The Fosters is compelling drama.  With engaging storylines for teens and adults, this show in just two seasons has covered a wide range of issues from teens not just deciding whether or not they are ready to be sexually active, but discovering their own sexual orientation, to adults dealing with alcohol and drug-addiction, the loss of a pregnancy, and from both the child’s perspective and the adults perspective the show routinely deals with the concepts of adoption, and foster family situations and issues, and all the aspects of abandonment and drama that goes with it,

All that said, it walks the line that keeps it feeling like a night time drama, and not like it is falling over the edge into a soap-opera.  The situations feel realistic enough, and believable enough, that going along for the ride, and understanding how these characters deal with the wide-range of issues and challenges they face can be eye-opening for audience members, and can give families that choose to watch this show together some amazing topics to discuss.

The modern world is becoming an ever more complex place.  Some days it can feel hard to figure out how to bring up a conversation we know needs to be had, and yet if it is forced it simply does not feel right, and yet, after watching an episode together it is so easy to stop and say, “Wow, how would we have handled that?”  or sometimes, “Wow, how can we avoid finding ourselves in that situation?”

The Fosters does not shy away from the tough situations — an adult having sex with a minor, and their parent finding out and going through the emotional roller coaster of dealing with the sense of betrayal that comes with knowing someone they trusted in their lives chose to behave in such a way with their 17 year-old kid.

During season two the show also dealt with the concept of what makes a family, and what makes the bond between parent and child.  Is it DNA?  Is it the 9 months spent in the womb — or is it those years spent in the home together, loving one another, facing the challenges of life together, and knowing that whatever happens, you will always be there for one another?

From one week to the next the ongoing plots may give the viewer some idea of what to expect, but there are so many twists and turns, as the teens continue to, in typical teen fashion, do unexpected things, that surprises always await, and the cast delivers, time and again.

The Fosters on IMDB
The Fosters on ABC Family

“The Fosters” stars Teri Polo (“Meet the Parents”) as Stef Adams Foster, Sherri Saum (“In Treatment”) as Lena Adams Foster, Jake T. Austin (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) as Jesus Adams Foster, Hayden Byerly (“Parenthood”) as Jude Adams Foster, David Lambert (“Aaron Stone”) as Brandon Adams Foster, Maia Mitchell (“Teen Beach Movie”) as Callie Jacob, Danny Nucci (“Titanic”) as Mike Foster and Cierra Ramirez (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”) as Mariana Adams Foster.

And, of course, you can find The Fosters online:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheFostersonABCFamily
Twitter: twitter.com/TheFostersABCF @TheFostersABCF #TheFosters
Tumblr: TheFosters-onabcfamily.tumblr.com
Pintrest: Pinterest.com/TheFostersABCF
Instagram: Instagram.com/thefostersabcf