The Fosters – Potential Energy

By starrymag | June 22, 2016

By: Taylor Gates

 

This season of “The Fosters” starts right where the last one left off with Nick (Louis Hunter) pulling a gun from the glove compartment of his car, stuffing it in his backpack and walking into Anchor Beach. He sneaks in late to his classroom, clutching his bag to his chest and glaring at Mat (Jordan Rodriguez).

 

In another classroom, Jude (Hayden Byerly) overhears Daria (Madison Pettis) and Taylor (Izabela Vidovic) talking about Jude and Taylor’s smooch near the lockers. Daria doesn’t understand; she thought Jude was gay, but Taylor seems unconcerned.

 

In the hallway, Emma (Amanda Leighton) furiously slams a locker before asking Jesus (Noah Centineo) if he fancies having sex with her. Mat quickly chats with Mariana (Cierra Ramirez), expressing his concern over an off-looking Nick.

 

Low and behold, a squirrelly disheveled Nick appears, playfully roughhousing with Jesus. Jesus tells Nick that Mariana is looking for him and it turns out Nick is looking for her, too. Nick informs Jesus that he’s a good friend and Jesus asks him for a favor.

 

Nick sends Mariana a text, letting her know he saw she and Mat kissing the previous night. They agree to meet in their regular spot so Mariana can explain.

 

Meanwhile, Callie (Maia Mitchell) has just finished telling Stef (Teri Polo) and Lena (Sherri Saum) all the secrets she and Brandon (David Lambert) have been keeping about their relationship—the fact they had sex at Idyllwild, that they saw each other when she was at Girls United, etc. She explains that she thought for sure Carmen or Rita (Rosie O’Donnell) was going to blow up her adoption, which is the only reason why she and Brandon did the deed. Stef and Lena are still less-than-thrilled by this news.

 

Callie assures them that she and Brandon stopped everything once they learned she could get adopted and haven’t done anything sense. Not only did she not want to destroy the family by sharing these secrets, but she wants Stef and Lena to be her moms as well. Callie asks the moms what they would have done had they told them about their relationship earlier, but they are interrupted by Mike (Danny Nucci) before they can answer. Mike wants to know whether Nick is at school, as there has been a fire at his father’s warehouse. Lena pulls up the attendance roster, informing him that he’s not in class.

 

Nick makes his way to the bench Mariana is sitting on. Mariana, jarred by his appearance, apologizes for kissing Mat and promises to tell him everything. She explains that she rejected Mat when he asked to get back together with him and their kiss in the garage was just them saying goodbye. Nick isn’t buying her excuse, accusing her of stringing him along just so they can use his warehouse for the show. He fidgets with the gun behind his back and an Anchor Beach administrator catches them talking and makes them both go back to class.

 

Monte (Annika Marks) confusedly asks Mike and Lena why they think Nick set fire to the warehouse. Before they can explain; however, Nick’s father calls the school, demanding to speak to them. Mr. Stratos (Mark Totty) says he plans to sue the school; he never gave permission for them to put on Romeo and Juliet at this warehouse, therefore they’re liable. Lena hops on the defensive, reminding him that they spoke on the phone, but Mr. Stratos claims it wasn’t him they talked to. Mr. Stratos demands to talk to Nick, but they inform him he didn’t come to school. Nick’s father argues that his car is out front so he must be here.

 

Mariana walks into Lena’s office where Stef and Callie are sitting. She says she wanted to talk to Lena, as Nick was acting weird. Stef sends Callie back to class before leading Mariana out of the room to join Lena, Monte and Mr. Stratos.

 

Because she is a normal teenager, though, Callie checks her phone before returning to her class. A text from Daphne warns her that people on the Fost and Found site have been saying messed-up stuff about her and Brandon. A visit to the app confirms this—countless posts calling Callie fake and a whore fill the screen.

 

Mariana explains that Nick has been acting super off, but Mr. Stratos shifts the focus on Mariana by accusing her of playing his son. Mike comes in, confirming that Nick is not in class. Mr. Stratos throws a fit, calling everyone incompetent. Stef suggests everyone head outside to check if Nick’s car is still in the parking lot.

 

The car is gone, leading Stef to ask Nick’s father if he thinks Nick would ever harm himself or others. Mr. Stratos is insulted at the question, but Stef keeps pushing. She wants to know if Nick has access to any weapons. Mr. Stratos explains he has a carry permit and keeps a gun locked in his car. When they check the trunk, the case is open and the gun is gone.

 

Nick’s car comes barreling into the parking lot and Stef and Mike draw their weapons. However, it turns out the only people in the vehicle are Jesus and Emma stupidly cutting class. Stef announces that since Nick is likely on campus and carrying a gun, they have to lock down the school.

