‘Good Trouble’ 1×05 recap: Moms make everything better

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from Good Trouble Season 1 episode 5 titled “Parental Guidance Suggested”. Do not read if you have not seen the episode or read ahead at your own risk.

If there’s one thing that can always make us feel better, it is the love of a mother. Callie and Mariana were visited by their moms in Tuesday’s Good Trouble and it hit us all in the feels.

Normally, I try to go in order in my recaps, but this episode was so dang good, I have to start with Stef (Teri Polo) and Lena (Sherri Saum) visiting their daughters for the weekend at The Coterie. The first thing they mentioned was their concern over the fire extinguishers. I mean, how much more mom can you get?

Polo and Saum’s return reminded us all of what we loved about The Fosters and what we miss about it too. Stef and Lena not only help out Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) with their problems, but they even help some of The Coterie residents as well. What great moms!

There were tons of great Stef/Lena moments that I’m going to get to. But first, we’ve got to touch on another Coterie resident, Dennis (Josh Pence). At first, he comes off as creepy weird older guy who likes to sleep with younger girls. Seriously, he gave me creepy vibes until I learned more about him in this episode. But in this episode, we also find out he is really broken.

Dennis organizes an improv night for the residents, but Stef, being a former cop and Human Trafficking Detective, can’t seem to ignore the red alerts he gives off. She is also high and… yeah, I should probably mention that Stef and Lena got very high in this episode; it was definitely the scene I never knew I needed. Anyway, Stef basically interrogates him about his “odd” preference for younger women; man, I really felt for Callie and Mariana in that moment.

Stef later on apologizes for her actions, explaining her kids are off on their own and she’s having a hard time letting them go. That is when Dennis reveals he has a kid of his own. Whoa!

Let that sink in for a moment: Dennis has a kid.

He lets it all out to Stef, telling her the story of how his son died from cancer when he was only six and how his marriage fell apart, so he came to The Coterie to be around people who are too young to have kids themselves. Stef comforts him and it had me feeling sympathetic for the guy too.

Dinner had its own drama after Mariana outs Callie’s relationship with Gael (Tommy Martinez) and Sandra Thompson (Nicki Micheaux) shows up to see Malika (Zuri Adele), causing Callie to leave the building altogether. Man, Callie couldn’t even get to dessert?

Things get worse for Callie when Mariana later reveals to their moms she’s working the Jamal Thompson case. Callie then shoots back and tells their moms that Mariana is $20,000 in debt. Both Mitchell and Ramirez do such a great job in this scene as they get into a screaming-but-still crying match, resulting in the pair admitting they hate their jobs. Stef and Lena go into parent mode and comfort their daughters and reminded them that even at 20-years-old, moms are always there.

They go on to give them advice, but then the tables turn as Lena reveals she considering dropping out of the State Assembly Election because of being discriminated against for her race and sexual orientation. In a rather surprising move, we get a flashback to Lena being harassed and spit on during one of her campaign events. I say surprising only because I don’t think any of us expected (at least I didn’t) for her to get a flashback. Bu this time, it was Mariana and Callie’s turn to give the moms a pep talk, with a little help from Malika; they said they all need a voice like Lena’s in power and to not let “them” win without putting up a fight. So with that, Lena is back in the race.

It is fair to say that the moms made a really good impression on everyone at The Coterie that will hopefully have a lasting impact. Personally, I was so glad to see the moms back and found it especially relatable as someone who is very close to his own mother.

Episode Notes:

• My favorite line of this episode was Stef’s cheeky comment to Gael at the pool. He said “Sorry, didn’t mean to get you wet,” and she replied, “I bet you say that to all the ladies.” MARIANA’S FACE IS GOING TO BE SUCH A GREAT GIF.
• Ben was creeping on Callie’s socials to find proof of her relationship with Malika and he found it. I bet this isn’t going to be good for her next week.
• And why is Gael dating Bryan still? He seems like a real ass.

What did you make of the episode? Let me know in the comments below!

Good Trouble airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Freeform.