The Fosters – Many Roads

By starrymag | March 19, 2018

By: Taylor Gates

 

 

The moms have assigned Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) and Jesus (Noah Centineo) the job of cleaning up the backyard. Mariana goes into Jesus’ room, where he is sulking about failing junior year. She tells him he should be proud of himself for working his ass off despite not getting the results he wanted. He’s worried Emma (Amanda Leighton) isn’t going to want to date him anymore, but Mariana assures him he loves her. She drags him outside where his entire family, including Gabe (Brandon Quinn), is waiting to help him build a treehouse for his senior project. If they do this, he can retake math next year and be a senior.

 

Gabe apologizes to Jesus for leaving, saying he was attempting to do the right thing. Jesus understands that Gabe is trying his best and forgives him. He tells Gabe that he and Mariana have the best family in the world and that things between the two of them are cool.

 

Mariana has invited Wyatt (Alex Saxon) to help with the treehouse, as he used to work in construction. Logan (Christopher Meyer) is also there. Emma inquires about which one Mariana is going to choose, and Mariana thinks she needs to cut Wyatt loose since he’s about to graduate and wants to travel the world. Emma understands, saying long distance never works. He’s worried about her future with Jesus if she goes to Boston and Jesus stays in San Diego. Jesus overhears her and gets nervous.

 

Emma gets an acceptance from the internship program, but Mariana gets a rejection. Mariana puts on a brave face, but later Jesus sees her pouting in the completed treehouse. Jesus motivates her, telling her she’s the most single-minded person he knows—what she wants, she goes and gets. After all, she figured out how to let him be a senior. They always wanted a magic treehouse, and now that they have one, it’s going to take her anywhere she wants.

 

Mike (Danny Nucci) is upset that Brandon (David Lambert) has driven up to visit Grace (Meg DeLacy) again, not understanding how he is supposed to be a proxy and make that kind of decision at his age. Grace’s mom (Nia Peeples) isn’t too thrilled about it either but leads Brandon to Grace’s room. Grace is weak but happy to see him, though she’s confused what he’s doing there a mere two days before graduation. Brandon says he just missed her.

 

Grace makes Brandon promise to go to Coachella without her. She apologizes that they never got a chance to really rock out, and Brandon says they’ll always have the bagel shop. She tells Brandon she made her mom her proxy again—it was the right decision for both her and him. Brandon sings and plays guitar while Grace sleeps and her parents stand by her bedside.

 

Noah (Kalama Epstein) asks Jude (Hayden Byerly) if he’s going to help out at the church rummage sale. Jude has a meet-and-greet with Taylor (Izabela Vidovic) and Declan (Tyler Alvarez) that day, which makes Noah jealous. Noah says that Jude has changed, what with his new getup, attitude, and obsession with money. He doesn’t care about helping people anymore; he only cares about fame. Jude says maybe he should just break up with him, and Noah says that’s the best idea he’s had in a long time.

 

At the meet-and-greet, a nervous fan makes conversation with Jude. Declan is rude to him and hurries him along, which bothers Jude. He notices the fan is wearing blue nail polish and thinks back to when he got the courage to do that.

 

The ICE agent (Chris McGarry) Callie subpoenaed shows up at her door along with his supervisor (Michelle Gardner). His supervisor says Callie has interfered with federal business, telling her that by subpoenaing him, she runs the risk of exposing how ICE works. Callie says that if the way they work is unethical, it’s the right thing to do. The ICE agent tells Callie that helping her friend escape custody wasn’t ethical either. They reluctantly hand her an envelope before telling her she’s in way over her head.

 

Callie and Professor Kim (Eric Steinberg) tell the Sinfuegos the good news: they’ve been granted a stay. They can remain in the US as long as they want on the condition they don’t commit any crimes. ICE didn’t want the publicity of one of their agents having to testify. Although it’s not a path to citizenship, it keeps them together for now. The family is joyous and relieved but worried this could affect Ximena’s (Lisseth Chavez) DACA. Callie says they’ll fight it in any way they can if it comes to that.

 

Callie tells Professor Kim the reason she can’t wait a year to apply for the program is because there are so many people who need help now. Tons of unlucky families don’t have access to him and the law students. The people Callie wants to help don’t have time on their side. Professor Kim tells Callie she’s a force of nature they would be lucky to have in their school, but it’s probably not going to happen this year.

 

Callie invites Aaron over to tell him the great news about the Sinfuegos. He breaks the news that, although he cares about her, he needs to see where things go with Amanda. Callie is hurt but understands. Aaron tells her not to forget how great she is.

 

Stef’s boss texts her, questioning why she put out a search warrant for Malloy. She tells Lena if she explores other options, Gray (Alex Skuby) will go to IA and tell them about how Stef lied about what happened during her shooting. The next day, Stef goes to Gray to call a truce, confiding that she almost put out a warrant for Malloy without a judge’s approval. She’s going to let everything go as long as Gray doesn’t go to IA and leaves Kyle alone. He admits he had to decide whether to leave a child molester or a murderer on the street, and Stef pretends to understand. When she gets in the car with Mike, however, it’s revealed she was wearing a wire and is going to go to IA with his confession.

