Forever Is A Raw Ode To Teenage Love and Growth
Mara Brock Akil’s Forever takes us to the heart of California when two athletic Black teens Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) fall in love, navigate the awkward moments of being each other’s firsts, and figure out their identities throughout high school.
At its core, Forever is a story about first love and all its messy moments. There’s nothing like experiencing love for the first time during your formative teenage years and the series captures that beautifully, both visually and with the cast. The series emphasizes the awkward moments in a new relationship like when to hold hands, the first date feels, going in for the first kiss, and learning each other's past. It’s a different tone than most teen shows where these moments might be a little more exaggerated and it really works. It lets you sink into the moment for what it is, no frills. As much as first love can be beautiful, it also teaches you about yourself and we can see that clearly with Keisha and Justin’s character development as the two prepare for college towards the end of the series.
While the emotional core is strong, the show takes a few episodes to find its rhythm. It’s really in the middle of episode three where things start to pick up, with Keisha and Justin getting over the first hurdles of their relationship. I really loved watching Simone and Cooper Jr’s chemistry on screen as they portrayed all the raw emotions of a new romance. From Justin asking Keisha to be his girlfriend to them consoling each other, the two are magical to watch together throughout the series. Their relationship might be frustrating at times with all the misunderstandings and stubbornness the two possess, but I saw a lot of my own personal experience in them. The season finale is definitely an emotional one with many realizations coming from Justin’s side when he finally lands on what he wants in life. Without saying too much, sometimes your first love is one you’ll remember forever, despite the outcome.
I also commend Karen Pittman and Xosha Roquemore for how they portrayed their roles as parents to Justin and Keisha respectively. They aren’t perfect parents, but they’re doing the best they can to keep their kids safe and on track with school. As Justin and Keisha’s relationship grows, so do theirs, especially when Justin’s mother wants to look out for Keisha. They both are witty, endearing, gracious, and a joy to watch. Roquemore stood out, especially in the way she displayed her character's vulnerability while talking with Keisha after a minor fall out. That mother-daughter bond is so precious to see and you can’t help but smile anytime they have their happy and giddy moments.
Music seems to be a focus throughout the show, from Justin’s love for creating music to hit songs from 2018 soundtracking the scenes. It really captures the vibe of being a teenager in LA during these years, but I do feel like we don’t get enough background on Justin’s passion for mixing. The scenes where he uses music to convey his feelings are only a small part of his passion that develops way more towards the last two episodes. I would have loved to see how he picked up making beats instead of scenes of him just hiding in his room making them. The soundtrack for the series is top tier and I particularly loved the prom scene between Keisha and Justin. If you were a teenager during these years, the music will definitely give you flashbacks to your own high school days.
Forever is a tender, visually grounded coming-of-age series that captures the emotional highs and awkward lows of first love through the evolving relationship between Keisha and Justin. While the early episodes stumble with uneven transitions, the show quickly finds its rhythm, thanks to the authentic chemistry between leads Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. The supporting performances and a nostalgic soundtrack enrich the story and make it incredibly relatable. All in all, Forever stands out for its raw portrayal of young Black love and the personal growth that comes with it.
Forever is out now on Netflix.
