15 Best Shows Like The Fosters That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Shows Like The Fosters

When Callie Jacob (Maia Mitchell) is introduced to the foster home where a lesbian couple and their bizarre mix of biological, adopted, and foster children live, the story takes a turn for the dramatic. Family drama and teenage and young adult themes are intertwined in this show. This list includes shows that feature “family” as an important narrative element, such as “The Fosters,” which deals delicately and gracefully with family and familial bonds.

When it comes to television shows, whether it’s Tony Soprano dealing with his personal issues in “The Sopranos” or the racial humor of Homer Simpson in “The Simpsons,” or siblings getting into incestuous relationships in “Shameless,” family plays an important role. It was important to include shows with a “family” theme as an important narrative technique when compiling this list. Hence, we present the following list of shows similar to “The Fosters,” which we believe you should watch. Several of these TV shows, such as ‘The Fosters,’ are available on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

1. Family (1976-1980)

Family (1976-1980)

‘Family,’ penned and directed by Jay Presson Allen in the United States, centers on the Lawrences of Pasadena. Sada Thompson, James Broderick, Gary Frank, Kristy McNichol, and Meredith Baxter Birney star in ‘Family,’ which examines the growth of family ties and the joys and sorrows that come with it. “Family” is a nostalgic and enjoyable show to watch.

2. Bloodline (2015–2017)

“Bloodline,” a Netflix original, is a suspenseful drama about a group of adult siblings who discover their past secrets and scars when their troubled brother returns home. It takes place over the course of three seasons, and the writing and performances are top-notch throughout. ‘Bloodline,’ while making some audacious and brilliantly atrocious sequences, explores family ties and relationships with dexterity. Twisted and grotesque to the core.

3. This Is Us (2016)

This Is Us (2016)

‘This Is Us,’ written and produced by Dan Fogelman in the United States, follows the Pearson family over the course of several decades. A few months after the success of ‘Parenthood,’ another family drama, called ‘This is Us,’ quickly became a hit with viewers. Several actors have received awards such as the Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy for their work on the show. The show debuted in 2016 on NBC and has had three seasons since then, with no signs of stopping.

4. Parenthood (2010-2015)

The family drama is based on Ron Howard’s 1989 comedy-drama ‘Parenthood,’ and follows the Bravermans, a middle-aged couple with four children, as well as their extended families. Developed by Jason Katims, the show’s writers and producers have been praised for their maturity in dealing with family issues. Asperger Syndrom is also shown with compassion and maturity in the show.

5. Jane the Virgin (2014)

Jane the Virgin, starring Gina Rodriguez, premiered in 2014 and tells the story of a young Latina virgin named Jane Villanueva who accidentally artificially inseminates herself and becomes pregnant. The cast, led by the aforementioned Gina Rodriguez, excels in this absurd theme. While satirizing social taboos, the show also delves into Villanueva’s religious beliefs. One of the funniest comedies on television today, “Jane the Virgin” received numerous awards, including the Golden Globe for best television series, musical or comedy.

6. The O.C. (2003 – 2007)

The O.C. (2003 – 2007)

In ‘The O.C.,’ or ‘Orange County,’ an upper-class family in Newport Beach, California’s Orange County, takes in a troubled adolescent named Ryan Atwood. As part of a complex web woven by differences in class, ‘The O.C.’ explores what it’s like for him to be an outsider in a new world while dealing with his relationship with his surrogate brother Seth, his feelings for the attractive girl next door, and his annoying and snobby neighbors.

7. The Mindy Project (2012-17)

Mindy Lahiri’s show ‘The Mindy Project’ is up and running. As the show’s heart, she has drawn inspiration from Mindy Kaling’s real-life mother, an OB/GYN (did you get the Jane the Virgin reference?). Mindy is a single working woman who has to juggle and fight to maintain a healthy work-life balance while also managing her medical practice and a complicated romantic relationship on the side. There is an interesting portrayal of how a regular working professional manages to hold her own while maintaining a world of her own.

