http://e17arttrail.co.uk/asp-products/donation/ Episode synopsis: Callie’s good deed creates trouble for a friend; Brandon makes a deal with an unsavory classmate.  First aired: Feb 24, 2014

Watching The Fosters has been a standing date for my partner and I lately but this week our date was crashed by an adorable toddler who couldn’t sleep. I think perhaps she heard me lamenting the fact that I don’t get the same amount of time to focus on her as I did with her brother when he was this age. So naturally, she was considerate enough to help me out which meant we settled in for the show with our viewing party of three.

Here are the things that stuck with me this week:

Love it:

• Donor conversations! From pouring over options from a sperm bank together to the possibility of a known donor – I want to have all the conversations about donors! I won’t get bogged down in the details (like does donor=father? Or is someone on your staff a reasonable option?) and just appreciate that donor conversations are happening on TV!

• Callie’s reaction when she learns about Mariana and the great panty incident of 2014.  She laughs hysterically – not in a mean way – but she doesn’t try to hide how ridiculous she finds it.

• Mariana. I think Mariana is handling her full plate with grace. From shutting Chase down last week, to not letting the teasing/bullying get to her this week, to directly apologizing to Zach – she’s doing ok for a character I’d kind of written off early on.

• Moms talk to Mariana about boys. Beginning with Mariana refusing to open her eyes because she didn’t want this talk to actually be happening to the perfect wrap up of: “That’s what everybody old says.”  “Yes and you should listen to them because they are very wise….and not that old.” Favorite scene of the episode.

Leave it:

• Lena admonishing Stef by pointing out that just because she thought something doesn’t mean it was automatically communicated (when they realize they both invited people to dinner). My partner has made a very similar assertion. I reject the premise.

• Emma suddenly cares that Jesus has a girlfriend? She’s been overtly flirting since they met and pulled that stunt when she answered Lexi’s call – now suddenly she’s concerned?  I want to like Emma, but I’m not buying this honesty is the best policy trope. Also?  Kissing twice counts as cheating in my book.

• Daphne is set to take the fall for Brandon. It’s a compelling plot point and I suspect that the truth will come out just in time – but oh, it’s making my stomach hurt.

I’m pretty sure even the sleepy baby nodding off in my lap rolled her eyes every time Brandon came on screen. Stef made up for it in spades by wearing both her uniform and reading glasses in this episode. I really hope the donor conversations continue and deepen in upcoming episodes – I know I can’t be the only one. Are you rooting for sperm bank or known donor?