ollibear

I think exactly like both of you, Paula and Erin!

It is a lot of episodes, and not all of them highlight Bay & Emmett, which has been the only part that has mattered to me, for a long time now.

I stopped caring about all of the parents' stories, after the girls graduated high school. At that point, the parents seemed superfluous to me, as if they should only be there to prop up the youngsters.

I could have been interested in Melody's character, if the writers had chosen to write for her growth as a human being. But they didn't do that. Instead, all of her necessary growth was glossed over or happened offscreen, and Melody's character has only been used to advance the plot for other characters.

We have not seen much of Melody's internal struggles since her momentary falling-out with Regina over her lack of signing and her difficulty supporting Cameron's Cochlear implant. Those two stories took place in Season 2, but we never saw Melody work through anything. One minute she was upset, and the next minute, all was forgiven and forgotten. Melody had moved onto dating Gabe and wondering about adoption.

I would have loved to really explore Melody's ups and downs in accepting a hearing Bay as Emmett's significant other, after they reunited, and especially after Bay was convicted of a felony.

I know that "Bay did Melody a solid" (to put it in Daphne-and-Nacho lingo) when she spoke to Cameron and helped him see that he needed to give Melody full custody, in Season 1. But I refuse to believe that completely solved Melody's hesitations about Bay as a lifetime partner for Emmett. I feel like she would have had doubts, when Bay was convicted of a felony (unless maybe Melody knows the truth, but as viewers, we have never been told that).

And wouldn't most "Type A" parents, like Melody, have concerns about Bay drinking (underage) so much that she blacked out, in the dormitory, where Melody is the administrator of a brand new program. Melody knows that Regina is a recovering alcoholic. I feel like a real-life Melody would have cautioned Emmett about dating someone exhibiting drinking problems at such a young age, especially with Bay's family history. But Melody never said a peep about that, so we did not have an opportunity to see her character grow and become a person who trusts her son's judgment about his girlfriends. One minute, Melody was a mother-in-law-type from hell, and the next minute, Melody was everyone's dream mother-in-law. Melody was literally cured for life, with no backward movement. She even sat quietly as Bay screamed, "Something happened to me and he bailed because he could only see how it affected him. That's what happened. He's cold. He's selfish! He's heartless! And I hate him. I hate him. I will hate him for the rest of my life. In fact, I wish that I had never even met him!"

I love that Melody is so mature she could listen to all of that and still understand Bay's point of view. I love that Melody did not let those words destroy her feelings for Bay, and yet, I don't think it is realistic that Bay's words had absolutely no effect on Melody.

I wish we had seen a scene with Melody talking to Gabe about Bay's visit and expressing some sort of mixed feelings.

Melody cannot be that perfect now, especially after how imperfect Melody used to be. I wanted to see Melody a bit happy that Bay and Emmett were over, because that would give Bay and Emmett an obstacle to overcome together. But the writers removed all of Bay and Emmett's external obstacles and made all of them internal. I would have rather had both. It would seem more realistic to me.

And I know I should care about Daphne's story, but I don't. I stopped caring about Daphne when she not only refused to welcome Bay to Carlton, but kept her at a distance during her field hockey and community service days. Daphne even coerced Bay to take up field hockey with her, but they didn't develop a friendship, despite Bay's need for a friend, at that time in her life.

And unfortunately, I care even less about Toby. His relationship with his two sisters is fascinating. His failed marriage and baby mama are not so interesting.

Season 1: Episodes 6 through 15 are pure Bemmett Gold, as are Episodes 17 through 23. Gold, I tell you.

Those 17 episodes are Pure Gold.

Honorable Mention goes to Episodes 26 and 30.

Season 2 : Episodes 3, 6, 9, 15, 18, and 21 are Bemmett Gold.

Honorable Mention goes to Episodes 7, 10, and 13. (Episodes 19 and 20 also have poignant Emmett scenes, but not any Bemmett.)

Season 3: Episodes 4, 8, and 11 through 14 are Bemmett Gold, as is Episode 20.

Honorable Mention goes to Episodes 16, 19, 21, and 22.

Season 4: Episodes 1, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 15 are Bemmett Gold.

Honorable Mention goes to Episodes 9 and 20.

As for special episodes:

• Bay & Emmett's first sighting of each other is in the pilot episode.
• Bay & Emmett's first introduction to each other is in Season 1, Episode 2.
• Bay first notices Emmett's crush on Daphne in Season 1, Episode 4.
• Bay & Emmett playing Deaf charades is in Season 1, Episode 6
• Bay & Emmett's first kiss is in Season 1, Episode 7.
• Bay turns to Emmett for comfort, when she discovers Regina knew about the switch all along in Season 1, Episode 8.
• Emmett gives Bay a birthday surprise in Season 1, Episode 9.
• Emmett speaks to Bay with his voice, in Season 1, Episode 10.
• Bay & Emmett attend East West Fest together in Season 1, Episode 11.
• Bay & Emmett's first "I love you" is on Valentine's Day in Season 1, Episode 17.
• Emmett cheats in Season 1, Episode 20.
• Bay gives Emmett a birthday surprise in Season 1, Episode 21.
• Bay & Emmett attend their first prom together in Season 1, Episode 22.
• Bay returns from the Galapagos with a new boyfriend in Season 1, Episode 23.
• Emmett tells Bay, "I'll always come find you," in Season 1, Episode 30.
• Bay & Emmett attend Tolerance Camp together in Season 2, Episode 3. Also, Emmett tells Bay that it hurts too much to be friends.
• Bay & Emmett celebrate Valentine's Day apart, in Season 2, Episode 6.
• Emmett kisses Bay, when he learns she has a new boyfriend in Season 2, Episode 7.
• Bay & Emmett participate in the Uprising together in Season 2, Episode 9.
• Bay & Emmett work together at Maui's Deaf Awareness Day in Season 2, Episode 18.
• Bay lets Emmett comfort her, when she believe Ty cheats in Season 2, Episode 21.
• Bay kisses Emmett, when she learns he has a new girlfriend in Season 3, Episode 4.
• Emmett lets Bay comfort him, when he learns that Mandy is not who she seemed, in Season 3, Episode 11. Also, as Bay consoles Emmett, Bay & Emmett begin to make love for the first time.
• Bay & Emmett officially get back together in Season 3, Episode 12.
• Bay & Emmett tell everyone they are back together in Season 3, Episode 14.
• Emmett comforts Bay when Angelo dies, in Season 3, Episode 16.
• Bay & Emmett attend Senior Ditch Day together in Season 3, Episode 19.
• Bay & Emmett are crowned queen and king of the prom, in Season 3, Episode 20.
  
• Bay & Emmett graduate high school in Season 3, Episode 21.
• Bay & Emmett celebrate Christmas in an alternate universe in Season 3, Episode 22.
• Bay & Emmett go their separate ways, in Season 4, Episode 1.
• Emmett returns home for a surprise visit in Season 4, Episode 4.
• Bay & Emmett argue during a rainstorm in Season 4, Episode 7.
• Emmett breaks up with Bay on the beach in Season 4, Episode 10.
• Bay mourns the loss of her relationship with Emmett in Season 4, Episode 11.
• Bay & Emmett spend spring break in Mexico together, by accident, in Season 4, Episode 15.

That's all I remember, off the top of my head!