It's been a week since "Forever" debuted on Netflix and it feels just like yesterday!
Join us as we look deeper into the success of this emotional, heartfelt, and phenomenal new series!
Forever debuted last week May 8, 2025 on Netflix. The Judy Blume novel (of the same name) adaptation about being young, in love, and trying to figure yourself out was highly anticipated heading into it’s release.
Since it’s release, critics and fans alike have been raving non stop about the 8 episode series. Forever stars Michael Cooper Jr. as Justin Edwards and Lovie Simone as Keisha Clark. The series follows teenagers Justin and Keisha, two childhood friends who reunite as teens and fall deeply in love, experiencing the joy and heartache of a first romance that will change their lives forever.
The review website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 95% approval rating based on 20 critic reviews. Reviews aside, the way in which this modern day love saga has resonated with multigenerational audiences so much that they’ve taken to social media platforms in droves to voice that the power of representation throughout the series has allowed them to see themselves in many of the characters has been astounding.
The impact and ability to connect to these characters, their culture, and their families throughout various stages in the series is evidence that this series is truly a piece of remarkable cinema. Two ambitious young black teenagers falling in love, navigating life’s challenges and obstacles, pursuing their educational aspirations, working hard to fulfill their dreams, learning how to set boundaries, experiencing triumph, loss, and going on a journey of self discovery has been displayed in a unique and authentic fashion.
Lovie Simone embodies the role of Keisha. Her ability to portray a vulnerable teenager, while also being a confident athlete trying to navigate her way into young adulthood is remarkable. Through her eyes and mannerism, intense emotions come to life on screen which further allow audiences to relate to Keisha. This character is complex, multilayered, and even flawed at times. Lovie Simone captivates viewers with her compelling portrayal of this now iconic character, Keisha Clark.
Creator Mara Brock Akil and the entire production crew carefully and intricately crafted a world for these characters to live in that allowed them to be emotional, vulnerable, understood, and relatable. The nuanced and familiarity used to depict black love, parenting, coming of age years, and the overall diversification in the black community filled with people who love and support each other throughout this story has been a joy to view and experience. This series has resonated with so many because of the genuine, reflective nature, and familiar character portrayals which have allowed audiences to connect and relate these characters to themself or someone they hold near and dear.
Entertaining, emotional, fun, and authentic, Forever has captured the essence of modern day black life in various ways, across a multitude of socioeconomical demographics, and throughout different stages in the cycle of life and love. The relationships between the teens and other teens, the teens and their parents, their parent’s and their peers, multiple age characters and their immediate families, and the teenagers’ paternal and maternal interconnected storylines have all collided in a whirlwind of culture and love, resulting in a captivating and era defining tale.
Yesterday, less than 6 days after the season 1 premiere, the series was renewed by Netflix for a second season! Along with Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr, the cast also includes Karen Pittman, Wood Harris, Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Lawrence Winans III, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ali Gallo, Niles Fitch, Paigion Walker and E'myri Crutchfield.
This series is for the culture and for the community…This series is for young lovers, old lovers, new lovers, crushes, old flames, and those still trying to figure it out.