Post Mortem: Switched at Birth Boss on Losing [Spoiler], ‘Shocking’ Aftermath
Warning: If you have yet to watch Monday’s Switched at Birth, avert your eyes. Everyone else, read on…
Monday’s episode of Switched at Birth delivered a tearjerker when Daphne and Bay’s father Angelo (Gilles Marini) died from injuries sustained in a car accident.
With an uncharacteristically angry Daphne laying the blame on her mother Regina (who threw some harsh accusations Angelo’s way before he drove off), TVLine chatted with executive producer Lizzy Weiss to find out how the teen will handle the loss moving forward. (One word: Spiral.)
Weiss also opened up about why Angelo was the one to go, and how Marini took the news.
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TVLINE | Last time we spoke, you said it was really important to repair the relationship between Daphne and Angelo this season. Was that so you could break our hearts even more?
Yes. [Laughs] It’s the toughest relationship and one of the most defining relationships of [Daphne’s] life, and it damaged her a lot that he left her. It profoundly hurt her. We really wanted them to mend that before he was taken away. You’ll see after he passes away, she has a huge turn, and the rest of the season is in direct relation to how she feels about the fact that she had so little time with him when things were good. Really for her, that is the spine of the season, the father-daughter relationship.
TVLINE | How did you come to the decision to kill off Angelo? What was the thinking in the writers’ room?
It started off by talking about iconic moments in all of our lives in high school. I went to an all-girls high school, and we actually never had a student die because I think girls are less likely to die in drunk driving accidents. We had a teacher die and it was such a seminal moment for me. When you’re a teenager and you feel death for the first time and someone you know is taken away suddenly… Everyone started talking about that moment. We actually started talking about, do we want it to be like that experience, someone random in the school, just so it could just be about death and what it feels like for the first time when you’re a teenager. Then we started talking about, “well, would it be more meaningful and interesting and complex to have it be someone closer?”
We went down a lot of paths and then we came across Angelo, and it was definitely a scary thought. I shied away for the longest time for all the obvious reasons — mostly losing Gilles, who I love and the fans love, and it’s obviously such a permanent decision. But every time I’ve been scared of doing something — like the all ASL episode, the dance episode and now this episode — it always paid off. I feel it’s risks like that that keep the show surprising and interesting. It was a very tough decision. But everyone will see that it’s not arbitrary just to kill someone. It definitely has meaning for everyone in a very deep way.
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TVLINE | How did Gilles take the news? His storyline seemed to be beefing up finally.
A champ. I was so nervous to talk to him, and he was so gracious about it. He totally got it. He was excited for the journey because I explained to him he wasn’t just going to be sitting in a bed, that we were going to be doing flash forwards and flashbacks. I honesty think his work tonight is the best on our show. The fantasy flash-forwards were so sad, and I saw it so many times in the editing room, and every time I teared up at the wedding day and the birth of Bay’s fantasy twin because those are very iconic father-daughter moments. That was very important to me as a daughter, who has experienced both of those moments with my father, to talk about how sad it is that these characters will never have those moments with one of their dads.
TVLINE | This is obviously an event that affects many members of the family. But who would you say takes it the hardest?
Daphne. For sure. There’s no question. Everything about the rest of the season is Daphne’s response to losing this surrogate dad… Daphne becomes a very different Daphne for the rest of the season. She does some things that fans may not like and behaves in ways that will be very shocking. But she’s a teenager responding to a tragedy and she acts out. It’s a risk that even calls back the switch — because she’s so angry at Regina, and it reminds of her how she felt when she found out that Regina knew all those years and never told her. There’s old baggage for her.
TVLINE | What about Regina? Is she going to feel the blame Daphne lays on her? Or is she going to realize Daphne is just in a lot of pain?
Both. At first, she decides to take the hits and wait it out as a mother might do. And then, as Daphne continues to punish her and make worse and worse decisions, it come to a head, which you’ll see later in the season.
