The third season of ABC Family drama television series Switched at Birth began on January 13, 2014, and consists of 22 episodes. The season is produced by ABC Family, Pirates' Cove Entertainment, and Suzy B Productions, with Paul Stupin and series creator Lizzy Weiss serving as executive producers.
The one-hour scripted drama revolves around two young women who discover they were switched at birth and grew up in very different environments.[1] While balancing school, jobs, and their unconventional family, the girls, along with their friends and family, experience deaf culture, relationships, class differences, racism, audism, and other social issues.
After the blackmailing incident, Daphne is ordered to do community service at a free clinic. She meets Campbell (RJ Mitte), a former snowboarder who sustained serious injuries after an accident. Her relationship with John continues to be tense. The deaf students at Carlton are unhappy about the new students that were forced to relocate to the school due to district budget cuts. Daphne starts off on bad terms with a troubled girl named Sharee. Meanwhile, Bay is taking a college art class and is partnered up with a fraternity pledge, Tank (Max Adler). Toby finds his life as a newlywed at a standstill while Nikki is off doing missionary work in Peru. When her boss decides to sell the business, Regina hopes to buy the place with Angelo's help. Kathryn has started seeing a psychiatrist after going through a bout of depression and finds light in taking dance classes, which she hides from John.
Daphne and Toby try to convince Bay to join the newly-formed field hockey team so that they'll have enough players. Bay's confidence in her artistic abilities goes down when her teacher says that her piece on Tank lacks depth. Tank narrowly escapes being kicked out of the class after he fails to complete his portrait of Bay from the night of the party. John finds out that Kathryn has been hanging out with other people and sneaking off to dance classes, so Kathryn invites her dance friend, Renzo, over for dinner. At the clinic, Daphne and Campbell have to track down a patient after Daphne let him go before properly checking out. She also tries to recruit Sharee to join field hockey after Toby finds out that Sharee is a star athlete. Meanwhile, after Emmett catches the Carlton vandal on camera, he suspects that the one who has been targeting the deaf students is one of his deaf friends.
Title reference: From the 1989 protest poster Your Body Is a Battleground by Barbara Kruger.
Bay asks her new art teacher for a letter of recommendation for an art school application and gets invited to an art show in Minneapolis. Tank joins them. Emmett is put in a tough position after confronting a fellow deaf student about the vandalism, with Travis encouraging him to keep quiet so that the new hearing students can take the blame. Sharee is mistakenly blamed for the tire slashing, but Daphne helps argue her case and get her expulsion rescinded. However, Sharee and Daphne clash and both end up in detention, making them miss their field hockey game, to Toby's frustration.
Jorge invites Daphne to a family barbecue where she is confronted about the Senator Coto ordeal. John surprises the family with an unusual purchase. Bay discovers that Emmett is dating again and has conflicting feelings. Regina and Angelo have a discussion about business.
Title reference: From the 1971 painting It Hurts to Wait With Love if Love Is Somewhere Else by Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
John bonds with Nikki's mom, Jennice, when they help Toby move into his new apartment. John invites her to his house to watch a boxing match and they end up kissing, which Regina sees through the window. Kathryn goes to New York City with Renzo to pitch an idea for a second book. Daphne tells Bay that Tank has a crush on her. Bay later rejoins the field hockey team for college admissions appeal. Daphne worries about Sharee after witnessing an altercation outside of Sharee's house and Regina gets involved.
Title reference: From the 1900s painting Have You Really the Courage? by Harry Clarke.
Kathryn and Renzo host a murder mystery-themed party to commemorate her recent book deal. The Kennishes and Vasquezes (minus Daphne) all attend, as well as Tank and Jennice. Jennice and John try to keep their kiss a secret and Regina decides whether or not to tell Kathryn. Bay realizes her feelings for Tank but worries about why he didn't invite her to a party at his fraternity. Meanwhile, Daphne throws a 21st birthday party for Campbell.
John temporarily moves in with Toby, who is unhappy about the situation. Toby and Bay try to get their parents to reconnect at a family outing, but Kathryn is adamant about finding her own independence. Melody preps Travis for an important college interview that he ends up skipping. Regina is in hot water with her boss after Adriana speaks out at a meeting against renovating East Riverside. Daphne tries to convince Sharee to get her mother some help with her mental issues. Bay comes across serious problems with her injured hand that could affect her future art career.
Title reference: From the 1982 photograph Memory Is Your Image of Perfection by Barbara Kruger.
Daphne shows an interest in the medical profession and tries to take on more responsibility at the clinic. Bay struggles with the limitations of her injury. Travis tries to learn dancing before attending a school formal with Mary Beth. Bay's art teacher shows no leniency about Bay's hand injury and demands that she work harder, and Bay succeeds in finding new ways to create her art with the help of Emmett. John tries to earn Kathryn's forgiveness, but fails to understand what she wants.
Title reference: From the 1998 painting Dance Me to the End of Love by Jack Vettriano.
Good intentions lead to hurt feelings. John invites one of his former baseball colleagues over to get some dirt for Kathryn's book. Toby tutors Sharee in physics to make sure she remains eligible for field hockey. Daphne is invited to a clinic fundraiser and Regina tries to help Angelo by suggesting that his restaurant cater the event. Campbell and Jorge both remain interested in Daphne. Bay's relationship with Tank suffers because of Mary Beth's disapproval.
Title reference: From the 1901 painting The Past (Forgotten-Swallowed) by Alfred Kubin.
Bay enlists Tank to help her strike back when the rivalry between Carlton and Buckner field hockey team get heated. Toby gets a surprise visit from Nikki, who tells him that she wants to live in Peru. Regina discovers Wes is scamming the people of East Riverside. Daphne must choose between Campbell and Jorge. Bay and Daphne prepare for the big game.
Kathryn's new book is leaked to the public before its release. Daphne has an unexpected encounter at the clinic with a man from her past. Regina feels a sense of guilt about her behavior in East Riverside. Back at K&D designs, someone throws a brick through her studio's window threatening her not to come back to East Riverside. Toby tries to go after Nikki. Meanwhile, Bay is skeptical about Emmett's new girlfriend.
Title reference: From the 1809 painting Love Seduces Innocence, Pleasure Entraps, and Remorse Follows by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon.
Toby travels to Iceland. Melody wants to put an end to Emmett getting bullied by Matthew. Meanwhile Bay feels torn between her feelings for Emmett and Tank and Emmett asks Bay if she's going to break up with Tank. Daphne is determined to hunt down the individual who vandalized Regina's studio. John discovers that Bay looked up where to buy morning after pills. Daphne asks Angelo to move into the guest house with her and Regina.
Title reference: From the 1873 painting Love Among the Ruins by Edward Burne-Jones.
Bay and Emmett make an unexpected discovery as they deal with Matthew's blackmail threat. Daphne receives an opportunity at the clinic but worries how it will affect her boyfriend Campbell. Bay breaks up with Tank telling him they should just go back to being friends but John mistakenly confronts a heartbroken Tank about Bay having to get the morning after pill. Someone from Kathryn's past threatens the publication of her book. Regina is watched while going to work by a man sitting in his car waiting for her.
Title reference: From the 2002 painting Like a snowball down a mountain by Damien Hirst
When Bay discovers Melody is considering an out-of-state move that would take Emmett with her, Bay encourages Emmett to strengthen his relationship with his father. Kathryn and John clash with Regina over funding Daphne's college expenses. Daphne interviews for a Latina college scholarship. Mary-Beth surprises Travis when she tracks down football player Derrick Coleman. Cameron gives Emmett big news.
