Ep 15. Mother's Day

In season 5 episode 15 of The Fosters titled "Mother's Day," the Adams-Foster family prepares to celebrate the holiday with a few unexpected twists and turns. Stef (played by Teri Polo) and Lena (played by Sherri Saum) face some challenges with their relationship, while Brandon (played by David Lambert) tries to be a support system for Grace (played by Meg DeLacy) during a difficult moment.

One of the biggest plots of the episode revolves around Stef and Lena's disagreements. While Lena wants to celebrate Mother's Day with a fancy brunch surrounded by loved ones, Stef would rather spend the day solo, reflecting on her own mother who is currently in jail. The conflict reaches a boiling point after Stef locks herself in her office to avoid spending time with the family. Lena becomes frustrated with her partner and confides in Jude (played by Hayden Byerly), who offers her some words of advice about navigating difficult relationships. Eventually, Stef opens up to Lena about her hidden feelings and the two are able to reconcile, with Stef agreeing to attend the brunch after all.

Meanwhile, Brandon continues to be a source of support for his girlfriend Grace. After learning that Grace's mother is an alcoholic, he steps up to take care of Grace and her younger siblings when their mother is too drunk to do so. The situation becomes more complicated as Grace's mother crashes the Mother's Day brunch uninvited, causing tension among the Adams-Foster family. Brandon tries to defuse the situation and protect Grace, but it remains to be seen whether their relationship will be able to withstand the stress.

In addition to these main storylines, the episode also tackles some smaller issues within the family. Mariana (played by Cierra Ramirez) struggles with her feelings for her former boyfriend, while Jude confronts his crush on a classmate. Callie (played by Maia Mitchell) spends the day trying to win over her boss at her new internship and dealing with some of the challenges that come with being a young woman in a male-dominated workplace.

Overall, "Mother's Day" is an emotional episode that tackles the complicated dynamics of family relationships head on. While there are certainly lighter moments (including an adorable opening scene in which the family presents Lena with a surprise gift), the episode doesn't shy away from exploring the more difficult aspects of motherhood and the impact that parents can have on their children's lives. Fans of the show will appreciate the way the episode continues to develop each character's storylines while also providing some satisfying resolutions to some long-standing conflicts.