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The Fosters

2013 – 2018Show5 seasons104 episodesTV-14

Drama
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Metacritic698.4Rotten Tomatoes97%85%

A deeply moving, wholesome drama series about growing up and family.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares or adrenaline.

Shows with

Episodes

5 seasons · 104 episodes · best: S1E10 "I Do" 8.7

Episodes

8.2
8.1
7.7
7.6
7.8

Story

How do you define family?

Stef Foster, a dedicated police officer, and her partner Lena Adams, a school vice principal, have built a close-knit, loving family with Stef's biological son from a previous marriage, Brandon, and their adopted twins, Mariana and Jesus. Their lives are disrupted in unexpected ways when Lena meets Callie, a hardened teen with an abusive past who has spent her life in and out of foster homes. Lena and Stef welcome Callie and her brother, Jude, into their home thinking it's just for a few weeks, until a more permanent placement can be found. But life has something else in store for the Fosters.

Feels like

  • LGBTQ+ Family Drama
  • Foster Care System Critique
  • Multicultural Household
  • Teen Coming-of-Age
  • Emotional Resilience
  • Social Realism
  • Found Family
  • Heartwarming & Heartbreaking
  • Progressive Values
  • Character-Driven Narrative

Cast

24 of 304 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Peter Paige, Joanna Johnson, Rob Morrow
Written by
Joanna Johnson, Megan Lynn, Wade Solomon

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 3, 2013 · June 6, 2018 · Ended

First aired
June 3, 2013
Last aired
June 6, 2018
Status
Ended
Length
5 seasons · 104 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Drug Use, Strong Language, Sexual Content
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
48 countries

Tropes

Berserk Button, Aborted Arc, Ephebophile +9

  • Berserk Button
  • Aborted Arc
  • Ephebophile
  • Big Damn Heroes
  • All Lesbians Want Kids
  • Drunk Driver
  • Playing the Heart Strings
  • Frozen in Time
  • Missing Mom
  • Dark and Troubled Past
  • The Lad-ette
  • Shout-Out

12 of 63 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Fosters?"

Questions about The Fosters

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Fosters?

HulufuboTVYouTube TVFreeform

In the United States, The Fosters streams on Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Freeform. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 47 other countries.

Is The Fosters worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 69).

Which season of The Fosters is best?

Season 1, with an IMDb average of 8.2. Season 4 is the weakest at 7.6. The highest-rated episode is I Do (season 1, episode 10) at 8.7, and the lowest is Dream a Little Dream (season 4, episode 12) at 7.0.

Is The Fosters okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceDrug useStrong languageSexual content

Yes: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, drug use, strong language, and sexual content, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch The Fosters?

73 h

About 73 hours: 104 episodes in 5 seasons of about 42 minutes each, aired from 2013 to 2018.

Is The Fosters plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is The Fosters good for date night?

and 4 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFamily Movie NightFriends Night

Yes: romance is 7 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.