8. The Good Place (2016)

Eleanor Shellstrop is played by Kristen Bell, who also serves as the show’s executive producer. After experiencing a rollercoaster of events, Bell’s character discovers a utopian good place in her afterlife in the show ‘The Good Place’. And yet, despite all of her good deeds in life, she finds herself in this position because of a mix-up with her identity. She resolves to make positive changes in her life in order to be deserving of her new position, with the guidance of her wise mentor. Comedy, deaths, plot twists, and philosophical discourse abound on the show.

9. Modern Family (2009)

Modern Family (2009)

‘Modern Family,’ a documentary sitcom, depicts the lives of three families who are all connected in some way. Documentary style, “Modern Family” examines various themes like the different types of families, such as nuclear, step-, and same-sex, as well as communication in an increasingly technologically advanced society and parenthood. When it first aired in 2009, the show was a huge hit with both fans and critics, who praised the cast’s hilarious antics and the sharply written narrative. Modern Family has been a television staple for nearly a decade even as viewership has declined over the years due to the long run of eight seasons.

10. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015)

In 2015, when the first episode of the Netflix series aired, it pleasantly surprised everyone. In ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’ Kimmy Schmidt’s life is chronicled through the eyes of a television camera (Ellie Kemper). The Reverend who kidnapped her and the other eighth-graders convinced them that the end of the world had come and gone. Having spent the last fifteen years in captivity, she is now free and must reacquaint herself with the outside world. Instead, she decides to leave her old life behind and begin a new one in New York City, where she meets her mother for the first time while still being completely unaware of the other’s true identity. There is plenty of warmth and humor in the show as it depicts the young woman’s daily struggles.

11. Switched at Birth (2011-2017)

Written and produced by Lizzy Weiss in the United States, “Swapped at Birth” follows Daphne Paloma Vasquez and Bay Madeline Kennish, two teenagers who are genetically identical but grow up in very different circumstances. Affluent suburbia is home to one and working-class neighborhoods to the other. The show, a family drama, deals with issues of identity and ties to one’s family. It’s fascinating to see how different people’s relationships are portrayed in this show. The show’s portrayal of disabled people and use of American Sign Language as a primary narrative technique have also been praised, adding to its unique narrative.

12. Family Guy (1998)

Family Guy (1998)

It follows the Griffins, a family of six that includes Peter and Lois, their three children (meg, Chris, and Stewie), and their anthropomorphic dog Brian (played by Seth MacFarlane). Shows in the fictional Rhode Island city of Quahog focus on different experiences that are fueled by humor and funny circumstances. Quahog, Rhode Island. The show is an animated sitcom that uses meta-fictional humour as a narrative technique to critique and parody American culture. “Family Guy,” which debuted in 1998, has gained notoriety for its biting and unapologetically funny humor. The comparison to ‘The Simpsons’ has been unfavorable, but it has never harmed the show’s reputation.

13. Shameless (2011)

A comedy-drama created by John Wells, ‘Shameless’ depicts some series incestuous relationships similarly to ‘The Foresters.’ However, ‘Shameless’ is unsettling, disturbing, and unusual from the start. Following the Gallagher family as they try to make sense of our strange and seemingly naked world, this comedy-drama is based on a British series of the same name that aired from 2004 to 2013. The show’s graphic sex scenes may appeal to the viewer’s sense of humor. The show, on the other hand, portrays sexuality in a realistic and unappealing manner. Despite this, ‘Shameless’ could pass for a pornographic show for some thanks to its numerous bizarre scenes.

14. The Sopranos (1999–2007)

“The Sopranos” is one of the greatest crime dramas of all time, following Tony Soprano, the titular headman of the Soprano family and a New Jersey mob boss. Tony Soprano goes through a crisis as he suddenly has to deal with personal and professional issues that affect his mental state, causing him to seek professional psychological assistance. ‘The Sopranos’ is primarily a crime drama, but it also deals with family and the issues that surround it.

15. The Simpsons (1989)

In 1989, ‘The Simpsons’ debuted on television and quickly gained a large and loyal audience. The Simpsons is a fictional American family created by Matt Groening, a cartoonist and writer. The family includes patriarch Homer, his wife Marge, and their three children, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. They all live in Springfield, Illinois. Based on the narrative trope of the “dysfunctional family,” “The Simpsons” is full of biting satire and belly-aching comedy. The show also discusses America’s racial undertones, family dynamics, and social commentary, all of which are thwarted by the show’s comedic elements.