By Amani Salahudeen
Staff Writer
After a successful run of “The Fosters,” a drama series that follows the lives of an unconventional family, Hulu and Freeform have come together to give viewers a spin-off, which follows sisters Mariana Foster (Cierra Ramirez) and Callie Foster (Maia Mitchell) as they embark on new careers in Los Angeles.
The show follows Mariana and Callie as they navigate post-college life and all that comes with it. Now that they are older, they are ready to move out of their family home and into a life of their own. This means a new house, new friends and new obstacles as they learn to manage independence.
Not only does the Freeform and Hulu series showcase working women going after their dreams, but it also sheds light on millennials in the workforce who are dedicated, talented and deserving of their success. Millennials are often met with the poor reputation that they are lazy or unmotivated, but “Good Trouble” intends to end these stereotypes with these feel-good stories.
The first season takes place a little after the finale of “The Fosters,” and this time jump allows viewers to enjoy “Good Trouble” without needing context from the previous show. If you haven’t watched “The Fosters,” you can still watch “Good Trouble,” but you might not understand a few minor references.
Many “Fosters” cast members join Mariana and Callie in cameo appearances, and it’s fun to watch these characters cross the bridge between childhood and adulthood as they try to find themselves.
However, the girls soon learn that it’s not all fun and games as they are vying to survive in the adult world.
When Mariana begins to work at her own startup company called Spekulate, she is met with the harsh reality of gender inequality and sexism in the workforce. Callie starts working for Judge Wilson (Roger Bart) as a counter clerk and experiences her own troubles.
The sisters encounter what many women face from a day-to-day basis –– the feeling that they must work twice as hard as a man in a competitive environment to achieve the same set of goals. They manage to handle this stress with strength and dignity and continue to show up for work day after day.
Another distinctive facet of the drama is that it shows what life is like after college, which is something that lacks ample screen time. Characters in television are often known to have steady jobs and there is not a lot of representation for those who have trouble landing a stable career right away, which is an element of “Good Trouble” that sets the show apart.
The show consists of characters with different backgrounds and interests, which makes the story more realistic. It also touches on the various types of dating relationships that are not normally discussed in television such as online dating, LGBTQ+ dating and dealing with unrequited love.
Each storyline in the show is distinctive, creating a binge-worthy plot.
A major theme of the show is how much Callie and Mariana have grown since living at home in “The Fosters.” For example, it is clear that Callie has matured and doesn’t make the same reckless decisions that she did when she was a teenager.
Another major theme is the importance of family and social justice issues. For example, Malika (Zuri Adele), one of Callie and Mariana’s roommates, fights for the justice of a boy named Jamal Thompson, who was shot to death by a policeman. Each roommate also has a distinctive personality, which adds another intriguing element to the show.
Overall, the producers of “Good Trouble” aren’t afraid to discuss sensitive topics such as homelessness, drug addiction and suicide, which makes the show memorable, emotional and influential.
