Good Trouble does an excellent job of pushing Callie and Mariana's lives forward from The Fosters. By occasionally referencing their teenage lives and family, it keeps fans of The Fosters involved in seeing their favorite Foster-relative guest star. But, the show never forces too much information about their lives previous to Good Trouble. Instead, details are brought up quickly but never focused on too much, allowing their adult selves to be the focus in their Los Angeles environment.
However, certain things about the way Callie and Mariana are as people can be more appreciated by seeing their development in The Fosters. By only watching Good Trouble, there are essential details about their lives that have not been brought up.
The Reasons Callie Was In Juvie
To the show's credit, Callie does reference her three stints in juvie to Malika. However, Callie does not describe the events that lead to those occurrences. The first time, Callie was sent to juvie for beating her foster father's car to distract him and get him away from hurting Jude. The second, Callie was arrested at a convenience store after running away from Stef and Lena because she had feelings for Brandon.
The third visit happened after Callie got heavily invested in discovering the truth about a murder and how it included an ex-foster brother, Kyle.
Mariana Was On A Dance Team
Trying to get more involved in school, Mariana decided to join a dance team and dye her hair blonde. Mariana's interest in the dance team does not remain after the second season of The Fosters, but at the same time, Mariana had been involved with STEAM.
Of the two activities, Mariana latched on to STEAM and became more invested in academics, which is shown through Good Trouble, based on what sort of career Mariana went into.
Callie's Relationship With Brandon
Good Trouble introduces Brandon as a Rideshare Driver. His wife, Eliza, is performing elsewhere, and Brandon drives to feel less alone. At the time, Callie is in a love triangle with Jamie and Gael. However, the series does not actively explain Callie and Brandon's history.
While it may be hinted at, Good Trouble has not explicitly revealed the romantic relationship Callie and Brandon had attempted to have as teenagers. In the end, Callie knew she needed a family more than she needed Brandon as a boyfriend. Later, the two agreed that had they decided to choose their relationship over the family, that they would have likely burned out.
Robert & Sophia Quinn
Callie mentions her birth father, Robert Quinn, once in passing at work. However, Robert and his daughter, Sophia, were significant supporting characters in The Fosters. Robert had a complicated relationship with Callie, as he had not known about her until Callie tried to get adopted by Stef and Lena. While Robert had fought for her, Callie's desire to be with Stef and Lena was so much greater that Robert agreed to step back but still be included in Callie's life.
Sophia had briefly prevented Callie's adoption, but afterward, the half-sisters found ways to get along. Yet, she has not been mentioned or seen in Good Trouble.
Callie's Long Road To Adoption
Callie and Jude were supposed to be adopted together after the first season of The Fosters. However, a plot twist revealed that Callie and Jude did not share a biological father, and thus while Jude's paperwork cleared, Callie's did not.
What came after were arguments between Stef and Lena against Robert Quinn, and complications with Callie's choices that could have prevented her adoption. Finally, Callie was adopted by Stef and Lena in "Lucky."
Mariana Sold Jesus' Pills
At the beginning of The Fosters, Jesus realized that he was going through his ADD pills much faster than he should have. It turns out that Mariana had been selling his medication for cash to give to their biological mother, Ana.
But, there was a time when Stef and Lena thought Callie was responsible for selling his pills instead. To get the blame off Callie but cover for Mariana, Jesus lies to Stef and Lena, saying he was the one selling his pills.
Mariana & Ana
Like Robert and Sophia, Mariana's biological mother, Ana, has never appeared on Good Trouble. Ana was an essential supporting character on The Fosters and played a crucial role, sometimes as opposition, to the Foster family.
Mariana and Ana got off on the wrong foot with Ana getting Mariana to give her money for drugs. However, Ana eventually got sober and formed a healthier relationship with Mariana.
Callie's Major Character Development
On Good Trouble, Callie thinks her actions through more often than her teenage counterpart and it is noticeable in how she handles political and moral decisions. To characters such as Davia, Callie may come across as being a stickler for the rules, however, it shows her growth.
The person Mariana had referred to as the "old Callie" would not think twice about trying to save someone and going all in. One of the most significant challenges Callie had as a teenager was taking a step back and not helping someone. Callie jumped at the chance to fight injustice, but her wishes to save people could get her into dangerous situations. As an adult, that history is not given too much focus, and instead, Callie's struggles come from being an activist and how that works with her job.
Mariana's Major Character Development
Mariana's most noticeable changes come in her confidence. Mariana is a much more confident person in Good Trouble than she was at the beginning of The Fosters. From her academics to her personal and romantic life, Mariana has had a significant shift in the way she presents herself from who she was as a teenager.
At the start of Good Trouble, some of Mariana's insecurities come across, but she is still aware of how talented she is.
They Had A Rocky Start
Callie and Mariana were not friends in the beginning. While the two certainly have had their problems in Good Trouble, their relationship is mostly a positive one.
However, when they first met, Mariana was upset at having to share her bedroom, and the two girls had problems finding an even ground. Eventually, they found their footing as roommates and friends, as their relationship evolved into a sisterhood.