When I heard Mara Brock Akil was adapting Judy Blume’s “Forever”, I was cautiously optimistic. Judy’s work has always been honest, raw, and ahead of its time, and flipping the lens to highlight young Black love in a way we rarely, if ever, get to see felt revolutionary. It was the perfect task for Akil.
Let me tell you, “Forever” did not disappoint. It was everything I didn’t know I needed, wrapped in the innocence of a first kiss, the freedom of young exploration, and the reality of growth.
Here are five reasons why Netflix’s “Forever” got it phenomenally right, and yes, it contains spoilers:
1. No Struggle Love in Sight — Just the Sweetness of First Love
We finally got a love story between two Black teens that wasn’t weighed down by poverty, police brutality, or trauma-as-plot-device. Justin and Keisha’s relationship wasn’t “earned” through suffering — it just was. It bloomed naturally, in between classes, texting sessions, and in pursuit of college dreams.
There was no cheating, no abuse, no side chick drama. Just two teenagers navigating what it means to be seen, to be vulnerable, and to be in it, without the world trying to tear them apart. It felt refreshing, honest, and for once, Black love was allowed to just be.
2. The Parents Weren’t Plot Props — They Were Whole People
Let’s talk about the grown folks. Wood Harris, Karen Pittman, and Xosha Roquemore brought a grounded, real-world energy to their roles. They weren’t one-dimensional roadblocks to the kids’ dreams. They were present, loving, and figuring it out in real time.
You felt the weight of parenting Black high school seniors in a world that doesn’t always see or value them. From quiet tensions to heart-to-hearts, their performances gave us something we rarely get: Black parental love that is layered, intentional, and deeply human.
3. Justin and Keisha Were Just… Real Teens
Michael Cooper Jr. and Lovie Simone gave us characters that felt familiar. Not in a tired, tropey way, but in a “I know these kids” way. They were ambitious, awkward, thoughtful, scared, and beautifully flawed.
Their love wasn’t filtered through some Hollywood fantasy lens; it was honest and relatable. They weren’t sneaking off to wild parties or getting wrapped up in drama. Instead, they were trying to balance their own dreams with the expectations of the people who raised them. “Forever” reminded us that sometimes, growing up means learning to make space between who your parents think you are and who you want to be.
4. We Were Finally Given a Love Story Without the Trauma
No gunshots. No pregnancies. No arrests. No overused tropes that treat Black teenage experiences like cautionary tales. “Forever” didn’t need to shock us into caring; it just let the story breathe.
Even when Keisha’s backstory involved a painful violation of trust, it was handled with care. The show acknowledged the very real risks young girls face without turning her pain into spectacle. And most importantly, she wasn’t defined by that moment; she was defined by how she reclaimed her narrative and her joy.
5. The Ending Was Real — and That’s Why It Was Perfect
Whew. Let’s talk about that ending. When Justin and Keisha decided to go their separate ways, it wasn’t because they stopped loving each other. It was because they loved themselves enough to choose growth over comfort.
It wasn’t some overdone fairytale where they give up everything to be together. And it wasn’t a devastating tragedy meant to punish them for falling in love too soon. It was mature. It was bittersweet. And it was real.
That final note — that sometimes forever isn’t about staying together, but about the way someone shapes who you become — hit me deep. Because so many of us have lived that exact story. And seeing it portrayed with so much care and intentionality— Chef’s kiss.
Netflix’s “Forever” is more than just a modern adaptation of a Judy Blume classic; it’s a love letter to Black teenagers, their joy, their complexity, and their capacity to love deeply without having to suffer for it.
It’s the kind of storytelling I wish existed when I was growing up, and I’m extremely grateful that it exists now. Because maybe, just maybe, the next generation will see themselves in Justin and Keisha and believe their love stories matter, too. No struggle required.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go rewatch that final scene and cry again. Because whew. They did that.
SEE ALSO:
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5 Ways Netflix’s ‘Forever’ Flipped a Judy Blume Classic and Gave Us the Young Black Love Story We Deserve
was originally published on
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