When a reader glances through some of the first pages of Judy Blume’s Forever…, one of the things they see is the line: “…their relationship is unique: sincere, intense, and fun all at the same time. Although they haven’t been together all that long, they know it’s serious,” describing Michael and Katherine’s teenage love affair—the central theme of the novel. Fifty years later, these same words encapsulate the rollercoaster relationship between Keisha Clark (played by Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (played by Michael Cooper Jr.), the main characters in Mara Brock Akil’s latest work Forever, inspired by Blume’s novel. The Netflix series may have been set in a different time and location from the original book, but the central theme of first love and sexual exploration remains, now rendered with more nuance to reflect today’s world of social media and its influence on romantic relationships.

Unlike in the book, where the point of view comes from Katherine and the characters are white and based in New Jersey, the series explores the relationship from the perspectives of Michael and Keisha—highlighting how they each grapple with their emotions, aspirations, and family dynamics. Since its release, the show has become a global hit, reintroducing Blume’s perspective on first love and sexual education to a new generation through Akil’s masterful direction.

It’s almost as if Akil asked, “What would happen if we took Blume’s story and placed it in today’s world? Would forever be more attainable now? How would the world react to Justin and Keisha’s story? Can two people have sex and not die today?” These questions shape the plot of the 8-episode series, making it a vivid portrayal of the emotions and anxieties that come with love—resonating deeply with audiences who have experienced, witnessed, or longed for relationships that felt like forever, even if they ultimately weren’t.

There are many reasons why the show stands out, and one that can be easily identified is the chemistry between the main characters. In the moments when they don’t speak, their eyes communicate volumes; when they hold hands or touch each other, it’s a subtle yet powerful expression of their love. It feels almost telepathic—it feels real—and the viewers notice and understand this connection. At least, I did. Beyond their undeniable chemistry, there are other aspects we loved about Forever. So, here’s a list of everything we loved about the show.

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A Fresh Perspective on a Classic Story

While both Akil and Blume focus on first love in their individual works, they differ in how they interpret this central theme. One notable difference is that while Blume’s characters are white, Akil’s characters are predominantly Black. Additionally, the series is set between late 2017 and early 2019—a period marked by the police shootings of two Black individuals and the early stages of the Black Lives Matter movement. These events influence several characters’ actions, especially Dawn, Justin’s mother, who repeatedly addresses police brutality and the systemic targeting of Black men.

The plot also differs, introducing audiences to Keisha and Justin, two former classmates who meet at a New Year’s Eve party, fall in love, and begin a relationship. Amid their romance, they also navigate their individual aspirations and struggles. Keisha is a track star and straight-A student focused on securing a scholarship to Howard University. She also faces the scandal of a sex tape released by her ex-boyfriend, Christian, while trying to maintain the image of the perfect daughter in a struggling, close-knit family headed by her mother.

On the other hand, Justin is a shy teenager who struggles with self-identity while navigating ADHD, his parents’ expectations, and his passion for music production. Together, they form a tangled, messy blend of confusion, emotion, passion, and uncertainty, wrapped in a deeply heartfelt love affair. Unlike in the book, where letters and long phone calls serve as their primary means of communication, Keisha and Justin communicate through video calls, pictures, and texts. The juxtaposition of letters and modern technology highlights the recurring breakdowns in their communication—whether it's Keisha and Justin frequently blocking each other or Michael and Katherine ceasing to write to each other.

One thing the book and the series have in common is that they both explore sex. Despite the 50-year gap between the two works, sexual criticism remains as prominent as it was in the ’70s. While conversations around sex may be less judgmental today, there is still a level of stigma attached to it—whether related to pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, or the perception of sex as a dirty act. Akil weaves all of these issues into the story. It’s this balance of sensitivity and realism that makes Forever feel timely, relevant, and ultimately, a fan favorite.

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The Hard Conversations We Need

The series doesn’t just deliver another romance trope; every episode features multiple scenes where the characters engage in difficult conversations. They don’t dance around the issues — it’s not always love and light. The series places the characters in situations where they have to bare their emotions and speak openly about their struggles. For instance, the episode where Keisha tells her mother about the sex tape and they discuss it was truly emotional because a mother was trying to understand her daughter’s mistake and accept it, while her daughter was finally taking off the mask of perfection she had carried. Together, they embrace the flaws in themselves and their relationship.

Also, Dawn’s conversation with Sherry about seeking therapy portrays the older generation’s acceptance of therapy. In the end, this helps Tracy communicate with her daughter, and even Dawn admits that therapy has improved her parenting style. This addresses the aversion to therapy and highlights its importance for everyone. At different points in the series, more difficult conversations take place—not to make the characters or the show seem complicated, but to bring real-life challenges to the audience and show how fictional characters navigate them, thereby portraying real life, which is the purpose of art.

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The Compelling Music

In the series, music isn’t just the soundtrack to the moments; it is also a language, a way to express emotions, a means of therapy, and a shield. Evidently, one of the elevating points of any film or series is its choice of songs. These songs not only serve as audio fillers in scenes of silence or to indicate the urgency, solemnity, or gentleness of a scene, but they also act as sonic indicators of the characters’ feelings or the scene itself. In the scene where Keisha sends Justin Tyler the Creator and Kali Uchis’ “See You Again” to express her feelings, the song becomes a form of language.