TVLINE | And this was Bay’s biological father, so how is she dealing with it going forward?
Whereas for Daphne, it was all the time she lost being angry at him and wishing she could do it over again and not be as angry, for Bay, what we’re playing is the blood ties. She has a dad that she’s every close to, John. Angelo represents — just like adopted kids — all the questions you have about your biological ancestors. So we do play out, in an episode coming up, a yearning to get to know more members of her family that would tell her about parts of Angelo’s life that she can never ask about — his childhood, his adolescence, his twenties, [life] even before Regina. And so there becomes that craving to learn about him and her family. And as we move into Season 4 hopefully, those are questions we won’t stop answering. We’ll continue to play out what Angelo’s death means for Bay in other ways. As these challenges come up, it sort of haunts you.
Switched at Birth fans, what did you think of Angelo’s farewell episode? Are you looking forward to an angry Daphne? Sound off below!
Heartbroken. Really.
Totally agree. I would rather they killed off John with the heart attack, or Toby, who has no storyline at the moment. I don’t really care to watch Daphne spiral out of control right now.
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE!!
I am still watching the episode and I wanted to search up to see what will happen and he dies. Wow I’m sad. And btw I’m watching on Netflix so if anyone wants to research then it’s on Netflix
:( I felt they just didn’t know what to do with the character…same with Toby, he’ll probably be next.
I kind of agree with that. His death is just so weird to me. I understand you can lose people when you least expect it, but here, I’m really struggling to see why. Especially since Gilles didn’t wanna go.
There’s an interview on another site about how Giles was actually excited and honored to have this happen. I don’t think he ever even implied that he didn’t want to go. Sure he’ll miss the job and the character and the other actors, but he’s quite happy with where his character went.
I think he meant that Gilles didn’t ask to be written off so he could play another part.
Giles was fired and no one is excited and honored to be fired! Get a clue – the guy was only being gracious!
:( so sad.
I agree with you I’m sad to say, unfortunately as a viewer the lose of Angelo didn’t really make a difference. He was hardly a presence on the show since his initial introduction.
That may be true but Angelo did take a serious part in the life of the kennishs and the Vasquezs because being bay and Daphnies dad and all. I’m not saying it was right to take him out but in the recent episodes gillies (Angelo) had been in a lot with the resturant and with moving into Regina’s house.
I just assumed he wanted to move on to other projects. That or they were trying to cut the budget and Angelo was the character that was most expendable.
Nooooo! Toby is the best!
I can’t believe they killed him off. He was a great addition to the show. What a loss!
I am so sad I really don’t want to watch anymore now I know why I watch super natural shows because they never really die…:(
Lol I know rite can’t wait for October
I’m all done as well
After last weeks heartwarming scene with Daphne, I was really hoping we could watch Angelo grow more into his fatherhood role. Sad that the show thought this was a good move. I thought Gilles Marini did a good job. Flashbacks are for LOST not this show.
That is so true i 100% agree and I think they really should’ve made Angelo have a recovery cause I think everyone that had been watching it lately loved that Angelo had seriously been taking his role with Daphnie as a father.
I too was looking forward to the Angelo/Daphne relationship. I also wanted to see him get back to his roots now that the money and fantasy land were gone. I HOPE Regina does NOT get with her boss… she doesn’t need to sleep get way too the top!!
Haha true . (About the lost thing)
I’m not sure I’ll continue to watch. You take away a persons job for a sad story line? Ridiculous.
Then you might as well stop watching ALL tv shows
I agree with you Nate. Almost every show does this. It stinks but it’s not unheard of.
Get over it. They do this in so many shows. Like the person above me said, just stop watching everything! It happens more than you realize. Plus, Gilles has moved on to another project. Devious Maids. Although he only appeared in the finale episode, if they get picked up for season 3, he’ll be back on that show.
I agree.
