We’ve reached the final episodes of Deaf U, Netflix’s new reality show set at Gallaudet University. The season ends with resolution for some characters, who open up about their childhood trauma, find love, and make big decisions about their future. But the show doesn’t close out without some classic college scenes, including a Homecoming game, a Halloween party, and another D.C. date.
Sean, a deaf D.C. resident, policy wonk, and education researcher, and Jonquilyn, journalist and reality show connoisseur, discussed this pair of episodes.
For more of our Deaf U recaps, click here.
Sean: Episode 7 picks up where they left off in episode 6, talking about Cheyenna’s molestation. Her parents swept it under the rug … a big percentage of assaults like these are unreported. Renate is so supportive about this. Props to her for sharing her story… it’s not easy.
Jonquilyn: This is a moment that feels really realistic. I remember in college having several people open up to me about trauma they’d been through. It’s hard, and people need support to work through it. Renate says she feels honored that Cheyenna shared this with her. I get a little weepy when Cheyenna says what she would say to her 8-year-old self.
J: Next, DQ is on another date with Raelynn. They ride the Metro. I haven’t been on the Metro in so long! Still nervous because of the pandemic. Raelynn has to ask DQ what the announcement says. That’s another thing I’ve never thought about. Accessibility on the Metro!
S: They’re sitting apart so that they can sign to each other. I wish they talked about that more — how intimacy and conversations like that look different in the deaf community versus the hearing community!
J: Raelynn says she is moving to the BIG APPLE. She’s moving to New York for grad school and DQ is super supportive. I am rooting for them.
J: The crew goes to a Halloween party and does some shots. They are definitely in college. I bet they don’t even get heartburn. They look like they’re having so much fun in their costumes. This time last year I was The Rock and in a cramped house party yelling over a J Balvin song. This year, Halloween looks way different.
S: Why the hell does Rodney always wear his Gallaudet football shirt — why can’t he wear something else for once?
J: Alexa is the devil and Rodney says it fits her. Cameron talks to Alexa and asks about Dalton. Alexa says it’s a no and we see Dalton hug up with another woman. Alexa looks very salty bout the whole encounter but perks up when she sees him reject her a bit. I never thought about the fact that signing means it’s so easy to eavesdrop! As a person who is deliciously nosy, I love that.
S: Seriously. We have to close doors or be in a whole other room just to avoid eavesdropping. People really will sit at the windows of the dorm room and watch conversations all day! We’re nosy and rude as hell … if you think deaf people are talking shit about you, we absolutely are. 😉
J: Alexa is really trying with Dalton. I think he has a chill vibe that she has trouble understanding. Alexa and Dalton are upstairs. There is nothing like a “Where is X? Where is Y?” and then putting two and two together. There is GIGGLING HAPPENING. And then they leave the bathroom separately.
J: Next, the group goes to One Eight Distilling. I went there for my 27th birthday! Cheyenna is interpreting a song for an artist. This reminds me of the interpreter at protests in D.C. and the girl who signed Megan Thee Stallion’s verse on WAP.
S: Omg yes, Raven’s amazing! It’s so authentic and I love how she makes the song her own.
J: In Episode 8, Rodney and this new woman are at Union Market. Apparently her name is Greta and she was his first love in high school. He cheated on her. Hmmm.
S: Does Rodney ever change his shirt OR his shady behavior?
J: Their relationship is awkward in a way that reminds me that they aren’t that far removed from high school.
S: And yeah I feel like Greta is the ‘safe’ choice for Rodney? Kinda like that ‘blanket’ vibe that Alexa was talking about in Episode 5?
J: Now we’re at the homecoming game. Who is Gallaudet’s big rival?
S: SUNY Maritime is our rival. They are MEAN — they make fun of us on the field to piss us off. I wish we played Catholic more often though — it would be a really good cross-town rivalry!
J: Cheyenna recounts all the hateration brought to her dancery with Cameron. I wonder if these girls are actually that mean, or if it’s for the cameras.
S: Cam has a point though — Cheyenna has all these expectations of being at Gallaudet and puts too much value in all of it. She should just be herself and stop trying to fit in!
J: Does Cheyenna sign differently? I find this conversation she’s having with Cameron about cultural preservation so interesting.
S: She actually has an ‘accent’ that is clear to us native signers. It’s a bit more ‘mainstream kid who grew up with hearing people’ compared to the ‘elite’ signers, but still obviously fluent!
J: Alexa visits her dad and tells her that he never liked Braxton, her ex. She and her dad are getting deep about the men she chooses. She says her dad wasn’t emotionally available. And he says … that she’s right. These families are so open and honest!
S: Big yikes but seems her relationship with her dad is getting better — it’s nice to see growth!
J: DQ is from Hampton, Virginia, and goes home. I am morally obligated to tell you that Howard is the real HU. Now back to your regularly scheduled recap.
S: He definitely feels guilt over his mom, wants to have family. It’s nice to see more of DQ’s background.
J: Cheyenna heads back to her home in Seattle, and her room looks like something out of Architectural Digest. She turns on her ring light and gets real about the cliques at school and tells us that her haters are her motivators.
S: Cheyenna talks about being stuck in between the two worlds. If only she could leave the college bubble! At the same time, this is not uncommon: It happens a lot with deaf people where they feel excluded from hearies and excluded from the ‘elite’ people, so they’re stuck in the middle.
J: Alexa wants someone who is sure of her. She meets Braxton at Last Call in Union Market. I feel like that gif of Waka Flocka. She then immediately talks about how she wants him to change. I do not love it!
S: I don’t love it either! Her being back with Braxton? Don’t blame this on daddy issues! Look at yourself!
Takeaways
Ending
The ending was bittersweet — Cheyenna left Gallaudet University, and Alexa got back with her ex. DQ is in a better place and in a new relationship, while Rodney is back with his high school ex. We heard from pretty much everyone in the end except Renate. How are she and her girlfriend fairing? As much as some things were wrapped up neatly with a bow, they definitely left room for more storytelling.
Representation on screen
Deaf U debuted weeks before the Washington Post published an article in which former staff detailed allegations of racism on campus. Additionally, the story continues, photos emerged of members of a fraternity wearing robes that had been banned for their resemblance to Ku Klux Klan robes. The school announced a series of goals to improve the campus environment for community members of color, and established a task force to oversee fraternities and sororities.
Meanwhile, Deaf U has received criticism for not having a single woman of color in its main cast, a representation that does not reflect the diversity of the student body last year. Gallaudet had no say or oversight on the show or its cast, university officials told The Lily.
Future seasons?
There’s a lot to still find out about this group of friends, but if another season happens, it would be great to see some new faces. It would especially be nice to get some diversity — not just when it comes to race, but when it comes to cliques on campus too. What are people at the school like beyond the football team and the people that orbit around them? There’s a lot of interesting stories that they scratched the surface on, and I wish they would go deeper as that is where this show shines the most. There’s so many interesting stories and experiences and people here that are just left hanging, like Renate and Tayla — we hear nothing from them in the end.
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
Discussing Episodes 5 And 6 Of ‘Deaf U,’ Netflix’s Gallaudet-Set Reality Show