 

Stef tells Lena that Malloy talked so both he and Gray are going down. She tells Lena she thinks it’s time for a career change, but she’s scared since she’ll lose her salary and pension. Lena supports her, saying she needs to do what makes her feel good. They’ll figure out the money.

 

That night after packing up the car, Stef and Lena tell Callie how proud they are of her for graduating the next day. She’s accomplished so much and deserves to soak it all in. Lena never could have anticipated this is where they would end up that day outside of juvie. Callie says they’ve made her feel like she was worth something every day since she moved in with them.

 

That night, Lena writes a graduation speech while Stef reads a magazine. Brandon calls to let them know that Grace has passed away. Although Stef offers to meet him up there first thing the next morning, Brandon wants to drive home alone and clear his head.

 

The day of the graduation ceremony, Lena finds Jude painting his nails in the bathroom and pulls up a stool to help. Jude says he’s worried he’s turning into a jerk. Lena says she can relate, but the trick is to remind yourself you’re human and allowed to have feelings and make mistakes. You’re only a jerk if you don’t try to make things better. Jude admits he’s been streaming even after he told them he wasn’t, and Lena asks how he’s going to make it better.

 

Instead of getting off on the San Diego exit, Brandon turns the opposite way and sits at the Coachella venue, daydreaming about him and Grace performing a concert in front of a huge, adoring crowd. Callie joins Brandon, having located him after finding the Coachella tickets on his desk. Callie gently tells Brandon that Grace would want him to go to graduation, but he doesn’t care. He tells her to go, but Callie refuses to leave without him. He cries, saying he hopes she knew how much he loved her. Callie says of course she did—she knows because she has been loved by him before, and it’s a pretty powerful thing. Callie holds Brandon as he sobs into her arms.

 

At the graduation ceremony, Jesus, Jude, and Mariana, save seats for Stef and Lena, who are desperately trying to contact Callie and Brandon. Robert (Kerr Smith) and Mike show up, asking where the kids are. Stef says they may not be coming as it’s been a crazy couple days. Robert tells Stef that Sophia got Callie the gift of a raincoat for Portland.

 

Mariana finds Mat (Jordan Rodrigues) on the beach in his cap and gown, asking him if he’s finally excited for Boston. He says he is, thanking her for the combo breakup speech/pep talk. He says if she ends up going to MIT, they can grab a cup of coffee on the East Coast. Mariana is doubtful that will happen but agrees if by some miracle it does.

 

Noah shows up at the ceremony, and Jude tells him he quit Imminent Power. He and Taylor are going to go back to streaming by themselves. Noah was right—he forgot why he started doing all of this. The two of them kiss and make up.

 

Mariana waves to Wyatt as he gets in line for the ceremony. She tells Emma she didn’t want to break up with him before graduation, but Emma thinks she doesn’t want to break up with him at all. Mariana realizes she’s right, finally choosing Wyatt over Logan.

 

Callie and Brandon get to graduation right as Lena is starting her speech. Shortly after she begins, Lena decides to abandon her planned-out talk in favor of something that comes more from the heart. Lena talks about how there are many roads to get where you want to go, but the trick is to enjoy the journey. Her family is her world, and they have made this journey so crazy, beautiful, and perfect. She tells them it’s not where you come from, it’s where you belong, and they’ll always have a family at Anchor Beach.

 

Callie says hi to Daphne (Daffany McGaray Clark) and her daughter Tasha as well as Robert and Ximena—who has just gotten her DACA renewed—in the audience. Brandon smiles at Mike and Ana (Alexandra Barreto). Lena calls all the names, and Mariana keeps her promise and cheers extra loud for Wyatt. Lena announces that Brandon is going to the Musicians Institute and that Callie will be going to UCSD’s law program, which is a surprise to Callie. Professor Kim went to bat for her and called Lena shortly before the ceremony to let her know she got in.

 

Fast forward to next year. Jude is going through a goth phase, and Ximena has designed the backdrop for the stage. Lena announces that Jesus is going to San Diego Community College while Mariana and Emma are both going to MIT. Wyatt cheers for Mariana in the crowd.

 

Even more years in the future, Lena congratulates Taylor for attending Sarah Lawrence and Jude for going to UCLA. Callie and Donald (Jamie McShane) cheer extra loud in the audience. Mariana is now happily with Mat.

 

The whole family goes back to the house to have a graduation party for Jude, chanting “Judicorn” despite his good-natured embarrassment. Stef sadly says she can’t believe all the kids are out of school. Lena says kids need their parents more in their 20s than ever, and Stef hopes she’s right.

 

Brandon’s girlfriend Liza (Abigail Cowan) comes in, apologizing for being late due to traffic. Brandon brags, saying she’s playing cello at the LA philharmonic as an undergrad. Brandon tells everyone that he and Liza are engaged and planning to get married next summer. They all hug and congratulate the two of them just as Lena gets a call. It’s Bill, Callie and Jude’s old social worker. They have a child who needs a home and wonders if Stef and Lena can take them in. Lena asks Stef what they should do. Stef looks around the kitchen at their family and smiles.