This article contains spoilers about The Fosters.

Rounding out their five-year run, the television program The Fosters aired its last episode after a three-night series finale event that took place from June 4th to June 6th. The show first aired on June 3rd, 2013, and the show’s 104 episodes are proof that The Fosters left a prominent and lasting impression on its fans. From the first episode I watched, I knew this show had the potential to turn into something great, and I have to say, it did not disappoint.

The Fosters follows the lives of the Adams Foster family. The family is guided by Stef and Lena, a lesbian couple who care for their four adopted children as well as Stef’s biological son, Brandon. Twins Jesus and Mariana were adopted after being neglected by their biological parents, who were overtaken by substance abuse. Callie and Jude are siblings who constantly passed through the foster care system until they come across the Adams Fosters.

The series really digs its heels into the whole theme of family and makes you feel as if you are a part of theirs. It also dives heavily into social issues that most shows tiptoe around.

With that in mind, here are some of the top social issues and storylines that stood out to me as a huge fan of the show.

LGBTQ Community and Acceptance

One of the most prevalent issues within the entire series is the acceptance of the LGBTQ community. You meet so many different characters who are in many different stages of their journey within the community. I love how The Fosters depicted the complexity of one’s sexuality and identity, and how everyone’s journey of self-discovery is different.

Stef and Lena, for example, are two people who look as though they have always been confident in their relationship. Yet, as the show goes on, you’re able to see how that confidence was built up and that it isn’t as cut and dry as it appears.

Stef was originally married to a man and had a child with him. One day, however, she met Lena and the bond she formed with Lena made her question her sexuality. While navigating this complex time in her life, she was able to go through her own personal journey of self-discovery—although it was a rocky one. There were times when she faced ridicule from not only the people she loved but from herself; however, she eventually learned to love the person she was in spite of what others thought.

Stef and Lena’s relationship and experiences help shape the way they raise their children. For instance, you get to watch Jude grow throughout the series and explore his own sexuality, which I don’t think would have happened had he not been with the Adams Fosters. At first, he seemed timid and reluctant to discover this part of him—almost as though he thought that what he felt was wrong and should be hidden.

Living with this family gave him confidence and a sense of acceptance, and I lived for those moments. One of my favorite scenes is when Lena helped Jude paint his nails for the first time. For so many years he was abused in the system; however, with the Adams Fosters, he was not only able to finally find a home but himself as well.

There were plenty of other LGBTQ characters too, such as Callie’s transgender boyfriend Aaron, Jude’s friend Connor and Callie’s group home friend Cole. All characters show some kind of struggle for acceptance, whether that be from family, friends or complete strangers. The show was able to portray their struggle with taste while also showing the hopeful side, the one where there is always a support system, even if it’s not within easy reach.

Mental Health Awareness

Mental health awareness holds a special place in my heart, which is why I am proud of this show for touching on that as well. Whether it was a simpler case like addressing Jesus’ ADHD or a more serious issue like the topic of suicide, The Fosters was able to portray it beautifully. In season 2, one character threatens suicide because of an argument they had with a loved one that made them feel as though they couldn’t do anything right. The character then stands in the line of traffic. Thankfully, the car stopped, but the show depicts how it affected the character’s loved ones.

Her family couldn’t believe that she did it on purpose and at first believed that she was just distracted and accidentally walked into the road. It wasn’t until they were told what actually happened that they broke down in tears and started to question what they did wrong, either as parents, siblings or friends. It was difficult to talk about and beyond anyone’s understanding, but the character later received help, got better and was able to make amends with those who she hurt in the process.

Mental health was also explored during Stef’s storyline. While she struggled with acceptance from her parents, she suffered from panic attacks. Her panic attacks eventually subsided, but it came up again when someone from her past, who reminded her of the previous times when she questioned her sexuality, came back into her life. After Stef has a panic attack in front of her mother, she finds out that her mother used to suffer from them as well. Her mother says that back when she had them people just thought you were crazy, which really allows the show to highlight how far society has come in understanding mental health.

Physical Health: Disease, Injury and Pregnancy

Additionally, the show addressed challenging physical health issues like disease and traumatic injuries. Two characters battled through cancer, which I know is a terribly brutal disease as I lost my uncle from it. To watch someone you love slowly deteriorate and lose the person they once were is heartbreaking and the show portrayed that heartbreak with such accuracy that I found myself in tears.

There were also many story lines about pregnancies, and the show delved into issues such as teen pregnancy and the hardships that accompany complications during pregnancy. Possibly the most touching storyline, though, was Jesus’ traumatic brain injury. Actor Noah Centineo really took the time to do his research and fully understand what his character was experiencing, and I can’t imagine the part being played by anyone else. The interactions between characters and how each person handled it differently definitely highlighted how such a severe injury can make life a complex obstacle course full of unknowns.   

Foster Care System and Abuse

With a show called The Fosters, it’s expected that the foster care system and the way it’s run would be addressed. The show opened a lot of eyes to the corrupt and brutal aspects of the foster care system, especially through Jack’s storyline. Jack is a foster child who was tossed around different families, and he sadly ended up in an abusive foster care home. Throughout the storyline, Jude noticed bruises on Jack; however, when Jude asked about them, Jack tried to cover the abuse up. Ultimately, Jack was killed by his foster father. 

The abuse of a child hits hard with a lot of people as we know children cannot defend themselves against many evils of the world, nor do they deserve to be put through such trauma. Callie and Jude went through a similar situation with their previous foster father, but fortunately, they were removed from the situation and united with the loving Adams Fosters. Callie gives a speech about Jack’s story and brings to light the corrupt people within the system who are more concerned about money than they are about a child’s well-being.

Immigration

In season 5, the show took a big risk in addressing politics; more specifically, the differing views on immigrants in America. They created a strong female character who was able to withstand the adversity she—and her family—was put through with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

One of the most powerful scenes that still never fails to give me goosebumps was the peaceful protest on campus that was interrupted by the hateful comments about building a wall. I stand very firmly in the belief that we are all human beings, not animals, so I was a bit heated when watching this scene. Nevertheless, the show definitely did the issue justice.

During its time on the TV screen, the show has built up an expansive fan base, so much so that there is a spinoff series to be released in 2019. The series, entitled Good Trouble, focuses on Callie and Mariana’s new adventure as they move to Los Angeles to start working in the real world. As much as I will miss The Fosters and all that this show has meant to me, as well as many others, I have no doubt that the same message will be carried on in this new series: it’s not where you come from, it’s where you belong.