Title reference: From the 1933 painting Oh, Future! by Nicholas Roerich
Toby returns from a soul-searching trip to Iceland after his failed marriage with a new perspective and surprising aspiration for his career. Bay gets a response from the Pratt Institute. Angelo helps Daphne redirect her senior year stresses with a baking challenge. Meanwhile Regina's participation in the East Riverside project brings her to yet another moral crossroad. A terrible car accident puts Angelo in the hospital and it is unknown if he will survive.
Title reference: From the 1922 painting And We Bring the Light by Nicholas Roerich
A serious accident has left Angelo in the hospital fighting to survive while others place blame as emotions run high. The Kennish and Vasquez families rally to support Angelo. Amid the emotion, decisions must be made and lives are changed forever. The doctors say that Angelo is brain dead. Bay and Emmett find Angelo's will, which says that he wishes to be unhooked from machines keeping him alive. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that Angelo died from an aneurysm, caused by being really angry at Regina. Daphne blames Regina for Angelo's death.
Title reference: From the 1938 painting The Image Disappears by Salvador Dalí
Seeing that Bay and Daphne are still depressed about Angelo's death after two weeks, John suggests a trip to Chicago to find Bay's second cousin from Angelo's side of the family and give Daphne a chance to tour prospective colleges. But the trip goes south when Daphne uses the opportunity to act out and Bay receives news regarding Angelo's family history. Kathryn steps in when Regina forgets Leo is scheduled to bring Abby for a visit. Toby has his first gig as a DJ at a bar, where Tank meets Emmett.
Title reference: From the 1938 painting Girl With Death Mask (She Plays Alone) by Frida Kahlo
Daphne and Travis get their admission results from Gallaudet University. Bay tries being Tank's friend and supports him when he meets his dad for dinner. Toby and Lily get into a conflict regarding Sharee's make-up exam.
Title reference: From the 2009 painting It Isn't What You Think by Christopher Willard
Looking for a distraction, Daphne organizes a Senior Skip Day for her Carlton classmates, but things get out of hand. Travis attempts to drop out of Carlton to take a job at a loading dock. Bay meets with Angelo's doctor to discuss their family medical history. Meanwhile, Kathryn brings Regina to her publisher's author party in New York where they make an impression.
Title reference: From the 1799 painting You Will Not Escape by Francisco Goya
Bay has second thoughts about attending the prom when dress-code rules are enacted. Meanwhile, Kathryn, John and Regina are surprised to learn the severity of Daphne's bad behavior; and Tank assists Toby with his new burgeoning business.
Title reference: From the 1936 painting Girl on the Cliff by Augustus John.
As their graduation day approaches, Bay and Daphne learn that Carlton will be closed forever. Daphne grows depressed as she realizes how her bad choices are sure to ruin her plans to attend medical school. Bay accompanies her as she surrenders to the police, and at the last minute Bay surprises everyone by falsely confessing to Daphne's vandalism.
Title reference: From the 1974 painting And Life Begins Right Away by Robert Filliou.
As Bay and Daphne rebel against their mothers' Christmas traditions, a "Christmas miracle" grants them their wish of alternate lives in which they were not switched. Daphne wakes up as Bay Kennish ("Bay-Daphne") with her hearing intact, who is a skilled soccer player in training for the Olympics; while Bay wakes up as Daphne Sorrento ("Daphne-Bay"), deaf but a recognized artist, with a brother, Angelo Junior (AJ). However, these benefits come at a price: workaholic cosmetics entrepreneur Kathryn and depressed, stay-at-home has-been John are on the verge of divorce; Toby is an angst-ridden Emo; Emmett is only Daphne-Bay's platonic friend; and Regina has never conquered her alcoholism. When the girls decide this is worse, they fail at trying to reverse it at a disastrous Christmas-eve dinner party at the Kennishes, and succeed at waking up back to normal only after embracing the mothers' traditions which they once hated.
Title reference: From the 1888 painting Yuletide Fortune Tellers by Mykola Pymonenko.