Netflix’s latest, highly bingeable teen drama Forever has claimed its place in the trending chart after just one day of release.
A reimagining of the novel of the same name by Judy Blume, the series from creator Mara Brock Akil follows two young athletes, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr) who become each other’s first love.
The love story unfolds in 2018 LA, with Brock Akil translating the events of the 1975 novel into a more contemporary setting.
Keisha is a track star, while Justin has a dream of making into professional basketball. Their goals intertwine with their romance, as parents, friends and frenemies meddle into the purest of first loves.
Currently at number four in the TV top 10 on Netflix, the series has also received critical acclaim, currently sitting at a 100% critics’ aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes out of 12 reviews.
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Digital Spy‘s four-star review celebrates the show’s understanding of teenage issues and societal and parental expectations weighing the lead characters down.
Despite dealing with some hefty themes, the series remains a candid love story that’s enriched by the characters being Black, though the story itself is universal.
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Speaking on the impact Blume’s work has had on her, Brock Akil said she’s always seen the author “as part of the seasoning of my voice as a writer”.
“She was one of the first writers I read that dared to be honest about the human condition in young people and you can see traces of her writing style within my own,” the showrunner told Tudum.
Forever is streaming on Netflix.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).