Like any other character-based storytelling format, television is chock full of common tropes.
Sometimes, tropes are overdone or offensive, but they often exist to give the audience a sense of familiarity and relatability.
If I had to choose a favorite trope, it would be the concept of found family, and I wouldn’t even have to think about it.
A grouchy, tough boss has a soft spot for a rough-around-the-edge intern and becomes a parental figure for them.
A set of childhood best friends grow into adulthood together, sharing all of life’s challenges and celebrations like siblings.
Sometimes, a character gets the “Dirty Uncle Sal” treatment.
As Meredith Grey so eloquently put it on Grey’s Anatomy, this character is “the one who embarrasses everyone at family reunions … but you invite him to the picnic anyway.”
No matter how the relationship dynamic plays out, these platonic friendships that morph into families who do life together will always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
There are hundreds of examples of families found on television, but we’ve gathered a few that stand out for us to celebrate the trope.
Meredith Grey and Richard Webber: Grey’s Anatomy
The writers of TV’s longest-running medical drama could host a master class in the art of creating a found family.
Over the years, characters have built families with the coworkers they see constantly.
But one of the most realistic examples of chosen family on Grey’s Anatomy is in the daughter/father dynamic between Meredith and Richard.
The love hasn’t always been reciprocated, but Webber has considered himself responsible for Meredith since her first day as an intern.
Despite the ups and downs in their relationship (and I mean a LOT of them), these two have always been family.
We even saw a glimpse of what life might have been like if Richard had 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 hold back when it comes to creating a family feel.
Perhaps the most meaningful example of this on the show is the relationship between Buck and Christopher.
Christopher isn’t biologically related to Buck; he’s the son of Buck’s closest friend and partner, Eddie.
But that has never stopped Buck from loving Christopher like his own and stepping in as a parental figure when needed.
In a testament to their bond, Eddie named Buck in his will as Christopher’s legal guardian in the event of Eddie’s death.
Christopher trusts Buck even when he can’t talk to his dad, and Buck has proven time and time again that he’s 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 the love she has for Leslie shines through on Parks and Recreation.
Leslie isn’t old enough to be April’s mother, but she’s certainly acted in a big sister capacity over the years.
As April’s boss, Leslie always did a great job of supporting her professionally.
More importantly, she showed up for April outside of work, supporting her through years of major life changes.
No matter how hard April tried to feign otherwise, she loved and appreciated Leslie’s advice and support and frequently sought it out.
Leslie’s influence is directly responsible for much of April’s growth, and April shows her gratitude in her own way.
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Rosa Diaz and Jake Peralta: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is another one of those shows where everyone feels connected to each other in a familial way.
Jake even slips up more than once and calls Captain Holt “Dad,” if that tells you anything about their relationship.
But one of the most special duos on this show is Jake and Rosa, best friends who act more like siblings.
They bicker and fight, but they always have each other’s backs at work and in their personal lives.
When Rosa came out as bisexual, Jake stood by her side as she navigated coming out to her parents, who were less than supportive.
And for her part, Rosa showed up for Jake to back him up in his many, many shenanigans, often getting him out of messes he created himself.
Watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine Online
Stella Kidd and Wallace Boden: Chicago Fire
Found family in a firehouse is almost a given, so this may be too easy.
Still, no one was more devastated about Chief Boden’s departure from 51 than Stella.
She viewed him as a father figure who was always available for advice and encouragement.
Boden saw Stella as a daughter and would have done anything she needed at any time.
The bond these two shared was just one of many examples of beautiful platonic friendships on Chicago Fire.
Through good times and bad, Boden and Stella set a fantastic example of how powerful chosen family can be.
Watch Chicago Fire Online
Billy Baker and Spencer James: All American
Billy Baker treated Spencer as another son from the minute he moved him into his house so he could be a star player on the Beverly football team.
While it was originally about the team and Spencer’s potential, they grew to care deeply about each other over the years.
When Billy died during All American Season 5, it devastated Spencer because they had been arguing and had not made peace yet.
When Billy makes a ghostly visit in Season 6, he tries to help all his children, including Spencer.
Watch All American Online
Amanda Wagner and Will Trent: Will Trent
Amanda appears as a tough old bird, but she has always considered Will to be part of her family.
At the end of Will Trent Season 1, it was revealed that she found baby Will in the trash can and tried to raise him herself.
However, society didn’t let single African-American women keep infants, and she had to give him back, but she gave him a part of her, his name.
She also gave him a job at the GBI, and Will was always loyal to her.
Watch Will Trent Online
Harlan “Sonny” Jennings and Emily “Em” Wright: HI-Surf
Em is the only one who can ever really call Sonny out.
Unlike others in his life, Em doesn’t hold back.
You can always tell how hard it is on him when he feels like he has disappointed her and not met 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.
Watch Rescue HI-Surf Online
Vince Leone and Jake Crawford: Fire Country
Vince Leone always reads as very paternal when it comes to both Jake and Eve on Fire Country.
He considered both of them his other children, and that especially was solidified when his and Sharon’s daughter died, and Bode went to prison.
In work environments, there is a healthy dose of respect, but you also get the sense that Vince is the dad of the house.
Just as quickly as he extends advice to both Jake and Eve, they also confront him in a way you’d expect from children calling out their parents.
Watch Fire Country Online
Melinda “Mel” Monroe and Vernon “Doc” Mullins: Virgin River
Funnily enough, when Mel first got there, Doc seemed to hate her and didn’t want her around at all.
But they eventually settled into a beautiful rhythm and developed this very special filial relationship, which is almost as much at the center of the show as her romance with Jack.
Doc never had the opportunity to raise children, but you can tell he pours all of this fatherly affection and love into Mel. As for Mel, she returns his affection in kind.
The two share a bond that includes confiding in each other, seeking out advice, holding secrets, and comforting each other.
In fact, the upcoming season of Virgin River will be interesting as Mel explores a relationship with her biological father.
Because she and Doc have been so close for the past few years, it makes you wonder if he’ll feel a pang of jealousy or resentment.
Watch Virgin River Online
Susannah Fisher and Isabel “Belly” Conklin: The Summer I Turned
Pretty
Sadly, this mother-daughter dynamic on The Summer I Turned Pretty ended in tragedy.
But Belly looked to Susannah as a second mother and, at times, had a stronger relationship with Susannah than she did with her own mom.
And Susannah, given that she only had two sons, always viewed Belly as her daughter.
It made things interesting since Susannah actively rooted for Belly to be with one of her sons; her opinion on this matter adds weight to the already complicated and messy love triangle between Belly and the two brothers.
Still, Belly and Susannah sometimes felt more like mother and daughter than she did with her actual mom.
As a result, Belly’s grief over Susannah’s passing has fundamentally shaped who she is as a young woman moving forward and made her grief story carry just as much weight as that of Conrad and Jeremiah’s.
Watch The Summer I Turned Pretty Online
While the bond between biological relatives can be lovely, it’s often the people we meet later in life that make the biggest impact.
We’d love to hear from you!
Let us know in the comments if you have favorite TV found families that we missed.