He is an actor. His job is to act in a part, and act out his character’s lines and storyline. His storyline ended, so his job ended. Like all other actors, when his project ends he finds a new project.
Yeah, and he might have quit!
i know :(
As much as I hated it. These things do happen in real-life: 1. There is never enough time. 2. We never get that closure; so I applaude the producers and Giles. I’ll miss him on the show.
I will not be watching the show anymore I am so freaking angry he was my favorite character and it’s not right or fair…
How? Once he appeared really didn’t do anything.
Death is random and unfair….so are tv show budgets.
Mine, too. :(
The first paragraph is misleading. It says Daphne and Angelo died.
Ignore me. I misread it even though I read it several times over. I need sleep.
this is crap. the show won’t even be the same, and if it don’t get better for some reason, I’ll no longer be watching it.
Very sad episode. However I’m looking forward to seeing how the family gets through this.
Seeing Gilles in Devious Maids last night I wondered if they were setting him up for something recurring like maybe he wouldn’t be committed to SAB anymore… Sad to see him go. I think maybe they could’ve gotten the same effect by killing off John but I guess they’d never do that. Angelo was doing so good reconnecting with Daphne, I really did not see this coming! I’m a little tired of the whole “perfect Daphne gets upset about something and acts out in some uncharacteristic way” storyline but maybe it won’t be that bad. I also always thought it was kinda weird that John and Kathryn were so connected with Daphne but Regina and Angelo never seemed that interested in spending more time with Bay… Guess Bay won’t have a chance to connect with him now. Too bad…
Didn’t Bay live with just Regina and Angelo all summer? I definitely think Regina gives Bay attention. She is just more quiet about her affection than Kathryn.
I will miss Angelo, but I do agree that he and Toby don’t add much to the story lines. Also, Daphne is exhausting and demanding, it seems in line with her character that she will act out after this loss. And in typical Daphne style she will act as if she is the only one with grief to deal with.
I would have stopped watching if they killed off John or Kathryn or Regina, so I guess if it had to be done Angelo is the right choice.
I’ve noticed a lot of hate for Daphne and none for Bay in the few comments I’ve seen on SAB. I’m curious as to why, like genuinely I am interested.
It seems to be because Daphne is so ‘perfect’ but I really liked her character until recently, and I generally can’t stand Bay. Bay just comes off as so selfish and self absorbed, she never gets told off by her parents for anything she does and if she’s not rolling her eyes and making snarky remarks and being rude, she’s crying for sympathy. I’ve also been annoyed by Daphne lately, don’t get me wrong, she’s not my favourite character at all, but not as much as Bay and at least she is a really caring, good daughter. I think the thing that always sticks in my mind is the time when John had had a heart attack and had just come home, and Bay was out with Ty (don’t remember the exact storyline but I know she was with him) and Daphne stayed home and worried obsessively about John.
And lol I’ve also noticed that while John and Kathryn are really eager to be close to Daphne, Angelo and Regina are not that fussed, they’re still all about Daphne haha, it always makes my mum and I laugh because we both get annoyed by Bay.
Glad someone else noticed Bay’s selfishness. She was brutal in this episode. Freaking out on Daphne, calling her out for the SATs that Regina forced her to go to, telling her she isn’t Angelo’s daughter, etc… and this isn’t the first time Bay has been a selfish brat. Sure Daphne has done some questionable things herself lately, but Bay isn’t growing up at all.
Daphne has so many more reasons to act out, rebel and, hell, even be selfish than anyone else in the switcheroo group. While she isn’t my favorite character on the show, I think that her reactions to all of this chaos have been natural and realistic.
I agree with you about John & Kathryn really tried to get to know Daphne, but Regina and Angelo didn’t spend more time with Bay. There are a few episodes where Regina and Bay connect, but it’s different with John & Kathryn & Daphne. In a way I kinda felt like this was also Bay’s fault. She always semmed much more interested in what she was doing and what was going on with her life. I don’t recall an episode where Bay tries to attempt a relationship with Regina and Angelo. I can’t see them Killing of John at any point, he is one of the main characters of the show. For me, Killing Angelo wasn’t that much of a surprise. He didn’t have much of a reaccuring role. I would have been more surprised later on, when him and Daphne started connecting more.
didn’t bay lived with them an entire summer?
