“THE FOSTERS” // HEAVY TOPICS HANDLED WITH CARE // HIGHLY ACCLAIMED

“THE FOSTERS” // HEAVY TOPICS HANDLED WITH CARE // HIGHLY ACCLAIMED

A more popular genre on television currently is family shows. These shows can be full of drama, laughter, and heart-warming moments-all which make a great family show. The Fosters is an example of how all of those things can be wrapped up in unconventional packaging.
The Fosters is about mixed-race married couple Lena Adams and Stef Foster who are raising five kids-two adopted, two fostered, and one biological. Lena, Stef, Jesus, Mariana and Brandon are a family of five who get a surprise when one spouse agrees to foster two more kids-Callie and Jude Jacob. Callie is a rough-and-tumble girl who lives to protect her little brother Jude from their father. The siblings learn to live with three other kids and two moms, along with trying to handle teenage angst and a turbulent past.
The rise of the LGBT* couple on television has become more prominent, with shows like Modern Family and The Fosters showcasing queer families just trying to live. The Fosters takes the mystery and stereotype out of the queer TV family and shows it for what it really is—family life.
Not only does I touch on LGBT* issues, but it deals with heavy topics such as statutory rape, drug use, abortion, abuse, divorce, and the conflicts that come with adopting children. While some topics are handled with a little humor, most are handled with the care and seriousness needed to resolve the real-life issues dealt with by the characters. Make no mistake, no matter how the issue is presented The Fosters deal with it with the class and care it deserves.
The Fosters hasn’t escaped critical acclaim by any means. Now in its second season, the show has several wins under its belt, including a 2014 GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Award for Outstanding Drama Series, a 2013 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Series, and wins at the Television Critics Association Awards and The Television Academy Honors.
The cast is headed by Sherri Saum and Terri Polo as Lena Adams and Stef Foster. Saum as several guest appearances under her belt, including stints on Law and Order, CSI, Sunset Beach, and Gossip Girl. Polo has had several tv spots as well, including Law and Order, Felicity and The West Wing, and movie credits from the popular comedies Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents, and Little Fockers. The cast also includes up and coming young actors David Lambert, Cierra Ramirez, Maia Mitchell, and Hayden Byerly. A younger cast member who isn’t new to tv is Jake T. Austin, who started on Disney Channel as Max Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place.
Season one of The Fosters is available to stream on Netflix. The season finale aired on Monday the 18th of August, but all episodes are available to stream on ABC Family’s website, abcfamily.go.com/shows/the-fosters. There has been no announcement for a season three, but personally, I’m hoping they renew the show because television can benefit from having it on the air.