The Fosters kicks off the last half of its last season this month. The series will officially end with a special three-night finale event this summer, but our time with the Adams-Fosters family is indeed coming to an end.
Over the course of five seasons, The Fosters has shown us all the facets of a blended family -- their flaws, their triumphs and their failures. They've encountered homophobia, come out of the closet, taken drugs, gotten married, lost loved ones and faced life-changing afflictions. Along the way, they've humanized controversial issues like marriage equality, foster care privatization, gun violence and immigration to spark conversations in living rooms around the country.
The show has won Peabody and GLAAD media awards, and even though it has accomplished so much in five years, there are still a few things we need to see before we say goodbye to The Fosters (at least until the Callie and Mariana spin-off launches next year).
Maia Mitchell, The Fosters" data-image-credit="Adam Rose, Freeform" data-image-alt-text="Maia Mitchell, The Fosters‹" data-image-credit-url="" data-image-target-url="" data-image-title="Maia Mitchell, The Fosters‹" data-image-filename="180108-news-the-fosters-maia-mitchell.jpg" data-image-date-created="2018/01/08" data-image-crop="" data-image-crop-gravity="" data-image-aspect-ratio="" data-image-height="1380" data-image-width="2070" data-image-do-not-crop="" data-image-do-not-resize="" data-image-watermark="" data-lightbox="">1. Callie finds the balance between fighting for social justice and endangering herself
Callie (Maia Mitchell) has made a habit of putting her own safety and well-being on the line to help the latest person she's become attached to. Her hero complex is something to be admired -- she's selfless to her core -- but it has caused a lot of setbacks in Callie etching out a successful life for herself. We never want to see her lose that caring heart, but we also want to see her putting herself and her own future first a bit more in the final season.
2. Brandon figures out what he wants to do with his life
Brandon (David Lambert) has a similar hero complex to Callie, but his cost him going to Juilliard. Ever since, Brandon has been trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. The final season will see him being there as a support system for Grace (Meg DeLacy) as she battles another round of Leukemia, but will Brandon ever play music again in a major way? Will he reapply to college when his suspension is up? There are major questions about his own future that need to be answered and we want to know that he isn't going to give up on his dreams, even if he doesn't achieve them in the way that he imagined.
The Fosters to End with Season 5, But a Spin-Off Is on the Way!
3. Jesus finds a dependable male mentor figure
We were so excited when Gabe (Brandon Quinn) showed up because he could have given Jesus (Noah Centineo) a male role model that could take him under his wing, but sadly his tenure on the show didn't last long. Since Jesus' traumatic brain injury, he's been dealing with a lot of aggression and pent up energy that Steph (Teri Polo) and Lena (Sherri Saum) aren't really sure what to do with. Jesus having an older man that he can talk to and get advice from would really help him get back on track.
4. More fun Steph!
Steph is a detective on the prostitution and human trafficking beat at the San Diego police department. That means that a lot of the time her storylines are extremely serious and heartbreaking, but Steph is actually one of the funniest characters on the show. We want to see her let loose a bit, stalk the kids at house parties more and not be afraid to have a laugh once in a while.
The Fosters Mega Buzz: Will Mariana Come Clean About Nick?
5. As many family moments as possible
The thing we love most about The Fosters is when the whole family comes together. Whether it's arguments over breakfast about who is hogging the bathroom or group dinners to celebrate a big win, the scenes where we get to see everyone together best embody the warmth and beauty of the show. They are what we will miss the most, so let's get as many as possible before the season is over.
The Fosters returns for its midseason premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 8/7c on Freeform.
Other Links From TVGuide.com The FostersMaia MitchellTeri PoloNoah CentineoDavid Lambert