The Fosters: Things Unsaid (Episode 13)

laxly Spoiler alert-o-rama!  These weekly rundowns are your place for queer family banter about the new ABC Family show The Fosters, and they’re chock-a-block with SPOILERY content.  You’ve been warned!

http://cathedral-lonavala.org/affi_ban/ Episode synopsis: Lena worries when Stef returns to work; Kelsey exposes secrets from Mariana’s past.  First aired: Jan 27, 2014

I didn’t catch The Fosters on Monday night this week because I was participating in VQ’s monthly chat (I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to talk hanky-panky with the queers of the village), so I had to catch up the next day online.  Speaking of watching online, what a bummer that ABC Family is requiring cable verification before allowing you to watch anything on their site.  When I shared my last Fosters post on Facebook, several friends lamented that they love the show but haven’t been able to watch because either they don’t have cable or their provider wasn’t listed.  Unfair.  I mean who still watches TV on TV anymore?

Anyway, I’m glad I can still watch online because that’s just what I did.  I put the toddler down for her nap and offered my three year old an opportunity to watch an episode of Doc McStuffins – which he of course leapt at, proclaiming me the best mom ever.  I only felt a touch guilty that my motives were self-serving.  So with one kid sleeping and the other lost in his favorite show, I settled in on my couch to watch the latest episode.  It wasn’t quite as nice as last week when my partner, jb, was able to join me (not to mention that I was indulging in cheese curls rather than wine) – but it’s always nice to have a small escape from the real world.  Here are the moments that were most notable to me:

Love it:

• Mariana has been kind of a sweetie lately.  I can’t help but love how she’s taken Jude under her wing.
• The nerdy theater guy that’s crushing on Mariana.  Awww, dude, I feel ya.  I think we were BFFs in high school.
• Jude.  All of him – everything.  The hoarding food is breaking my heart and I just want to soothe his insecurities.

Leave it:

• Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead as an OLD movie?  It’s not accompanied by a live pianist and is in color – can’t you just say a “90s movie”?  Oh man that made me feel old.

• Kindle Commercial – Tell me more about the features of this amazing product and be sure to rattle off the full name and version again.  I’m not anti-advertising in TV, but gimme a break.  Wait, is the bed an advertisement, too?
• Oh, Mike is working on Lena’s car?  It’s nice of them to write in a reason that he’s ALWAYS at their house.
• Brandon!!!  What are you doing? You are risking both yours and Callie’s future.  Please chill out.  Oh, and don’t steal from your dad.
• Kelsey – oh, she is just wretched.  Jealous, manipulative and vindictive.

Ok, so I’m heavy on the “Leave it” side this week, but I did enjoy the episode.  It’s all either mild complaints or part of a compelling storyline that’s making me yell, “No! No! No!” at the screen, no major flaws that interfere with enjoyment of the show.  What parts of the show were most compelling for you?