I actually cried I was like NO their gonna give him this miraculous recovery and it’ll make everyone stronger as a family but then when they said brain dead I was no way in hell would they kill off Angelou when his character was starting to make an impact with his relationship with Daphne and they where becoming father and daughter oh well hope no body else dies
I hate this ending
I hope it turns out to be all a bad dream someone’s having and he’s not really dead!!!! This sucks!
I AGREE! i really hope its a mistake! angelo needs to come back!!!
I like the bad dream idea. It worked for Dallas; it could work for SAB.
As someone who lost her Dad two days before my 15th b-day, this episode physically hurt. As silly as it is, I want this to be a dream, just as I wanted my own Dad’s passing to be a dream. Aside from that, I am sad to see Gilles Marini leave the show. I think his presence was important in too many ways to lose. Now, all I can hope is that Regina is not paired with Wes, that would be adding insult to injury.
I’m so sorry that it triggered pain for you. I have a major issue (unable to have children) that is like an open wound for me and random/unexpected moments can trigger acute pain for me (like the giving birth scene in tonight’s episode.) it’s weird how tv shows can do that to us. But, I guess it’s a good sign that we aren’t just numb to it and that we are able to still feel those emotions. Best wishes to you!
It’s still hard for me to watch episodes about a mother or father or even a child die. I was told for 13 years that I could never have a child. And finally when I turned 30 I was blessed with my beautiful daughter. But still to this day reading a comment like yours brings tears to my eyes. Because I know how u feel.
It should have been Toby’s ex-wife or someone not as close, this episode was definitely not one of the good ones. 👎
I disagree. This was one of the best episodes. I cried the whole time. After all, this is a show about life (and death)
I disagree. This episode was very well thought out and was one of the best episodes. This will definitely make the rest of the season interesting to see how everyone reacts.
Ugh my emotions could not handle this episode…
I was not thrilled about this might have to stop watching this show!!
Dumb move taking angelo off the show. I think toby’s ex should have went. I’m done with this show now
im so freaking pissed that they killed him!! never cried so much for a T.v show!!
It feels like it was done for the shock value without much thought to how it would affect the story going forward. Im not a big Gilles fan, but I think there was a much richer story in allowing him to evolve in his relationship with the girls. That’s the direction that the show appeared to be taking and it had substance and appeal. Now they’re going to try to tell the story without him. That’s not going to work. We’re going to see an angry Daphne and a searching Bay but ultimately neither one can be fully satisfied because Angelo is gone. It seems like they’ve exhausted all the John/Katherine/Toby angles.They had something new and wasted it. IMO.
Well said. Totally agree.
This move felt like something to throw in to right a disjointed and otherwise messy season. I was starting to really enjoy Angelo’s interaction with Daphne. That to me has been the only interesting element to this season, now that it’s gone I believe the season will lose it’s way even more.
I agree. This season seemed like a bunch of barely-related plots. This episode should have been the season finale. Or maybe last week’s. In any case, the relationship between Angelo and Daphne should have been allowed to grow a little more. The impact would have been more dramatic and intense.
I would have gladly taken losing Regina over Angelo. She is such an irritating character. Always unhappy, whining, self-righteous and complaining about something. Seriously has she ever seemed happy. It would have been interesting to see the girls have to rely on Angelo after losing Regina.
That would have been a great storyline too. To lose Regina and see the girls rely on Angelo to “take her place”. Guess we’ll just have to trust that the writers know what they’re doing.
I hope they save his restaurant!! I think that would help Daphne! I really hate to see him go but I think this may make those girls stronger!
Useless character, good riddance.