Deaf U, Netflix’s reality show following the lives of students at Gallaudet University, digs into some real issues in episodes 5 and 6. Where the first half of the season mostly explores the love lives and drama of these seven characters, this one shows the students attending therapy, discussing their childhoods, and being open about religion.

Sean, a deaf D.C. resident, policy wonk, and education researcher, and Jonquilyn, journalist and reality show connoisseur, discussed this pair of episodes.

For our last Deaf U recap, click here.

Jonquilyn: Everyone is in love with Alexa, except the audience. Braxton, a recent grad from the first episode, is head over heels for this girl and tries to make his case.

Braxton: “I know I’m not that smart.”

Alexa: “It’s not just that, it’s more.”

GIRL. WHAT.

Sean: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J: Alexa compares Braxton to a warm thick blanket you need in winter, not summer. MISS MAMA SAID CUFFING SEASON IS OVER, SIR.

S: It’s cuffin season, and baby, you ain’t good enough

J: Braxton also asks if his drug use is the reason she doesn’t want a relationship, and mimics a needle going into his arm. Is the sign for all drugs the same?

S: No — the needle in the arm is both for the general term ‘drugs’ and for ‘coca-cola’ — go figure! Reefer is an obvious sign, but when referring to certain drugs there are signs for it — e.g. ‘lines’ for cocaine.

J: Time for more Renate. She’s in therapy, so likely no undulating today.

S: A deaf therapist! Wow this is amazing — I want a deaf therapist.

J: Finding a therapist with a particular identity can be so hard! Renate is dealing with PTSD after seeing her mom in a violent relationship with her dad. She’s working through her own anger. I love when therapists do activities. Renate gets to throw things at the wall.

S: I can relate! Playing football was good therapy for me in some ways in college!

J: Like I said before: EVERYONE is feeling Alexa. She and Dalton have a tryst in the pool after hours.

S: This is so awkward — he’s obviously not into her!

J: I can’t tell if he’s not into her and is doing this for the storyline, or if he’s shy and a little less forward than the other men she’s dating. Alexa is used to the player type and can’t read between those lines.

S: Exactly! I also feel like he’s not that interested?

J: Cameron and Cheyenna hit the Black Cat. She has a fun leopard coat though.

S: I never went to fancy bars in undergrad. Who can afford shit like that in college?

J: There is a reason that Sign of the Whale and McFadden’s were so popular among college students in the 2010s — the happy hour deals! Pure had rail drinks FOR A DOLLAR.

S: Best deal I’ve found (pre-COVID) is the Friday night happy hour at DC Brau — beers for $2.50! I wish H Street was that cheap!

J: They have to order drinks with a notepad because it’s so loud. If I needed a reminder that they are in college, everyone is drinking a sex on the beach.

S: 👀 accurate. The notepad is not because it’s loud, but maybe because they’re deaf and it’s easier?

J: In episode 6, the ladies are at a period protest! They are not protesting menstruation, but access to all the things you need for it. Renate opens up about being in a shelter with her mom. I really find her and her story compelling.

S: Yay protest! This is interesting — finally some real discussion here for once.

J: Tayla says she’ll give people with a heavy flow days off from work on their period. She makes a compelling argument TBH.

S: Cheyenna opens up more about her religious upbringing and how it conflicted with her experience at college.

J: She wasn’t allowed to celebrate Halloween as a kid. We’re slowly starting to get more fleshed out backstories for everyone.

J: Dalton has a job at a brewery with his friend Zane. Alexa comes by for a beer and starts checking Zane out. Alexa. Ma’am. I need you to find another circle of men. Gallaudet can’t be THAT small. Are there soccer players? There must be soccer players.

S: Zane says he is “More into beer than girls.” LOL.

J: Ok now they are in the other Bison’s neck of the woods: Ben’s Chili Bowl. Is that a place you went in college? I feel like it’s so iconic everyone goes there, and more people go to U Street than they did when I was in college.

S: They’re at the one on H Street NE! It opened recently — really nice, but my go-to used to be &pizza! I miss going out late at night and getting drunk pizza with friends. 🙁

J: Wow. Now I want Jumbo Slice almost as much as all these men want Alexa.

Takeaways:

The Alexa Show

The show seems to have pivoted to being the Alexa show. She’s becoming the “main character” here and the attempts to make her the object of desire for everyone on the cast are a bit much. The Alexa and Dalton storyline feels shoehorned in. It’s obvious when they try to set Alexa and Dalton up in the pool scene, as well as when they try to set Zane up with Alexa in front of Dalton.

When Alexa chats with Braxton and describes him as a thick blanket you use for the winter — it’s painfully accurate, both in the show and in real life! It’s good that she is recognizing that certain people play specific roles in her life, but it doesn’t make it any easier to hear. She’s honest to a fault.

Getting Real

In these two episodes, we get more authenticity. Alexa opens up about how she views her dating life; Cheyenna talks about how her upbringing shaped her and left her a little conflicted; and Renate goes to therapy. Still, l some moments were more “show” than “reality” — like the pool scene with Alexa and Dalton, where it was painfully awkward and painfully obvious that their relationship isn’t a thing.

Cheyenna talks about her experience growing up and it shows why she is so different from the other girls and makes her exclusion make a little more sense. She really can’t relate in some ways. Cheyenna also talks about her molestation growing up, and how she kept that hidden. It was powerful, but the episode could have used a content warning.

Renate’s therapy session was done really well. It illustrated how therapy helps people, and it also shows a deaf-to-deaf therapist dynamic, which is really important! Representation! When she’s in therapy breaking things, it’s powerful. This is when and where this show shines — when it tells authentic stories.

Previously: 

5 Big Takeaways From Episodes 1-2 Of ‘Deaf U,’ Netflix’s Gallaudet-Set Reality Show
Discussing Episodes 3 And 4 Of ‘Deaf U,’ Netflix’s Gallaudet-Set Reality Show