The Fosters - Contact - Advance Preview: "It's Complicated"

Welcome back Foster fans to this week’s preview. Things may have slowed down on the intensity front, but this episode is filled with relationship drama. Almost all of our favorite couples find themselves in some sort of conflict. Some of the issues are minor and are able to be resolved by the end of the episode. Others set up the potential for bigger fallouts in future episodes. I’m pretty sure at least one, maybe two, will be headed for “splitsville” by the time the midseason finale rolls around. So without further ado, let the preview of “Contact” commence.

Callie and Aaron go on their first official date in this episode. It’s been a while since we got a status update on these two, and things seem to be heating up. Last we saw of this burgeoning couple was season 4 episode 18 “Dirty Laundry” where Callie accompanied Aaron to Los Angeles to meet his family. The couple hooked up mostly off screen, but things seemed to be heading in a relationship direction. Of course, all of the romance was put on the back burner while the writers dealt with the prostitution/kidnapping arc. So since things have finally calmed down for Callie, a first I believe, we can return to many firsts of a new relationship: the first date. However, things don’t go that smoothly. While it’s not necessarily a train wreck, it’s definitely not the perfect date that would inspire epics. It’s just the standard bad first date many of us are familiar with. A lot of critics and fans have been extremely receptive and supportive of Callie and Aaron’s relationship because it is one of the first times on television a relationship between a straight character and a transgender character has played out without said straight character questioning their sexuality or about whether to pursue a relationship. Callie had no reservations about pursuing a relationship with Aaron because of who he is. It’s refreshing to see a show tackle this issue, and even more so without any hesitation. Callie and Aaron’s relationship is being treated like any other, and it’s something all of television shows should strive to do in the future.

Next up we have Mariana and Jude spearheading an underground school newspaper. I love this storyline and the direction it’s going in largely because it deals with journalism. As a breaking news reporter, I am completely biased, but the storyline is also relevant to the society we live in. This whole concept of the fake media can be addressed without diving too much into the politics of a specific country. People’s views on the decision of whether Anchor Beach Community Charter will become a private school and the subsequent fallout from the protest will vary. The school board and Drew want to shape the story to portray themselves as the “good guys” who are just trying to give the students an opportunity for a better education, and it was the protesters who got out of hand the night of the school board vote. Mariana, specifically, wants to share the truth of what happened the night of the protest and show the students the scheming snake Drew really is. In fact, she gets creative in how she ends up distributing the issues of the underground school newspapers when the administration inadvertently creates an obstacle.

However, Callie and Aaron aren’t the only ones with relationship drama this episode. While Brandon and Grace take their relationship to the next level, a miscommunication, or lack thereof, threatens to ends things for the couple before they really began. Brandon once again proves he’s clueless when it comes to women, and it has me wondering how he’s managed to “woo” so many in the past. From what I’ve seen I really like Grace; it looks like she will be a good influence on Brandon. And let’s be honest, Brandon is highly susceptible to making bad decisions whenever a pretty girl looks his way. Elsewhere, Jude and Noah question their compatibility; or rather they realize that they have different interests. I’m not really sure where this storyline is going. It could either bring Joah closer together or it could be the beginning of the end. Only time will tell. Lastly, Stef and Lena have their new neighbors over for a family dinner party. And of course, the dinner includes awkwardness, outbursts, and tension for your entertainment along with a desire by Jesus that further drives a wedge between our favorite mothers. Viewers also finally get an answer to how Stef and Tess know each, if you haven’t already figured it out. So don’t forget to watch the newest episode when it airs Tuesday, July 25 at 8 on Freeform.

So before I say good-bye, I will leave you with your weekly parting gift: some of the best quotes from the episode:

"You know it's not like I'm asking you to get someone out of prison or prostitution, or maybe you just don't care because you're graduating this year."
"I have an idea too. What if everybody writes my history paper, and then I pick which one will get me the best grade."
"Well I was just having a little fun, and you set the record straight." / "Our kids have loose lips. What if they said something? How awkward would that be."
"Why are you so dressed up?" / "I'm wearing dress, okay. It's not a big deal."
"Just wait until you see what Mr. Nesbit does for Christmas. He's like so into inflatables."
"So resting bitch face Callie is just one of my many sides."

So hit the comments below to tell me what you think. Which couples are on the verge of breaking up? What are your thoughts on the new relationships between Callie and Aaron and Brandon and Grace? How much trouble is Mariana going to be in this season? How do Stef and Tess know each other?