Official poster for The Fosters

Scripted series · ABC Family

The Fosters

How do you define family?

7.5IMDb334 votesWorth your time
Community0/20 ratingsYour ratingRateSign in to rate
2013 – 20185 seasons · 104 episodes~42 min per episodeTV-14Ended
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The Nutevio profile

TV DNA

How The Fosters actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.

Signature profile

The Fosters reads strongest on Character Depth, Emotional Weight and Bingeability.

Character DepthVery strong8.2

How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.

Emotional WeightStrong6.7

How much the series is designed to affect you.

BingeabilityStrong5.5

How hard it is to stop after one episode.

SerializedStrong5.5

How much each hour depends on the one before it.

Cliffhanger IntensityPresent4.0

How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.

TensionPresent4.0

The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.

SpectacleLight3.5

Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.

World BuildingLight3.5

The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.

HumourLight2.5

How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.

The story

What it's about

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.

The run

Seasons

5 seasons · 104 episodes.

  • Official poster for Specials

    Season 0 · Complete

    Specials

    20145 episodes

  • Official poster for Season 1

    Season 1 · Complete

    Season 1

    201321 episodes

    5.7IMDb

    Best episode · S01E21 Adoption Day

  • Official poster for Season 2

    Season 2 · Complete

    Season 2

    201421 episodes

    5.8IMDb

    Best episode · S02E12 Over/Under

  • Official poster for Season 3

    Season 3 · Complete

    Season 3

    201520 episodes

    6.1IMDb

    Best episode · S03E19 The Show

  • Official poster for Season 4

    Season 4 · Complete

    Season 4

    201620 episodes

    5.9IMDb

    Best episode · S04E10 Collateral Damage

  • Official poster for Season 5

    Season 5 · Complete

    Season 5

    201722 episodes

    5.8IMDb

    Best episode · S05E11 Invisible

Where the series peaks

Best Episodes

The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

Still from Over/Under

S02E12

Over/Under

6.6IMDb5 votes

Stef and Lena take different sides on several issues; Brandon is invited to attend a music program.

19 Jan 201542 min
Still from Collateral Damage

S04E10

Collateral Damage

6.6IMDb7 votes

Callie and the family set up a “Justice for Jack” booth at a music festival in order to gather signatures to stop Justina’s foster care bill, but Callie’s persistence in advocating for both Jack and Kyle lands her in a dangerous situation. Additionally, Callie’s efforts are sidelined when the tensions between her boyfriend AJ and her friend Aaron come to a head. Mariana, still taking Jesus’ ADHD prescription medication, sees Nick and runs away from the festival, sending the family into a frantic search for her. Meanwhile, Stef discovers that her inquiries into Kyle’s case will have repercussions at her job.

29 Aug 201642 min
Still from The Show

S03E19

The Show

6.5IMDb6 votes

As Brandon debuts his “Romeo and Juliet” rock musical, moments in the production are hitting home for the Adams Foster family, causing them to look back at recent events.

21 Mar 201642 min
Still from Invisible

S05E11

Invisible

6.4IMDb7 votes

Callie actively helps to make Ximena’s fight visible. Meanwhile, Brandon and Grace struggle to be intimate knowing her diagnosis and Mariana is suddenly courted by multiple suitors.

16 Jan 201842 min
Still from Play

S02E03

Play

6.4IMDb5 votes

While Lena and Stef are away on a babymoon, the kids throw a party that gets out of hand.

30 Jun 201442 min
Still from Christmas Past

S02E11

Christmas Past

6.4IMDb5 votes

Brandon looks back on Callie and Jude’s first Christmas with the Foster family.

8 Dec 201442 min

Recently aired

Latest Episodes

The craft

Key Crew

Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.

Executive production

Direction

Cinematography

Where to watch

Streaming

Availability verified against regional listings.

  • HuluStreaming
  • Amazon VideoBuy
  • Apple TV StoreBuy
  • Google Play MoviesBuy
  • Fandango At HomeBuy
  • YouTube TVStreaming
  • FreeformStreaming

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