Like other character-based narrative forms, television is full of common tropes.
Sometimes metaphors are overdone or offensive, but they often exist to give the audience a sense of familiarity and connection.
If I had to pick a favorite metaphor, it would be the concept of finding family, and I don’t even have to think about it.
A grumpy, tough boss takes a liking to a rude intern and becomes a parental figure to them.
A group of childhood best friends grow up together and share all of life’s challenges and celebrations like brothers and sisters.
Sometimes a character gets the “Dirty Uncle Sal” treatment.
As Meredith Gray so eloquently put it on Grey’s Anatomy, this character is “the guy who embarrasses everyone at the family gathering…but you invite him to the picnic anyway.”
No matter how the relationship dynamics develop, these platonic friendships that evolve into families living together always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
There are hundreds of examples of families on television, but we’ve rounded up some standout examples that celebrate this trope.
Meredith Gray and Richard Webber: “Grey’s Anatomy”
The writers of the longest-running medical drama could give a master class in the art of creating a home.
Over the years, the characters develop a family with colleagues they see regularly.
But one of the most realistic examples of a chosen family on Grey’s Anatomy is the daughter/father dynamic between Meredith and Richard.
That love wasn’t always reciprocated, but Weber felt responsible for Meredith from her first day as an intern.
Although their relationship has had its ups and downs (and I mean a lot), these two have always been a family.
We even saw what life would be like if Richard raised Meredith in Grey’s Anatomy Season 8 Episode 13.
Watch Grey’s Anatomy online
Evan “Buck” Buckley and Christopher Diaz: 9-1-1
“9-1-1” is another show that doesn’t hesitate when it comes to creating a family atmosphere.
Perhaps the most meaningful example in the show is the relationship between Buck and Christopher.
Christopher is not related to Buck; he is the son of Buck’s closest friend and companion, Eddie.
But that didn’t stop Buck from loving Christopher like his own child and stepping in as a parent when needed.
To prove their relationship, Eddie named Buck in his will as Christopher’s legal guardian after Eddie’s death.
Even when Christopher is unable to talk to his father, Christopher trusts Buck, and Buck has proven time and time again that he is worthy of that trust.
Watch 9-1-1 online
April Ludgate and Leslie Knope: Parks and Recreation
April may have a snarky attitude and pretend she’s too cool for school, but her love for Leslie shines through on Parks and Recreation.
Leslie isn’t old enough to be April’s mother, but she does act as a sister over the years.
As April’s boss, Leslie always provides excellent support for her professionally.
What’s more, April showed up outside of work to support her through years of major life changes.
No matter how hard April tries to pretend, she still loves and appreciates Leslie’s advice and support, and often asks for help.
Leslie’s influence had a direct impact on April’s development, and April expressed her gratitude in her own way.
Watch Parks and Recreation Online
Rosa Diaz and Jake Peralta: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is another one of those shows where everyone feels like a family connection to each other.
Jack even slips up and calls Captain Holt “Daddy” on more than one occasion, if that tells you anything about their relationship.
But one of the most special duos on the show is Jack and Rosa, who are best friends and act more like siblings.
They would bicker and fight, but always had each other’s backs at work and in their personal lives.
When Rosa came out as bisexual, Jack stood by her side and came out to her parents, who were not supportive.
Rosa, for her part, appears to support Jack in many of his mischief and often helps him out of messes of his own making.
Watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine online
Stella Kidd and Wallace Borden: “Chicago Fire”
Finding family members at the fire station is almost guaranteed, so it might be too easy.
Still, no one is more devastated by the news of Chief Boden’s departure from 51 than Stella.
She viewed him as a father-like figure, always available for advice and encouragement.
Borden viewed Stella as a daughter, ready to do whatever she needed to do.
The bond between the two is just one of many examples of beautiful platonic friendships on Chicago Fire.
In good times and bad, Boden and Stella set a wonderful example of how powerful a select family can be.
Watch Chicago Fire online
Billy Baker and Spencer James: All-Americans
From the moment Billy Baker moved Spencer into his home, he viewed Spencer as another son so that he could become a star player on the Beverly football team.
While it was initially about the team and Spencer’s potential, they grew to care about each other over the years.
When Billy died in All American season 5, Spencer was devastated because they had been arguing but had not yet reached a reconciliation.
When Billy visited as a ghost in season six, he tried to help all of his children, including Spencer.
Watch All AOL
Amanda Wagner and Will Trent: Will Trent
Amanda seemed like a tough old bird, but she always considered Will a part of her family.
At the end of Will Trent season 1, it was revealed that she found baby Will in a trash can and attempted to raise him herself.
However, society did not allow a single African American woman to raise a baby, she had to give him back, but she gave him a part of her, his name.
She also gave him a job with the GBI, and Will remained loyal to her.
Watch Will Trent Online
Harlan “Sonny” Jennings and Emily “Em” Wright: HI-Surf
They were the only ones who could actually call Sonny out.
Unlike everyone else in her life, Em didn’t back down.
You can always tell how upset he feels when he feels like he’s letting her down and not living up to her expectations.
They have such a strong dynamic and you can tell there’s a lot of history there that the series hasn’t even begun to dig into yet.
Watch Rescue HI-Surf online
Vince Leone and Jack Crawford: Fire Nation
Vince Leone always seems very fatherly when it comes to Jack and Eve in Fire Nation .
He considers them all his other children, which is especially cemented when his and Sharon’s daughter dies and Bode is imprisoned.
There was a certain level of respect in the work environment, but you also got the sense that Vince was the father figure in the family.
When he offers advice to Jack and Eve, they also confront him in the manner of children calling out to their parents.
Watch Fire Nation online
Melinda “Mel” Monroe and Vernon “Doc” Mullins: Virgin River
Interestingly, when Mel first got there, Doc seemed to hate her and didn’t want her around at all.
But they eventually develop a wonderful rhythm and develop this very special filial relationship that becomes almost as central to the show as her romance with Jack.
Doc never got the chance to raise a child, but you could tell he poured all of his fatherly love and affection into Mel. As for Mel, she returned his affection in kind.
The two share a bond that involves talking to each other, seeking advice, keeping secrets, and comforting each other.
In fact, the upcoming season of Virgin River is going to be interesting as Mel explores her relationship with her biological father.
Because she and Doc have gotten so close over the past few years, it makes you wonder if he might be feeling a twinge of jealousy or resentment.
Watch Virgin River Online
Suzanne Fisher and Isabel “Bailey” Conklin: The Summer of My Transformation
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Sadly, the mother-daughter dynamic in “The Summer I Turned Pretty” ended tragically.
But Bailey viewed Suzanne as a second mother, and at times, her relationship with Suzanne was stronger than with her own mother.
And Susanna, since she only had two sons, had always regarded Bailey as her own daughter.
This makes things interesting because Suzanne actively supports Bailey being with one of her sons. Her take on the matter adds to the already complicated and confusing love triangle between Bailey and the two brothers.
Still, Bailey and Suzanne sometimes feel more like mother and daughter than she and her real mother.
Bailey’s grief over Susanna’s death thus fundamentally shapes her future as a young woman and makes her sad story as important as those of Conrad and Jeremiah.
Watch My Becoming Beautiful Summer online
While relationships between biological relatives can be wonderful, it’s often the people we meet later that have the greatest impact on us.
We’d love to hear from you!
If your favorite TV show found a family we missed, let us know in the comments.
