Entertainment
Forever review: Netflix series strays from Judy Blume classic, but thats a good thing
For 50 years, Judy Blume’s Forever… has served as a rite of passage for young readers everywhere thanks to its honest, stigma-less approach to mature subject matters like sex and birth control. Now this long-celebrated tale of first love comes to the screen in Netflix’s Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends).
For devotees of Blume’s novel, this take on Forever might not feel familiar at first. Yes, the bones of its central romance are the same, but Brock Akil transfers Blume’s narrative to 2018, examining how phones and the internet can complicate a first relationship. She also reimagines the novel’s leads as Black teens and conjures up rich new interior struggles for both. What follows is a sweet, heart-wrenching account of young love, one that significantly diverges from Blume’s original novel but is still very much a companion piece to it.
How is Netflix’s Forever different from Judy Blume’s book?
Lovie Simone and Xosha Roquemore in “Forever.”
Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Netflix
While Forever… introduced us to Katherine and Michael, two white high school seniors living in Westfield, New Jersey, Forever‘s leads are Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), two Black high school juniors in Los Angeles. Former kindergarten classmates, the two now attend different schools, and both have dreams of athletic greatness. Keisha’s a track star hoping for a full ride to Howard University, while Justin’s striving for basketball glory at any Division I school that will take him.
When the pair reconnect at a New Year’s Eve party, sparks fly — literally. Fireworks accompany their first kiss, while Justin’s first touch of Keisha’s wrist is scored by a blooming orchestral sound cue. It’s the perfect amount of dramatic flair for teen romance, where every touch or every text back can feel like a life or death situation.
And texts back certainly are a concern for both Keisha and Justin, especially as their early flirtations fly over cutesy text messages and giggly video calls. But whenever either of them mess up — and trust me, the two make several mistakes before they get together in earnest — the block button becomes their biggest weapon.
The fear of blocking and losing that digital connection is just one of the many ways in which Brock Akil brings Blume’s story into the 21st century. Another factor? An oral sex tape between Keisha and her ex Christian (Xavier Mills) that’s been circulating, prompting waves of slut shaming — both digital and in-person — so bad that Keisha has had to change schools. It’s a pertinent update to depictions of bullying that permeate Blume’s work, and a reminder of the new challenges that come with intimacy in the digital age.
Netflix’s Forever examines sex and intimacy, but not quite as much as Judy Blume did.
Michael Cooper Jr. and Niles Fitch in “Forever.”
Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Netflix
Intimacy is another key aspect of Forever. After all, it would be impossible to adapt Forever… — a novel about all the “firsts” of first love — without it. Keisha and Justin are each other’s firsts, prompting a sex scene that’s both tender and sweetly grounded in nervousness.
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For the most part, Forever remains frank about sex. Keisha and Justin discuss what they’re comfortable with and often ask for consent before going any further. In one of the show’s funniest scenes, Justin’s father, Eric (Wood Harris), demands his son practice putting condoms on a cucumber while he watches. (And yes, like the novel’s Michael, Justin nicknames his penis Ralph.)
Still, there’s a sense that the series is holding back from the taboo subjects that made Forever… such a hit, not to mention so controversial it frequently winds up on banned book lists. There’s very little sexual exploration in the lead-up to Keisha and Justin’s first time, nor does the series discuss birth control beyond condoms. (In the novel, Katherine takes birth control pills.) Without some of these elements, which are important for young adult audiences to understand and see represented on screen and in literature, Forever occasionally stops resembling Forever… and instead becomes a regular teen drama.
Forever offers up two wonderful romantic leads in Keisha and Justin.
Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. in “Forever.”
Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Netflix
But what Forever lacks in Blume’s approach to sex, it makes up for in character depth. Keisha and Justin are two fully fleshed-out romantic leads, to the point that while I love to see them together, I’d just as easily watch the two of them apart.
And that’s a good thing, because Brock Akil has given Keisha and Justin major roadblocks to overcome in addition to their relationship. Keisha continues to deal with the blowback from her sex tape, even if she hasn’t told her single mother, Shelly (Xosha Roquemore), about it yet. The worry builds up in her over the series, compounded by the fact that star athlete Christian wants her back, to an unknowing Shelly’s delight. Keisha’s family’s financial woes accrue too, coming into stark light when contrasted with Justin’s affluent family. (Seriously, one comment about sensor lights speaks volumes.) Yet despite all these anxieties, Keisha remains headstrong and knows her worth, qualities a nicely confident Simone contrasts with Cooper Jr.’s more anxious turn as Justin. (The two young leads are dynamite together.)
Unlike Keisha, who’s dead set on her future, Justin isn’t quite sure what he wants from life. Basketball at an elite university is his parents’ dream, one that’s led him to a predominantly white high school where he feels like an outsider. But what’s a dream he can call his own? As college anxieties grow, and as Justin tries to manage his ADHD, could his relationship with Keisha be a distraction, or the key to him learning how to communicate and ask for what he wants?
With these major expansions from Blume’s original novel, Forever proves its ability to carefully recontextualize Blume’s story, unpacking issues of race and class in addition to sex. Keisha and Justin may be very different from Michael and Katherine, yet their love still has firm roots in the original romance. As Blume puts it on her own website, Forever… came to be when her daughter Randy “asked for a story about two nice kids who have sex without either of them having to die.” And, spoiler alert, that’s exactly what happens in Netflix’s Forever as well!
Yes, Blume’s novel is already a key lens through which young adults can unpack their own adolescent experiences. Thanks to some thoughtful adaptation choices, Brock Akil’s series may be able to serve a similar purpose, as well as introduce Blume’s work to a new generation.
Forever is now streaming on Netflix.
Entertainment
How to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 T20 World Cup action this weekend is absolutely electric. A lot of fans will be tuning into the huge clash between India and West Indies later today, but for an exciting warm up, Zimbabwe face off against South Africa.
Zimbabwe did well to make this stage of the competition, but they’ve lost both their games in the second group stage. South Africa have looked formidable, and will want to continue their run of wins before the semi finals. Expect an action-packed contest between two talented sides.
If you want to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Zimbabwe vs. South Africa?
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 4:30 a.m. ET on March 1. This game takes place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.
How to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa for free
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
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This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
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Visit ICC.TV
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Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Fast connection speeds
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Hurdle hints and answers for March 1, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
Mixed metals.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
ALLOY
Hurdle Word 2 hint
A popular board game.
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Hurdle Word 2 Answer
CHESS
Hurdle Word 3 hint
The edge of the beach.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
COAST
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Milk-based.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
DAIRY
Final Hurdle hint
A Spanish character.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
TILDE
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Entertainment
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on March 1
It’s a new month, and while the Moon may appear totally full, we’re still a couple of days away from this yet. But in the meantime, there’s still lots to spot on its surface.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Sunday, March 1, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 94% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
With just your naked eye, tonight you’ll be able to see the Mares Imbrium and Crisium, as well as the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars hanging about, dust them off and pull them out to catch a glimpse of the Mares Nectaris and Frigoris, and the Endymion Crater. And proud telescope owners will see all this and more, including the Apollo 15 and 17 landing spots, and the Schiller Crater.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. Over the course of this period, it moves through eight recognisable phases, what we call the lunar cycle. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it continues along its path. The shifts in sunlight create the different appearances we see from Earth, ranging from a fully illuminated Moon to a thin sliver or near darkness. The eight phases are:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
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Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
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