The Worst Episodes of The Fosters
Every episode of The Fosters ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Fosters!
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. But life has something else in store for the Fosters.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "The Fosters" is "Dream a Little Dream", rated 6.9/10 from 178 user votes. It was directed by N/A and written by N/A. "Dream a Little Dream" aired on 2/7/2017 and is rated 0.2 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Mixed Messages".
6.9/10 178 votes#1 - Dream a Little Dream
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 2/7/2017
As Stef and Lena stand vigil over an unconscious Jesus, he dreams of an alternate world wherein he tries to save Mariana but can’t get to her. Already stretched thin, the moms receive news that Callie is in serious legal trouble. Mariana seeks comfort in Mat’s arms, while Brandon tries to hold the family together.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10 214 votes#2 - Mixed Messages
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 2/1/2016
Brandon is upset when he learns that his shared secret with Callie is in jeopardy. Lena and Stef’s mother, Sharon, disagrees over how Stef should handle her diagnosis. Meanwhile, Mariana’s run for junior class president heats up as the simmering resentment between her and Lexi comes to a head.
Director: Rich Newey
Writer: Thomas Higgins
7.1/10 205 votes#3 - Highs & Lows
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 8/8/2016
When Jesus’s birth father, Gabe, doesn’t show up to work on Stef and Lena’s garage, Jesus takes on the job himself and gets injured in the process. An exhausted Mariana, deep into her robotics STEAM project, takes Jesus’ ADHD medicine for a boost. Callie and AJ find themselves in an awkward situation when Mike and Brandon unexpectedly come home early. Meanwhile, Stef lets Mike know that Brandon gave his hand injury settlement money to Cortney.
Director: Chandra Wilson
Writer: Kris Q. Rehl
7.1/10 190 votes#4 - Girl Code
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 8/15/2016
Mariana and Jesus compete in the First Robotics Southern California Regionals, but when Mariana gets too competitive under the stress, Lena grows alarmed. Callie gets a warning from the police to stop harassing Patrick Molloy. Brandon practices for his fast-approaching Julliard audition.
Director: Aprill Winney
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 255 votes#5 - Faith, Hope, Love
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 7/27/2015
Stef and Lena hesitate to give their blessing when Mariana’s biological grandfather tells her she must be baptized in order to be her new half-sister Isabella’s godmother. Callie’s actions at her birthday party are called out by Stef, and they make a big decision in order to avoid jeopardizing her adoption.
Director: Jann Turner
Writer: Kris Q. Rehl, Cristian Martinez
7.2/10 242 votes#6 - First Impressions
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/25/2016
Callie is now officially adopted into the Adams Foster family and must put aside any romantic feelings for Brandon. She does so by throwing herself into her “Fost and Found” website, even drawing the interest of an investor.
Director: Peter Paige
Writer: Bradley Bredeweg, Peter Paige
7.2/10 210 votes#7 - Minor Offenses
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 2/22/2016
While Stef recovers from surgery, she and Lena grow concerned when they find out Justina wants Callie to support a legislation that they know nothing about.
Director: Rob Morrow
Writer: Michael MacLennan
7.2/10 158 votes#8 - Doors and Windows
Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 2/21/2017
After Brandon confesses to Stef that he didn’t get into Juilliard, she decides she’s fed up with all of the kids’ secrets and removes their bedroom doors. Mariana starts seeing a therapist to deal with the trauma of Nick’s actions. While Jesus struggles with physical therapy, Brandon realizes that music might be a good way to help get through to him. Callie’s biological father Robert brings in his highly paid attorneys to handle Callie’s case, which causes a conflict with Stef and Lena.
Director: Susan Flannery
Writer: Constance M. Burge
7.2/10 122 votes#9 - Giving Up the Ghost
Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 2/27/2018
Stef confronts her demons and finally comes clean to Lena about what’s been troubling her. Mariana and Emma find themselves going head to head, putting Poppy and Jesus in an awkward position.
Director: Michael Medico
Writer: Megan Lynn, Wade Solomon
7.3/10 214 votes#10 - If And When
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/2016
Callie is surprised to find that Jude is spending time with Jack, a quirky foster teen they met at a foster youth event. Brandon and Mat decide to write a Romeo & Juliet rock musical as their senior thesis project, but they disagree over who should play Juliet. Meanwhile, Jesus asks Ana about the identity of his and Mariana's birth father.
Director: Elodie Keene
Writer: Anne Meredith
7.3/10 217 votes#11 - Trust
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 7/11/2016
In the aftermath of the school lockdown, Mariana is called out by other students who blame her for Nick’s actions. Callie is also taunted at school and her inappropriate reaction gets her suspended. But what starts off as a punishment turns into an adventure when she meets Aaron, a handsome young law student who knows nothing about her or her past.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 222 votes#12 - Now for Then
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 7/18/2016
Callie starts her senior project of photographing the outside of her and Jude’s seven former foster homes. But, when an unexpected encounter with a former foster mother brings her inside, Callie decides to reach out to other people who have fostered her and is shocked to learn that a 17-year-old former foster brother has been convicted of murder. Stressed out by the hardships of supporting himself and Cortney, Brandon throws a house party and things take a turn for the worse. Stef and Lena offer to pay for an attorney to help get Gabe off of the sex offender registry, which is currently putting Lena’s job at risk and causing friction between Mike and Ana. Meanwhile, Mariana tells her moms that, in order to feel safe again, she wants to visit Nick and put an end to their relationship once and for all.
