Forever Netflix Series: Season 1 Ending Explained, Soundtrack, and Season 2 Speculation

Netflix’s Forever is a soulful reimagining of Forever by Judy Blume, brought to life by Mara Brock Akil with a vibrant blend of romance, identity, and emotional honesty. Set in 2018 Los Angeles, this coming-of-age series centers on childhood friends Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) as they reconnect and fall in love, navigating the highs and heartbreaks of young adulthood. 

With its honest portrayal of teen relationships, sex positivity, and Black identity, Forever has earned praise from both critics and viewers alike. But with such a heartfelt finale, fans are left wondering: What really happened to Keisha and Justin, and could Forever season 2 on Netflix actually happen? Let’s dive into the ending, the unforgettable Forever Netflix soundtrack, and whether this emotional journey is truly over.

Do Keisha and Justin stay Together?

By the final episode, the love story between childhood friends Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) comes to a bittersweet, emotional close. After a year of firsts—first love, first heartbreak, and first awakenings—Justin breaks up with Keisha. But this isn’t your typical teen drama breakup. It’s thoughtful, even tender.

He needs space to rediscover who he is outside of their relationship. While their love was real, Justin and Keisha’s separation speaks to a more profound truth: sometimes love means letting go, even if the door remains open for the future.

So what Happens to Keisha?

Keisha ends the series on a powerful note. After weathering the emotional fallout of a sex tape scandal and pushing back against pressure in her romantic life, she chooses herself. Her reward? A full scholarship to Howard University—her dream school. Akil lovingly calls Howard Keisha’s “first boyfriend,” (via Tudum) underscoring how central that milestone is to her personal journey. Keisha’s triumph is a tribute to resilience, ambition, and the joy of young Black women being seen for their brilliance.

And what About Justin?

Justin chooses a different path. Instead of following Keisha to Howard or deferring his offer from Northwestern, he takes a gap year—working at CVS and investing in music production classes. For the first time, he’s stepping out from his mother’s expectations and the emotional safety of his relationship to explore his own dreams. It’s a subtle but powerful rebellion, and it marks a key turning point in his growth.

Will they ever Reunite?

Maybe—just not now. In a moving final scene over ramen, Justin gives Keisha the HUF bag from their first date and tells her, “Maybe we’ll be ready for each other in 10 years.” (via Tudum) It’s not a promise, but a hope—one that echoes the lingering ache of first love. Season 1 ends not with closure, but with possibility. But the question remains- will they reunite in Forever season 2 Netflix?

Why set the Story in 2018?

Akil’s decision to set the series in 2018 was deeply intentional. It was a year marked by ongoing trauma in the Black community after the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, and others. 

“We were scared for them,” Akil said, (via Tudum) reflecting on how that fear shaped the parent-child relationships in the show. By situating Forever in that moment, Akil created space to explore what it means for Black teens to come of age while navigating identity, safety, and freedom in a world that doesn’t always grant them those things.

Why the Martha’s Vineyard Episode Matters

Mid-season, the series takes an unexpected yet meaningful detour to Martha’s Vineyard—a long-standing vacation haven for Black families. Akil, who directed the episode herself, used the setting to highlight themes of freedom, joy, and belonging. It’s also a subtle nod to Judy Blume, who vacations there too, further tying the original novel to this new vision.

Tackling Intimacy and Consent

One of the show’s standout elements is its raw, honest approach to sex and intimacy. Just like Blume’s groundbreaking novel, the series doesn’t shy away from showing how complicated teen relationships can be. A sex tape scandal becomes a key plotline, exploring themes of consent, shame, and agency. 

“Our children are exposed to so much more, and there’s so much data on them now at that age. Where are we providing that beautiful rite of passage [of first love] that we will remember forever? One could say if you leap right, if you stick the landing, it could be forever,” Akil said, emphasizing the need to give teens a safe space to be vulnerable and real. (via Tudum)

A pivotal moment comes when Keisha experiences “the ick”—a shift in her feelings when Justin pressures her for sex. Her response, shaped by a past trauma involving a leaked sex tape, underlines the importance of boundaries and emotional readiness. 

