All good things must eventually come to an end. Don’t be sad that it’s over, be glad that it happened. Super cheesy idioms such as these always happen to come up when something amazing comes to an end, but it never really helps. This is most certainly one of those cases, as we have just learned that the critically acclaimed series Switched at Birth will soon come to an end.
A new report from THR indicates that Freeform series Switched at Birth will conclude following its fifth season. The series has maintained a consistent following since it first premiered all the way back in 2011, and it has continuously garnered great ratings and solid reviews well past the 100-episode milestone-no easy feat for any show to attain. It continued to thrive following ABC Family’s rebranding efforts, and new name Freeform, a name we are still not entirely sold on to this day.
Lizzy Weiss, creator of the hit Freeform series, issued a statement yesterday discussing the end of the series, as well as her immense gratitude for everyone who has supported the show during its run:
This season of #SwitchedatBirth will be our final one. We are ending the show after an amazing 103 episodes with pride, love, and gratitude.
Although Switched at Birth could have very well lived its life as nothing more than a total gimmick, the creative forces behind the series have done everything in their power to ensure that the show tells an engaging, heartwarming story. Switched at Birth centers around two young girls in a small Kansas town. They come from wildly different families with similarly different socio-economic backgrounds, but soon discover that the hospital they were both born at made a mistake on their birthdays. Upon realizing that they were switched at birth (rim shot) they befriend one another and bring their respective families together.
One of the most notable aspects of Switched at Birth is the way in which it tackles the concept of deafness. Throughout the series’ run, it has drawn immense praise from the hearing impaired community for its portrayal of the condition, as well as its willingness to cast actors with real life hearing impairments.
The final fifth season of the series will consist of 10 total episodes, and the series finale will be a 90-minute special event that longtime fans of Switched at Birth won’t want to miss. We will bring you any and all information related to the upcoming final season of Switched at Birth, as well as its extended finale episode, as it becomes available to us. Stay tuned for more details!