In another scene, after an argument with her husband, Dawn goes to her room and puts on a jazz record to decompress and calm her nerves; in that moment, it is her way to relax and let go of her anger. For Justin, music isn’t just a passion — it is also therapy and a safe haven. In moments when he faces challenges, whether in relationships or feelings, he reaches for his headphones or earpiece to avoid confronting his emotions directly.

It is obvious that careful attention was paid to the selection of songs, as each record fits seamlessly with the scenes, elevating the mood, emotion, or action of the character or the general atmosphere. For instance, Daniel Caesar’s “Blessed” underscores the moment when the main characters cycle back to each other after not seeing each other for three months. In moments like these, music acts as a sonic companion that describes the characters’ actions or feelings.

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The Outstanding Performances

Another standout of Forever is the acting. It’s almost as if the entire cast has been living their lives as their portrayed characters. A noteworthy standout is Eric, Justin’s father, played by Wood Harris. He perfectly embodied the role, delivering a performance not just as a father who tries to understand his son’s struggles and offers solutions—no matter how ridiculous, such as the cucumber and condom situation—or tough, like when he advised Justin to stop running from the problems in his relationship, but also as someone who wants his family to see him as a supportive, safe space.

Cooper Jr. also delivers a convincing performance as the shy and socially awkward teenager. From the very first scene, where the audience is introduced to his movements and goofy smile, one can easily recognize his lack of social skills and awkwardness without guessing. As he grows and the show progresses, his ability to switch emotions is timely and well-executed. He knows exactly when to portray anger, sadness, confidence, self-assuredness, vulnerability, or awkwardness—without coming across as pretentious, artificial, or like mere acting. Generally, there are no questions about how well each actor portrayed their character, as they are solid representations of young adults, scared mothers, present male figures, and Black communities.

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Relatable and Original

From the anxiety that comes from late replies to messages never sent, to the failed attempt at having sex for the first time, most scenes in Forever mirror the lived experiences of ordinary people. While speaking to a fellow writer and lover of Forever, she pointed out that one thing she loves about the series is how it reminds her of a first love she thought would be her forever love. I’d like to believe this might be the reality for other viewers as well.

Even if some audiences haven’t experienced an intense teenage love affair, Dawn’s portrayal of an overprotective mother or the good cop–bad cop situation between Dawn and Eric is certainly something everyone has experienced or witnessed. Its depiction in this series isn’t exaggerated or over the top; it’s just how it is. That’s how original and raw the show is. In one of the scenes, Keisha sees her mother’s price list and notices that the vacation budget is crossed out to accommodate other financial obligations; this is one of the real life struggles of a Black single mother portrayed on the screen.

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Electric Chemistry: The Heart of the Series

The chemistry is another lovable aspect in the show. It would be horrible for a story hinged on first love to have terrible chemistry. Thankfully, Keisha and Justin get this right, and their relationship is believable from their first encounter. From moments when Justin traces Keisha to her school in an attempt to get her to unblock him, to Keisha going to watch his game at her former school despite the whispers of criticism she could face, to following him as he tries to find his friends, there is a high level of tenderness and commitment they offer each other—even in the moments when they attempt to have sex and when it eventually happens.

Even in the last scene, when they say their final farewell, the longing in their eyes and posture is visible, and the way Justin tenderly kisses Keisha’s forehead is such a memorable moment. In the final straw of their relationship, they still treat each other tenderly, just like in the early stages. The chemistry also extends to the relationships between parents and their children. Many scenes show the connection between Keisha and her mother, especially in moments when she asks her to cuddle with her. Eric’s connection to his family also stands out.

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The Relevant Themes

Set during a time of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, Forever carefully weaves these elements into the storyline, portraying them through the lens of a concerned mother, who protests when her son is out too late, and a father who teaches his son what to do if he gets stopped by the police. Additionally, in the scene where Justin thinks he is being chased by the police, he is visibly shaken—a showcase of the mental impact that incidents of police brutality have caused on Black families.

The issue of sex tapes and the criticism heaped on women is also expertly explored. In recent times, sex tapes have been heavily circulated, often as revenge porn, and the blame is frequently placed on the woman, as shown in this Netflix show. The film also highlights the psychological impact this has on the victims and their families, emphasizing the emotional toll involved. This underscores that the trend is rapidly becoming normalized, and it needs to stop. Other themes explored in the show include ADHD, mental health, sexuality and consent, and race and social issues, demonstrating that delicate and controversial topics can be handled with nuance and sensitivity.

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Community

In most of the conversations in the series, one thing that is reiterated is how it takes a village to raise a child. This is shown by how much both Keisha and Justin had people around them who were ready to push and support them—whether it was the former’s grandfather, George (played by Berry Shabaka Henley), driving her to train at 4:30 a.m., her cousins continuously bragging about her brilliance, her mother working hard to give her a future she didn’t have, or her best friend encouraging her to be vulnerable in her relationship; or the latter having parents who always wanted more for him. Overall, the series showed that communities are still as impactful as ever, as they were instrumental in helping the main characters discover themselves and gave them the motivation to pursue their dreams.

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Final Thoughts

Forever is a heartfelt, raw, and timely portrayal of first love, woven with relevant social themes, authentic performances, and an enchanting soundtrack. It honors Judy Blume’s legacy while making the story resonate with today’s audiences.

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