Akil said, “I think we’ve shown an ideal way to enter into sex and then also expose, with the Christian of it all, ways in which the decisions around sex can lead to tough situations, especially in an era of phones and digital footprints. What’s forever? Your digital footprint.”

What’s up with Justin’s mom?

Throughout the series, one lingering question remains: what exactly does Justin’s glamorous mom do for a living? The show never tells us outright, but as Akil quipped, “You’re like, ‘I don’t know what she does, but wherever she goes, she’s a bad bitch.’” (via Tudum) In many ways, she symbolizes the unspoken expectations and contradictions Black teens inherit from the adults around them.

What is the Forever Netflix Soundtrack?

Episode 1 Soundtrack – S01E01

• Prone – Masego
• Painted on Canvas – Gregory Porter
• Bad and Boujee (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) – Migos
• Enter the Dragon – King Cooley & DopeNorTeria
• Blurry Now – Caroline Kingsbury
• Nana (feat. Flavour) – Diamond Platnumz
• Big Win – Perfect Time
• Within – Daft Punk
• Flow (feat. OTWO) – Nomad Sound
• Might Be – .Anderson Paak
• Time Moves Slow (feat. Sam Herring) – BADBADNOTGOOD
• Light and Soul – Foam Collective
• Pretty Ugly – Tierra Whack

The Episode 2 Soundtrack – S01E02

• See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis) – Tyler, The Creator
• Free – Deniece Williams
• Call Me (feat. MIMI) – NEIKED
• Drowning (feat. Kodak Black) – A Boogie wit da Hoodie
• Love Scars 3 – Trippie Redd
• Juice – Lady Leshurr
• New Love – Victoria Monét
• BUTTERFLY EFFECT – Travis Scott

Episode 3 Soundtrack – S01E03

• Imperfections – Starrah & Diplo
• Grinding All My Life – Nipsey Hussle
• Can’t – Naaz
• Wow – Nick Jordan
• Focus – H.E.R.
• XO Tour Llif3 – Lil Uzi Vert
• Plain Jane – A$AP Ferg
• While We’re Young – Jhené Aiko
• Gangsta (From “Suicide Squad The Album”) – Kehlani

The Episode 4 Soundtrack – S01E04

• Share You With No One Else – Eric Bellinger
• Right To It – Jackie’s Boy
• Normal Girl – SZA
• Money Longer – Lil Uzi Vert
• Girls Need Love – Summer Walker & Drake
• Tomorrow’s Interlude (feat. Halle Burnett) – Until Tomorrow

Episode 5 Soundtrack – S01E05

• This Feeling – Alabama Shakes
• Make Me feel – Janelle Monáe
• DO 4 LOVE – Snoh Aalegra
• Into the Ether – Leif Vollebekk
• Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – The Gap Band
• Blessed – Daniel Caesar
• Moonlight – XXTentacion
• So Lately – PHARAOH, Andrew R. Beckner, NOMAD

Will There be a Forever Season 2 Netflix?

As of now, Netflix has not renewed Forever for season 2. The streamer typically evaluates viewership data and completion rates before deciding whether to greenlight a second season. While Forever has received critical acclaim and strong audience reactions, teen dramas are a crowded space on Netflix, and Forever by Judy Blume is a standalone novel with no official sequel.

Still, Mara Brock Akil took creative liberties in her adaptation, adding new themes, characters, and an open-ended finale that could pave the way for more stories. “All good things must come to an end,” the series suggests—but with a title like Forever, there’s always room for hope.

Whether Justin and Keisha reconnect years down the line or continue growing separately, Forever leaves us with a powerful message: love may not always last, but it always leaves a mark.

Forever series is now streaming on Netflix.