Forever

“Forever,” an Amazon original series that debuted in 2018, is a unique blend of comedy and drama that takes an in-depth look at the complexities of long-term relationships and the strangeness of everyday life.

Helmed by Emmy-winning scribes Alan Yang (Master of None) and Matt Hubbard (30 Rock), "Forever," stands out from the crowd with its quirky yet poignant treatment of the broad concept of eternity and existence. It tells the story of Oscar and June, a couple who have been married for 12 years. The series seizes the role of critic and bystander observing the couple's monotone suburban life that's peppered with mild arguments, cordial conversations, and passive-aggressive silences.

The series revolves around the crux theme of exploring eternity, capturing the viewer's attention through a transformative journey across the time of Oscar (played by Fred Armisen) and June’s (played by Maya Rudolph) life as a couple. Both Armisen and Rudolph deliver standout performances, showcasing their impeccable comedic timing as well as their ability to convey heartfelt emotional moments.

The eccentric premise is the backdrop for an examination of marriage's nuances, relationships, and the very concept of happiness. The creators have woven a captivating web of intrigue around the very idea of ‘forever’ with a married couple as the core characters, each episode maintaining the aura between a comedy-drama and a twilight zone-type mystery.

The series begins as a seemingly ordinary suburban drama that brings light to Oscar and June's stagnation in their marriage. The gradual progression moves cleverly, adding a touch more cosmic, absurdist flavor to the otherwise mundane life of June, a dental assistant, and Oscar, a sedate nature enthusiast, living in Riverside, California.

"Forever" masterfully uses the suburban milieu as a canvas to paint the realities of a longstanding marriage. Due to its rather unusual storyline, the comedy is served as a slow-brew. However, it's packed with a blend of unassuming humor and existential wisdom which makes it more than just another comedy series.

Humor in "Forever" is more of a subtle whisper rather than a loud shout. While it does produce several laugh-out-loud moments through its run, the humor here acts as a mirror that reflects the eccentricities of the seemingly mundane affairs, painting an amusing floral pattern on the fabric of a long-term relationship that Oscar and June share.

Complementing this unique portrayal of mundane life are the top-notch performances of Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen. Rudolph, an SNL veteran, is particularly impressive. The range of her character gives her the scope to display her masterful acting prowess, switching seamlessly between comedy and drama. Armisen, renowned for his deadpan humor in "Portlandia," brings a level of understated melancholia to Oscar, adding further depth to their intriguing relationship dynamics.

The co-creators, Yang and Hubbard, certainly make a bold statement with their unconventional narrative style. "Forever" blends elements of domestic dramedy with unexpected forays into the existential and the paranormal, resulting in truly unpredictable storytelling.

Shading life’s prosaic realities with speckles of spectral mysteries, the suburb of Riverside feels akin to an eerie town in a magical realist novel where you can expect the unordinary to appear around any corner. This gives an enchanting allure to the series, making it an engaging watch.

In a television landscape where shows often rely on high-stakes drama or slapstick comedy, "Forever" offers a refreshing change of pace. It excels in its ability to find comedy in ordinariness. The narratives echo louder in the silence than the spoken words, navigating the viewers through the labyrinth of a long-term relationship that's as ordinary as it is extraordinary.

In the end, "Forever" achieves what it aims at - it opens up a remarkable space to dig deeper into marriage, mortality, commitment, happiness, and most of all - the enigmatic wheels of time. What remains is a portrait of long-term relationships that’s as touching as it is laugh-inducing, served with an eclectic mix of humor and thoughtfulness. This uniquely crafted series is a riveting venture into the forever-echoing realms of love, marriage, and life itself. "Forever" is a testament to story-telling that dares to be different, and it's worth every minute spent in its mesmerizing labyrinth.