Being how dramatic the end of the episode was, I feel like the show is trying to play it as risqué as possible. Take a moment to think about everything the show has gone over: We have a lesbian couple raising racial mixed kids; we have the topic of religion and how it deals with homosexuality; we have the issue of immigration; we have the issue of molestation; then alcoholism; drugs; teen pregnancy; and this is only the first season and we are just 8 episodes in.
To me, the show tries to really do too much within one episode. I appreciate it because I personally like the topics they bring up and, though not thoroughly gone into, it does at least give you enough of a taste to hope they may bring the topic back later on. But, focusing on this episode, it does feel like they are starting to balance out the focus between all characters, rather than make two or three the main attraction, and everyone else sort of just sidekicks looking for a story to latch onto. What I mean is, everyone basically has a life in the show now, and doesn't seem like they are just part of the show like I said Mariana seemed like. Now, we have Stef and Lena who are furtherly being established by showing their friends, family, and people from their past; we see Brandon heavily into his music, and even Talia coming back; Callie has her relationship with Wyatt; and as for Jesus and Mariana, they have the Lexi situation and Ana to keep us interested in them. All together, it seem the writers and actors are starting to get a bit comfortable, though I do feel we need a bit more meat for some characters.
Overall though, I think the show is trying to figure out how to keep all the characters interesting and involved in a story, while touching on topics which are important, relevant, and can be geared for the demographic of ABC Family. In many ways, I feel this TV season has been very experimental for ABC Family and this show is leading the charge for the network to see what do the fans react to when it comes to bringing up all these topics. What themes and issues can we have a show build off of, and what are the viewers maybe not ready for yet? And while for The Fosters it works sometimes, I do feel that previously it really only worked for Callie since she was being given so much to work with. But, as seen with the Ana & Mike situation, I think with time they'll be able to get to everyone and make it so everyone has a meatier and fleshed out character. It's just we'll have to wait a bit.
To me, the show tries to really do too much within one episode. I appreciate it because I personally like the topics they bring up and, though not thoroughly gone into, it does at least give you enough of a taste to hope they may bring the topic back later on. But, focusing on this episode, it does feel like they are starting to balance out the focus between all characters, rather than make two or three the main attraction, and everyone else sort of just sidekicks looking for a story to latch onto. What I mean is, everyone basically has a life in the show now, and doesn't seem like they are just part of the show like I said Mariana seemed like. Now, we have Stef and Lena who are furtherly being established by showing their friends, family, and people from their past; we see Brandon heavily into his music, and even Talia coming back; Callie has her relationship with Wyatt; and as for Jesus and Mariana, they have the Lexi situation and Ana to keep us interested in them. All together, it seem the writers and actors are starting to get a bit comfortable, though I do feel we need a bit more meat for some characters.
Overall though, I think the show is trying to figure out how to keep all the characters interesting and involved in a story, while touching on topics which are important, relevant, and can be geared for the demographic of ABC Family. In many ways, I feel this TV season has been very experimental for ABC Family and this show is leading the charge for the network to see what do the fans react to when it comes to bringing up all these topics. What themes and issues can we have a show build off of, and what are the viewers maybe not ready for yet? And while for The Fosters it works sometimes, I do feel that previously it really only worked for Callie since she was being given so much to work with. But, as seen with the Ana & Mike situation, I think with time they'll be able to get to everyone and make it so everyone has a meatier and fleshed out character. It's just we'll have to wait a bit.
