A rare gem in an often stormy sea

For weeks, AH has been nagging (yes nagging), me to watch a TV show that she’s fallen in love with.  Thing is, I tend to watch things at my own pace. And if I’m honest, with a few exceptions, I like to binge on a season of a show once it’s complete because then I don’t have to wait for the next episode.  Well I finally caved and started watching The Fosters. I’m always dubious with shows where main characters are lesbians. Why? Because in the past I’ve found that shows tend to over exaggerate and focus purely on the sexuality of the characters. The Fosters though has been a wonderfully refreshing change of pace.

The beauty of this show is that it’s not just a focus on the difficulties faced by a lesbian couple, but the dynamics of a blended family that includes a biological son, adopted children and foster kids.  There are discussions on race and racial identity, focus on being different in a heteronormative world and the dynamics faced by any family when step parents and biological parents are involved as well as the longing of adopted kids to find their birth parents.

The characters are real.  They are well rounded, the storylines are involved and the more you watch, the more you find that you can relate to at least one of the characters.  I’m desperately waiting for the next episode and so excited for it. I’m not the sort of person to post spoilers because I know there are a few people out there who haven’t seen the show yet who I want to point in it’s direction. ED for example.  I know she’ll love it if she’s not seen it yet.

I love the fact that some of the storytelling is done in flashback.  It gives the audience a wider perspective of where the characters have been and fleshes out the tale.  I also love that in the nine episodes so far we’ve had some really potent plot lines that have explored areas that are difficult to deal with.  But the thing I love the most is that ABC Family are giving us a show where a lesbian couple are running a normal family.  It gives me hope that a family orientated channel is showing a reflection of so many of my chosen family’s lives, and mine as well.

I’m going to leave you with a couple of my favourite clips (up to you if you watch), which I’m hoping if you haven’t already seen the show will make you want to.  In this first one, Lena is discussing the outside world with Jude, one of the two foster children:

And in this second one, Stef is talking to her father about the ‘choice’ to be homosexual: