter from me for thirteen years! I will never forgive you for that. NEVER!
Regina: And the more that I know you, the more I know that I was right to keep it a secret. You would have taken both girls away from me.
John: You are damn right! | permalink

The anger and rage coming from them both made for a really powerful scene. They had barely had time to get over it when Regina saw John making food in his kitchen and decided to head back in and start the argument anew. But John had fallen to the floor and didn't seem to be breathing. 

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.