Honestly, if you haven’t binged it yet, you’ve probably at least seen the TikTok edits. Forever cast season 1 has basically taken over the "what to watch" conversation since it dropped on Netflix in May 2025. It’s one of those rare shows that manages to feel like a warm hug and a punch to the gut at the same time.
Mara Brock Akil did something risky here. She took Judy Blume’s legendary 1975 novel—a book that was basically the "how-to" guide for 70s teens losing their virginity—and flipped it. She moved the setting from New Jersey to 2018 Los Angeles. She changed the leads from white suburbanites to Black teen athletes. And somehow, it feels more like Judy Blume than the book itself.
The Chemistry in Forever Cast Season 1 is Unreal
Let’s talk about Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. for a second. Without them, this show doesn't work. Period. Simone plays Keisha Clark, a track star who’s so driven she makes the rest of us look like we’re napping. Then there’s Justin Edwards, played by Michael Cooper Jr., who is basically the "nerd in a basketball player’s body" archetype done perfectly.
The way they look at each other? It’s kind of ridiculous. You remember that first love feeling? The one where you’re constantly checking your phone and basically forgetting how to breathe? They nail it. But it’s not just the "butterflies" stuff. The show gets into the messy bits—the blocking and unblocking on Instagram, the stupid misunderstandings over a single text, and that weird, heavy pressure of being a "top-tier" kid with everyone watching you.
Who Else is in the Mix?
It’s a stacked roster. You’ve got:
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- Karen Pittman as Dawn (Justin’s mom). She is everywhere lately, and she plays the overbearing, "I just want you to be perfect" mother role with so much nuance you can't even be mad at her.
- Wood Harris as Eric (Justin’s dad). He’s the balancer. The one trying to keep the peace when things get loud.
- Xosha Roquemore as Shelly (Keisha’s mom). She’s younger, a single mom, and her vibe with Keisha is totally different—more like they’re figuring it out together.
- Niles Fitch and Ali Gallo as the best friends. Honestly, everyone needs a Chloe or a Darius in their life to talk them off the ledge.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
People hear "Judy Blume adaptation" and "losing your virginity" and think they know exactly what this is. They think it's just another teen rom-com. It isn't.
Actually, the show spends as much time on the parents as it does on the kids. That’s the Mara Brock Akil touch. You see the heartbreak of raising "exceptional" Black kids in a world that’s waiting for them to trip up. It’s heavy.
One of the most talked-about scenes involves a cucumber, a condom, and the dark. Justin’s dad, Eric, makes him practice in the dark because "you won't always have the lights on." It’s cringey. It’s hilarious. It’s exactly how those talks actually go in real life.
The Episode Breakdown
The season is tight. Eight episodes. No filler.
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- Reunion (The hook)
- Ghosted (The pain)
- Fourth Quarter
- Run It Back
- The Vineyard (Things get real here)
- The Honeymoon
- Deep End
- Forever...
By the time you hit the finale, "Forever...", you’re questioning everything the title stands for. Is first love actually "forever"? Or is it just the first chapter of a much longer story? The show doesn't give you the easy, Hallmark-movie answer. It’s way more honest than that.
Why This Version Hits Differently in 2026
The setting—2018 LA—is specific for a reason. It’s right before the world got really, really weird. It’s the height of SoundCloud rap, specific fashion trends, and a very particular kind of social media anxiety. The soundtrack alone is a vibe. We’re talking SZA, Tyler the Creator—music that actually sounds like what these kids would be listening to, not what some 50-year-old producer thinks they listen to.
Also, it’s refreshing to see Black joy on screen. Usually, when we get stories about Black teens in LA, it’s all about trauma, gangs, or the struggle. Forever lets them just be kids. They’re athletes, they’re nerds, they’re in love. They have "rich kid" problems and "normal kid" problems.
Critics have been losing their minds over it, too. Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+, and it’s already racking up Spirit Award nominations for 2026, including Best New Scripted Series. Lovie Simone is basically a lock for a Best Lead Performance nod at this point.
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Is There Going to Be a Season 2?
Yes. Netflix didn't even wait a week. They renewed it on May 14, 2025, just six days after the premiere. Given how the first season ended—without spoiling too much, let's just say things aren't exactly "neat"—there’s a lot of ground to cover.
The big question is whether they follow the book's trajectory or keep carving their own path. The original novel ends with a bit of a reality check. In the show, the stakes feel higher because we’ve spent so much time with the families.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Watchlist
If you're planning to dive in, or if you've already seen it and need more, here’s the move:
- Watch the episodes in order (don't skip): The POV shifts between Justin and Keisha. If you jump around, you miss the "he said/she said" nuance that makes the drama work.
- Listen to the official soundtrack: It’s on Spotify and Apple Music. It honestly helps you understand the characters' headspaces better.
- Don't ignore the parents: Their subplots aren't just background noise; they’re a mirror for what Justin and Keisha are going through.
- Check out the 2014 series (for comparison): If you're confused by search results, there was another show called Forever about an immortal medical examiner. It’s good, but it has literally zero to do with this one. Don't get them mixed up or you'll be very confused when nobody's immortal and everyone's just stressed about track meets.
The best way to experience Forever is to just let the nostalgia of being sixteen wash over you. It’s awkward. It’s loud. It’s beautiful. And honestly? It’s one of the best things on TV right now.