Ep 5. Dogs Playing Poker

Dogs Playing Poker is the fifth episode of Switched at Birth, season 1. The show revolves around two teenage girls, Bay Kennish and Daphne Vasquez, who were switched at birth in the hospital. The switch was only discovered when the Kennish family decided to get a DNA test done on Bay due to concerns about her hearing loss. This episode has a runtime of about 42 minutes.

In this episode, Bay and Daphne are struggling with their new family dynamics. Bay is having a hard time adjusting to her newly discovered biological family and is still processing the fact that her parents, whom she grew up with, aren't her biological parents. Daphne, on the other hand, is still trying to understand why her biological mother, Regina, gave her up for adoption. She is also dealing with the fact that her father, who is an alcoholic, is trying to make amends with her now that he's sober.

In the opening scene of the episode, Daphne is on her way to a job interview at the Red Light District, a local restaurant. However, when she gets there, she finds out that she's been disqualified from the interview due to a conflict of interest—Bay's boyfriend, Ty, works there. Bay is thrilled by the news and can't help but gloat about it to Daphne. Daphne is annoyed by Bay's attitude but ultimately decides to brush it off.

Meanwhile, at the Kennish household, John is trying to bond with Bay by playing poker with her. Bay is hesitant to play because she doesn't want to lose her college fund, which she has been saving up for. However, John convinces her to play by promising her that if she wins, he'll match whatever amount she has in her college fund.

At Carlton, the deaf school that both Bay and Daphne attend, an art teacher named Miles surprises the students by bringing in a couple of dogs to help them with their paintings of them. Bay quickly falls in love with one of the dogs and tries to convince the owner, an art student named Noah, to let her keep it. However, Noah tells her that he can't afford to take care of the dog, and Bay is forced to leave the dog behind. Daphne, who is allergic to dogs, helps Bay care for the dog and even sneaks it into the house. However, when John starts to suspect that something is up, the girls are forced to come up with a plan to keep the dog a secret.

At Regina's house, Daphne's father, Angelo, is trying to make amends with her. However, Daphne is still hurt by his years of neglect and isn't ready to forgive him just yet. Regina tries to mediate the situation but is unsuccessful.

As the episode progresses, the poker game between Bay and John becomes more intense, and Bay starts to worry about losing her college fund. However, just as the game is about to end, Daphne comes in and reveals that she has been training with her dad on how to play poker and offers to help Bay win. Together, they beat John and win the game.

In the end, Daphne and Bay return the dog to Noah but not before Bay convinces her parents to adopt a dog of their own. Daphne allows Angelo back into her life, and Bay grows closer to her biological family. The episode ends with Bay and Daphne sitting on the couch, looking content and happy.

Overall, Dogs Playing Poker is an engaging episode that explores the complexities of family dynamics. The show manages to strike a perfect balance between humor and heart, making it a must-watch for anyone who loves family dramas.