Inspired by Judy Blume’s groundbreaking novel in 1975 and reimagined by visionary writer/producer Mara Brock Akil, of Netflix’s latest limited series “Forever.” The show, held in Los Angeles in 2018, follows two teenagers during their last high school days. Track and field star Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) focuses on winning a Howard University scholarship, while Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) (a basketball player trying to manage his ADHD), is torn apart in his parents’ vision of him and dreams. The chance encounter between the two at a New Year’s Eve party sparks an obsession that changes their hearts and lives. “Forever” offers something rare on TV: through the eyes of two young black men, the whole, nuanced first love.
"Forever" began on New Year's Eve in 2017. After giving up family game night, Justin attended a party with his best friend Darius (Niles Fitch), crossing the path with Keisha for the first time since elementary school. The hissing attraction of the two was immediately. Justin's fragile sincerity immediately calmed down Keisha, the first time he saw a world beyond his responsibilities. Despite several classic black romance movies including Love and Basketball, Love Jones and Moonlight, among other things, black teenagers do not receive the same reverence as their white peers, especially when the story is not rooted in trauma and despair. "Forever" is an exception.
Simone and Cooper have magnetic chemistry that capture the joyful innocence of first love and the desperate uncertainty about the future, especially when in real life, they try to form a bubble around newly discovered bonds. For them, everything happens at the same time, and those omnipotent emotions, including their sometimes ridiculous young logic, off-screen. Despite their determination to be together, Justin’s parents wanted him to focus on academics and basketball. Meanwhile, previous humiliation continues to haunt Keisha.
Apart from the emotional roller coaster of Keisha and Justin’s romance, the series offers generous and glittering descriptions of family, friendship and young adults. So, usually, in narratives surrounding teenage life and intimacy, the parent’s characters are pushed aside, like off-screen pantomimes in Charlie Brown’s cartoon. In "Forever", Justin and Keisha are anchored by those who like them the most. Dawn (a great Karen Pittman) frightens her eldest son into a world of hostility to black people, sometimes brave and sometimes brave, but always love, but even if she doesn't do it exactly right. Similarly, Xosha Roquemore maintains a passionate friendship with Keisha and focuses on giving her daughter opportunities that she never received. But, in critical and devastating moments, she firmly returns to her role as mother. These mother-son relationships are portrayed wonderfully, but one of the most surprising details of the series is Justin’s relationship with his father, Eric (Wood Harris).
From the opening moments of the show, Eric is an anchored existence in "Forever". Not only is he listened to his son, but because Justin struggles to find his own voice, Eric speaks openly and firmly about masculinity and the implications of solving challenging conversations and choices. Harris is careful not to portray Eric as an imminent character, directing his family with an iron fist. Instead, he is often relaxed and relaxed, a balm of dawn fear and perfectionism. This black father/son is energetic and hardly portrayed as almost to be watched. But this is another reminder that love goes far beyond the scope of affectionate relationships.
The eight-episode series shines as it refuses to laugh at teenagers and young love while showing the fullness and overallness of the black community. Keisha and Justin try to drive challenging situations and conversations, and when they can't, adults step in - even if they don't always do it correctly in the first place. These imperfect people want their children to soar in every aspect of their lives, and a society often tries to make their goals impossible.
"Forever" is Brock Akil's best work. The show captures the essence of Blume's novel and mixes it back together, not only as a 21st century shot, but for generations of black people, they have not seen themselves so vivid and tender. It reminds us of our love stories, our lives, and the fulfillment of the village that anchors our dreams and helps us piece together broken hearts. From majestic images of Los Angeles to bright dark skin, and a range of hairstyles and of course the soundtrack, filled with music like Frank Ocean, Sza, Summer Walker and Snoh Aalegra, the music in "Forever" is full of magic. Brock Akil once again changed the landscape to see and experience black life on TV.
"Forever" is now streaming on Netflix.