Good Trouble

Prominent ensemble roles for black activist Malika, queer Asian-American Alice, bisexual Latino Gael, and other diverse characters. Storylines and marketing emphasize identity, queerness, and competence in activist or professional contexts. Queer elements receive heavy focus and screen time across seasons.

Characters frequently debate and act on BLM protests, police brutality, gender pay equity, workplace sexism, racism, and activism. Dialogue and plots treat these as central rather than background.

Core narrative centers chosen family, standing up via activism, queer coming-out and relationships, pay equity fights, and identity conflicts in work and personal life. The "good trouble" framing ties directly to social justice action.

Police and justice system portrayed through BLM arrests, protests, and trials. Tech workplace shown with systemic misogyny and bro culture. Conservative judge serves as recurring foil to progressive leads. Traditional norms around family, gender, and authority are challenged through activist lenses.

Viewers on Reddit and in some reviews specifically call out excessive one-sided woke topics, pandering social justice angles, and negative framing of conservatives or certain demographics. Complaints focus on identity politics and activism messaging rather than general politics.

Peter Paige and co-creators Bradley Bredeweg and Joanna Johnson built The Fosters around interracial lesbian parents and ongoing social issues. Their repeated work centers queer acceptance, diverse families, and activist storytelling as explicit goals.