I knew what I was getting into with ABC Family’s The
Fosters. I knew, from previous experience with Switched at
Birth and Bunheads, that the network is not afraid to tug at
my heartstrings. But call me an emotional masochist, but I
loved every minute of it. This show, while perhaps a little
over-wrought for some, is emotional and poignant in the
best possible way.
ABC Family always delivers with unique original concepts,
and The Fosters follows suit. The show centers on a
same-sex, married couple, Lena and Stephanie, played by Teri
Polo and Sheri Saum, and their children. Stephanie has a
biological son, Brandon, from a previous marriage and they
adopted Jesus and Mariana after fostering them eight years
prior. Callie joins their mix, placed with them when she is
released from juvenile detention. The opening scenes show
Callie in juvie, where she is assaulted and beaten just
before her release. Within three minutes of the is show’s
beginning I am already crying like a fool.
Why would I want to watch something that is going to break
my heart into a million pieces? Because so often, what we
see on television is so gimmicky and yuck, and it appeals to
the most rotten elements of human nature, that its shows
like The Fosters that speaks to the sweet, to the heartfelt
and to the kind aspects of our humanity. While some of us
are too cynical to appreciate the family moments between the
players, there is something to be said for a show that is
not afraid to show its values, to be above the trash.
NOTE From Suzanne:
Like the kids in this show, I was a foster kid in San Diego
(albeit many years ago) and parts of this do ring true, such
as when Callie calls Brandon "the real kid". Other parts of
it are pure TV fantasy because the real life of a foster kid
is usually so much worse than this (and also more boring)
--it would be much too sad and depressing to watch! I do
enjoy the show because it's a good soap.
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