Forever (2018)

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Season 1
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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Critic Reviews

  1. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Sep 11, 2018
    60
    June and Oscar’s relationship toggles back and forth between elaborate banter and awkward small talk, just as Forever itself shifts between kitchen-sink realism and stranger detours. Rudolph’s much better at bridging those seemingly incompatible parts, whereas the Oscar that so easily makes his wife laugh bears very little resemblance to the boring dentist who makes her cry inside.
  2. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Kristi Turnquist
    Sep 6, 2018
    60
    Too often feels like a show about an institution, instead of an exploration of characters. ... Forever has genuine warmth and affection for its characters, and it ends with some of the best work Armisen and Rudolph have ever done. ... But Forever would be better if it moved a little faster, and gave viewers more reasons to stick with it until the end.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Caroline Framke
    Sep 14, 2018
    50
    It’s not a great sign that it takes two full episodes to get the show where it needs to be in order to fully be itself, especially given that the first season is only eight episodes in total. Nor is it awesome that, after watching all eight, Forever is more confusing than not. On the one hand, it’s exactly the marriage comedy that it initially portrays itself as.
  5. Slate
    Reviewed by: Willa Paskin
    Sep 17, 2018
    40
    Despite Rudolph and Armisen’s tremendous comic talents, their characters aren’t even particularly funny. Indeed, there’s something false about Oscar and June’s dynamic, the love story at the very center of the show. They fill hours debating questions like, What’s the all-time best way to sit? It’s supposed to be cute, a kind of laborious in-joke, but it’s mannered, like the behavior of people in a new, fragile relationship.

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Best TV Season of 2018
34
#34 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
6.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 38
  3. Negative: 9 out of 38
  1. Acrofilo
    Sep 17, 2018
    2
    The premise, in paper, is rather good. But the writing, the direction and everything else is soooooo slow that it really becomes a chore. InThe premise, in paper, is rather good. But the writing, the direction and everything else is soooooo slow that it really becomes a chore. In the end, it's just a missed opportunity and not worth your time.… Full Review »
  2. EludiumQ36
    Oct 3, 2018
    3
    This short, 8-ep series is about the "tyranny of the routine", the rut, and feeling trapped or locked into it, especially vis-a-vis marriedThis short, 8-ep series is about the "tyranny of the routine", the rut, and feeling trapped or locked into it, especially vis-a-vis married life. Fred and Maya plays these roles so naturally. However, it's really focused on the women of the series, the men are secondary, so chick-series - I'm grading as a dude, so it'll be low, but chicks would likely grade higher. It's very difficult to review this with any substance without some spoilers. The spoilers I'm describing happen in the first two eps so you're going to find out quickly anyway.
    *** Light Spoilers follow***
    By ep's two end they're both dead, but they're not in heaven or hell, still here on earth though out of phase. And inconsistent with being dead, they still hunger, thirst, emote, curse alot, sex it up, cook, walk everywhere, but they apparently don't drive, have tv or radio - weirdly incongruent. You've seen this done before - it's lazy storytelling but costs nothing financially to make - there's very little VFX. Though it makes no sense, yet it's a recurring Hollywood trope, our dead protagonists ("formers") can see "currents" but not vice versa. They have juvenile fun "haunting" them and parasitizing energy from them but all that's a dumb distraction from its love story. Remember, chick-series. The final scene provides a very weak hook for a second season unlikely as that is. Just for fun, be sure to count the number of times someone mentions "forever", I counted only three, two were in the season finale.    … Full Review »
  3. elceye
    Sep 25, 2018
    9
    This was one of the most interesting shows that I've seen over the past few years. Many of the episodes took the show in entirely newThis was one of the most interesting shows that I've seen over the past few years. Many of the episodes took the show in entirely new directions very effectively. I didn't find it slow as some have said-- there are only 8 half hour episodes and my husband and I binged it in a weekend. We were both very engaged with the characters and really cared what happened to them, especially Maya Rudolph and the ones in one of the later episodes. HIghly recommended if you are looking for something a little different.… Full Review »
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