SSM & The Fosters

Same-sex marriage is banned by constitutional amendment or state law in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Add Utah to this list since it is in flux and will go the the USSC (if only for a "short stay" -- I see what you did there). Ohio's law, according to a footnote to a more limited ruling (involving recognition) is at risk. A few other states are explicitly in the courts now.  Nevada's law blocking certain benefits to same sex couples was struck down in federal court.  Virginia's law will go to trial mid-2014. The NYT had an article about battles in Indiana.  Will there be or when will there be a case that upholds a ban?

Meanwhile, in the world of fiction, The Fosters will return mid-January.  The network provided a nice three DVD set of the first ten episodes for free on Facebook. Since I watched the episodes more than once (re-watched a few in the last week), sold my two copies (Ebay is bollocks these days for selling books & stuff, except for some new things), but at least one of them was given as gifts -- sort of pay it forward, right?  There are so many shows out there and I seem to watch less than when I mainly had only free channels to watch, but this to me is one of the best.

 The linked episode, e.g., has multiple subplots, providing chances for various characters to shine. The writing, production values and acting all is first rate. Watching episodes of Rules of Engagement against on syndication (mainly on WGN at the end of the day) shows that was a pretty darn good show.  The same applies here with special attention best made to faces. These are very expressive people -- they could probably have done well in that silent movie that Callie had to watch for art class! A close look will often add to the experience -- see, e.g., how Stef reacts as she is chasing a perp with her partner, making sure to get a full lay of the land. Characters repeatedly do this, even minor ones.

The series cliffhung (my word!) on Callie leaving after a forbidden kiss at a same sex marriage (Rev. Camden -- well just the actor from that Seventh Heaven show, here an Internet minister -- did the honors*) with Lexi's undocumented status still up in the air. What new subplots will arise? Will Jesus' (Hispanic pronunciation) ADHD be addressed again (after it was mostly forgotten)? Will Callie and Jude's real dad pop up? Will Brandon say after being challenged for messing up that it was "my time" given everyone except saintly Jude (Callie's little brother, who did have an angry moment with her & look where it got him!) screwed up royally somehow long before now. What further implications will arise from the shooting?**

Time will tell. Hope it retains this level of quality. Maia Mitchell, who plays Callie (with an American accent & quite well), tweeted, e.g., that five episodes forthcoming involved some stuff that really hit her hard.

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* The show has various "I know that person!" moments, beyond more than one of the leads, including Stef Foster, who just to cite one thing played the ultimate First Lady at the end of West Wing. Her ex was pointed out to be the guy pal of the doomed lead in Titanic. And, hey, Brandon's piano teacher is the son from that '80s show Crazy Like A Fox.

** The show's handling of the morning after pill impressed me, but so did its involvement of Stef Foster's (who is a police officer) gun. At a dinner with her partner's ex, it came out that Lena really doesn't like guns. Also, that off hours, Stef has a gun safe. Which is shown later. This is something many people have, few of them police officers. But, even on those shows, a little touch like a gun safe (or how they carefully store a gun) is not likely to be shown.