The Fosters

The Fosters is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Hulu and YouTube TV, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. The 5-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. With 333 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Teri Polo's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Fosters is worth clearing space for. The writing in The Fosters treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. 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. Teri Polo and Sherri Saum lead a cast doing genuinely serious work here. The series ran for 5 seasons (2013–2018), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. What elevates The Fosters is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with The Fosters. Viewers who responded to Life Unexpected will find a lot to like here too. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Teri Polo carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.

The Fosters wrapped up in 2018, created by Bradley Bredeweg and Peter Paige — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.