 

Callie corners Brandon in the hallway, admitting she told the moms about what they did in Idyllwild. An alarm starts to sound and Lena announces over the loudspeaker that they are in a Code Blue and teachers start ushering children into their classrooms. Stef charges through the hallway, looking for Mariana. She and Jude exchange heartbreaking “I love you’s” on the way.

 

Brandon and Callie duck into a classroom where the substitute teacher is struggling on how to handle things. Brandon takes charge, turning the lights off, closing the blinds, barricading the door with tables and chairs and ordering everyone to stay quiet and sit up against the wall.

 

Dropping her phone in the toilet delays Mariana from getting out of the bathroom. By the time she gets to the hallway, all the classrooms are locked. Protocol says that once the doors are shut, they stay shut and don’t open for anybody, stranding Mariana outside.

 

Stef lets everyone know over her walkie-talkie that the SWAT team will be arriving any minute. A group of parents shows up, demanding the school let them take their children home. Stef tells them to go to the designated meeting zone. She knows it’s scary—her kids are in there too—but this is what needs to be done.

 

Callie comforts a crying, younger child in the classroom while Brandon logs onto the classroom computer. Brandon asks Callie why the alert would be asking about Nick and Callie informs him about the warehouse arson.

 

Lena, Monte, Mr. Stratos, Jesus and Emma are all tucked away in the office. Lena tells Stef over a walkie that Mariana still hasn’t been accounted for, but all the rosters haven’t been sent in yet so it’s still possible she’s in a classroom. Emma begins to nervously laugh and Jesus helps her take deep breaths and calm down. Mr. Stratos phones Nick, begging him to call him back and not do anything stupid.

 

Brandon and Callie take roll while the incompetent sub starts flipping through the Anchor Beach handbook. He opens it to the “active shooter response” page and the instructions say the students should all throw things at the shooters head if he gets inside. The fact that this is standard procedure for schools in real life makes this particularly chilling.

 

Jude texts Connor, but Daria harshly tells him to turn his phone off; having it on could get them all killed. Taylor begins making the sign of the cross on her hand, drawing one on Jude’s hand as well after he inquires about it. Daria jealously watches their interaction.

 

Emma and Jesus are talking and giggling about Emma’s hairy, cheating ex-boyfriend when the attendance sheet comes in from the last classroom. Callie and Brandon are in there, but Mariana remains unaccounted for. Lena panics, thinking she might be with Nick, and sprints towards the door to find her. Mike eventually convinces her to keep calm and stay in the office and Lena slumps down against a desk, letting Stef know Mariana is nowhere to be found. Stef informs Lena that they’re going to quietly start evacuating the kids one classroom at a time.

 

In Callie and Brandon’s classroom, a little girl has diabetes and desperately needs sugar. They scramble around to try and find some food, eventually locating a juice box in an emergency backpack.

 

Taylor and Jude are still holding hands, causing Daria to accuse Jude of just wanting attention since he’s not really straight. The SWAT team enters the classroom, ordering everyone to put their hands on their heads and stand against the wall. Jude gives Stef a quick hug on the way to the safety zone and Lena and Jesus follow shortly after.

 

Callie tells Brandon she’s sorry for telling moms their secret, but she just couldn’t lie anymore. Brandon tells Callie not to apologize to him. They all jump when they hear a loud crash.

 

Mariana is crouched on top of a toilet, trying to hide, when slowly the bathroom stalls start opening. She covers her mouth to keep from screaming, tears rolling down her cheeks.

 

Out in the hallway, a gunshot is heard. The SWAT team informs officers on the walkie-talkies that a shot has been fired and Stef runs inside the school, Lena screaming at her not to go. The gun shot came from the substitute teacher in Callie and Brandon’s classroom, trying (and failing miserably) to protect them all. They are all ordered to evacuate the building. An officer tells Stef to come with him.

 

Stef comes out of the school with Mariana in tow and everyone in the Adams Foster family is safe and sound. There are hugs all around and Mat runs into Mariana’s arms. (At least, I think that’s what happens. I was crying too hard to see super clearly by this point.)

 

On the school bus, Connor finally texts Jude back. Jude doesn’t tell him about the lockdown, instead just saying he wanted to tell him hi. Taylor tells Jude that he shouldn’t listen to Daria’s insults and Jude thanks her for calming him down.

 

Emma tells Jesus that although they had a lot of fun today despite its intensity, she doesn’t want him to think she’s interested in starting a relationship back up again.

 

A member of the SWAT team tells Stef and Lena that they swept the school and there’s no sign of Nick. They’ll keep looking for him, but for now everyone should go home. Meanwhile, Nick snoops around Mariana’s room, putting her Romeo and Juliet poster down on her bed and lying down on it.

 

When the family gets home, Stef tells them to wait outside for a moment while she looks around the house, just to be extra careful. Brandon apologizes to Lena while Callie stands at an awkward distance. After checking the house, Stef tells them it’s all clear to come inside…but is it?