First, Robert Quinn: If his signature was on Callie's birth certificate, then he knew she existed. Legally, wouldn't he have needed to sign an affidavit of parentage before his name appeared on the certificate?
Not from California and not firm in California's family law, but from what I gathered in 5 minutes online your're right, at least since 1997 it takes acknowledgement of both parents if they are unmarried, to even write the name of the father on the birth certificate. They didn't say he signed it though, just that his name was on the certificate. Maybe they didn't pay attention to detail.
I am not sure how it will develop, if he is a nice guy but a bit messed up, why he left her mother though he says he loved her (maybe family thing, wealthy family didn't like working family girl, not approved relationship?).
Callie's first reaction was, well, very Callie, burst out first, ask + think later. She can be a bit impulsive at times. I can understand though that she reacted that way, given what she knew.
Don't think that her half-sister's reaction is so strange, she's an only child, and plenty of only children wish for siblings. Why shouldn't she be exited to have a sister, she is old enough to understand that a man sometimes doesn't even know he has more children. They seem to be a wealthy family and it is to be expected they have some lawyers keeping an eye on things, making as sure as they ever can that they have the upper hand in legal matters. Paternity test might have different reasons, to exclude fraud but could be as well his assurance that Callie is his daughter whatever his big family might wish for.
I don't mind if it's not simple good guy or bad guy and more a complex matter causing complex mix of feelings. Yes more drama for Callie, but I want it to play out longer and not be some few-episodes and done thing, because then it would be just angst-story to drag out the adoption process. There should be more to it.
(though this is the same show that allowed its two most "responsible" characters to inseminate without the donor's consent, so I'm not sure the writers are concerned with the sensibility of their stories)
Timothy didn't sign the donor contract but does that legally equal with withdrawing his consent after he had given them his sperm? As dumb as what Lena and Stef did is, as dumb is what Timothy did, he gave his sperm before signing the contract. Could be interesting for a lawyer, after all if Timothy had slept with Lena he couldn't ask his sperm back either. We have 3 idiot adults here.
The pregnancy story is a mess, though not sure if intentional mess or just story telling mess, but different from many here I am not annoyed by it. They were immensely lucky that they had a hit the first time they tried (not highly likely but not impossible), very convenient, and maybe what I find the least plausible. Find it more plausible that Timothy first was enthusiastic about it but then had second thoughts and at the wrong time. Not sure if it was necessary to let him back down and not sign the contract, he still could have had doubts and struggle with what it meant afterwards, causing enough emotional stress. But I have friends who I am very sure could be as dumb and impulsive as Lena and Stef were about it all, straight and queer. Guess I know strange people.
I know Emma is portrayed as an "independent woman," and I think that's an important thing to convey in a show for young people, but the severe bossiness was so heavy handed. I was even wondering if the writers have been hearing negative feedback about Emma from fans, and decided to just write her off as soon as possible. While I think she'll be back next week at least, it wouldn't surprise me if this episode marked the beginning of the end for her. And I was kind of taken aback that a high school freshman/sophomore, even one that is such an independent woman, would be that confident and know exactly what she liked romantically/physically. I could've saved myself a lot of money on Ben&Jerry's had I been that girl at 15/16. Honestly, I didn't even think Emma's bossiness was going to be the ultimate conflict. I thought her forwardness in the car was a hint that she wasn't a virgin, and Jesus was going to take issue with that. I'm not really sure which I like better: bossiness or virginity.
Was Emma really sure about what she was doing? I perceived that scene in the car quite differently, that was not a young woman acting like she had any good idea what she was doing. So my guess is actually Emma is a virgin, and particular because of that stressed so much out about making it the perfect moment, while at the same time she was pushing for it as if it's some kind of race to win Well, losing your virginity is a token for reaching womanhood, so there is some pressure on teenage girls to be cool and do it early. But as well Emma was way too proud to let Jesus know it would be her first time, she keeps an image of cool buddy girl up, tough, knowing what she does, always on top of things and in control. But even if it was not her very first time doubt she has much experience. Emma probably read somewhere, that telling him what she likes to do is the key to make it good for both of them, not the worst advice, but still takes to know what you want and like and figure out a way to express it without killing the moment.
The truth is Emma is insecure, feeling not all sure about herself, her tomboy attitude, but not wanting to bow on the other hand to common societal expectations (refreshing and rightly so), obviously wishing she could as well be sometimes girly but still be accepted to do men's stuff. A lot of people mistake aggressive toughness with aplomb, confidence. Emma is about as confident as Mariana, maybe even less. That is why Emma's seemingly independence and taking lead behavior comes across as off and pushy.
It's not like Jesus now has that much experience either though. And remember how pushy Lexi was about doing it with Jesus again, before she left and when she was back for some days. Different from Emma though Lexi had some healthy self-confidence. It seems like there is a pattern evolving for Jesus.
The Adults: Honestly, the adults are the biggest mess on the show right now, I think.
They are. The adults are not perfect, even quite messy and frequently overwhelmed, do stupid stuff, fail to always communicate decently, and nevertheless somehow manage things. Sounds like pretty much most people I know including myself, and we mostly have decent jobs, and some even have kids with typical teenager problems. And in the most unlikely moments, when totally inconvenient relationship problems can come up, thinking of, they seem to always surface when they are most unwelcome and things are in turmoil anyway. ;)
But I agree, it is often a bit too much drama in one episode, too much maybe for a season. It's an annoying thing about current scripted TV shows, it's not just The Fosters IMO, to rush and do it like some wild jumping around MTV music video clip, makes my head ache. No time for taking time, letting a story space to breath, let some little daily moments in , no time for lingering shots, no time for letting feelings evolve. Reminds me always of the people who can't stand a silence for longer than 5 seconds, they just have to burp out something and talk!talk!talk!. It's action, drama rush, cut crazy and dialogue whirlgig. Interesting that more people seem to find it more exhausting by now.
This episode though even offered some needed space to let the characters, the stories breath. More of that.
Welcome to the forum, Toothless.Bandit.
Edited June 25, 2014 by katuschncG1vNJzZmien6fCrr%2BNqamipZWptq6x0WeaqKVfqbyxtcJocGxtYGLAcX7EaWlmrJGgsm65xGamrqxf