Director: Silas Howard
Writer: Constance M. Burge
7.3/10 145 votes#13 - Welcome to the Jungler
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 8/15/2017
Callie is torn with turning over a new leaf or supporting a cause that means a lot to her, while Jude and Taylor begin making gaming videos that earn them unwanted notoriety. Stef makes major headway in her case.
Director: Kelli Williams
Writer: Megan Lynn, Wade Solomon
7.3/10 142 votes#14 - Chasing Waterfalls
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 8/22/2017
Lena’s parents are back in town for a visit, while Callie and Aaron get closer than ever before. Mariana tries to get closer to Logan, but it backfires when his girlfriend catches wind of it.
Director: Chandra Wilson
Writer: Bradley Bredeweg, Peter Paige
7.4/10 211 votes#15 - Justify
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 8/1/2016
Lena is shocked by the news that her dad has been hiding something that directly puts them all in jeopardy. Additionally, she uncovers a major secret that Brandon has been keeping. Mariana continues to be pressured by Nick and must deal with direct opposition from the male members on her STEAM team. Meanwhile, Jesus grows resentful of Emma’s behavior, and Jude discovers Noah has a medical marijuana card.
Director: Kelli Williams
Writer: Cristian Martinez
7.4/10 166 votes#16 - Cruel and Unusual
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 2/14/2017
Callie tries to keep to herself and focus on getting out of juvenile hall, but when she refuses a guard’s propositions, she ends up making an enemy. As Stef and Lena work to get Callie out of juvie, her biological father Robert turns up, angry for being kept in the dark. Meanwhile, Brandon’s questioning of a situation has consequences for Mariana. Jude gets a second chance with Noah, and Mike makes several life-changing decisions.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 172 votes#17 - Sex Ed
Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 2/28/2017
Jude feels uneducated about gay sex ed, so he tries to gain some personal experience through a phone app. Callie presents her senior project to her class, but the school admin disapproves of the concept.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 158 votes#18 - Diamond in the Rough
Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 3/21/2017
Stef starts a new assignment in human trafficking where she meets a teenaged girl named Diamond who is turning tricks on the streets. Lena deals with repercussions for holding an off-campus LGBTQ sex ed class for Anchor Beach students. Callie’s relentless pursuit of justice starts to impact her relationship with AJ. Meanwhile, Mariana tries to cheer up Jesus with a special project after he’s prescribed a special pair of glasses due to his traumatic brain injury.
Director: Lily Mariye
Writer: Cristian Martinez
7.4/10 153 votes#19 - Exterminate Her
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 7/18/2017
Callie gets control of her life and applied to audit art classes at a local college. Jesus distances himself from Mariana and Brandon so he can build his treehouse with Gabe alone. The Fosters get a new neighbor.
Director: Danny Nucci
Writer: Joanna Johnson
7.4/10 143 votes#20 - Contact
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 7/25/2017
Callie and Aaron go on their first official date. Mariana and Jude spearhead an underground school newspaper. Noah and Jude question their compatibility, while Brandon and Grace take their relationship to the next level. The moms have their new neighbors over for a family dinner party.
Director: Aprill Winney
Writer: Anne Meredith
7.4/10 144 votes#21 - Too Fast, Too Furious
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 8/1/2017
Callie and Aaron discuss taking their relationship to the next level. Mariana finds fulfillment training with the Latina derby team. Brandon’s new girlfriend Grace catches him playing hero to his ex-girlfriend Courtney.
Director: Tate Donovan
Writer: Cristian Martinez
7.4/10 145 votes#22 - Telling
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 8/8/2017
The Fosters kids attend a party at the Derby warehouse, but things escalate quickly when the cops show up. Lena struggles when Stef starts to become obsessed with an ongoing case at work, meanwhile Brandon’s relationship with Grace is put into jeopardy with Courtney back in his life.
Director: Anne Renton
Writer: Kris Q. Rehl
7.4/10 132 votes#23 - Scars
Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 2/6/2018
Callie receives a surprising tip from an unexpected source. Meanwhile, Jude tries to assuage Noah’s fears about his budding relationship with fellow gamer Declan.
Director: Kelli Williams
Writer: Kris Q. Rehl, Cristian Martinez
7.5/10 293 votes#24 - Wreckage
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 6/8/2015
As the family deals with the aftermath of the terrible car accident, Stef is determined to find the driver responsible for the crash. Callie continues to volunteer at the drop-in center where she meets AJ, a foster teen runaway searching for his older brother. Brandon starts at the Idyllwild Music Program and quickly realizes that he will be faced with serious competition. Meanwhile, Jude tells Connor he prefers to keep their relationship private at school.
Director: Peter Paige
Writer: Bradley Bredeweg, Peter Paige
7.5/10 264 votes#25 - Going South
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 7/6/2015
Callie convinces Brandon to head out on a mysterious trip that brings them to Mexico. Stef and Lena discover an empty pregnancy test box in the trash and wonder if someone in the house is worried they are pregnant.
Director: Elodie Keene
Writer: Michael MacLennan