“After Forever” Captures The Heartache And Healing Of An Older Gay Man’s Journey
When we exchange vows, we promise “till death do us part”. But death does not erase memories – the good and bad, rich and poor, sickness and health. These themes are explored in After Forever.
The Emotional Storyline
Co-created by TV writer Michael Slade (One Life To Live) and star Kevin Spirtas (Days Of Our Lives), After Forever follows Brian (Spirtas), a successful gay man in his fifties. His idyllic New York life crumbles when his husband Jason (Mitchell Anderson) dies from cancer. The first season shows their final days together and Brian’s struggle to cope.
In season two, six months later, Brian tries to move on with a new job and potential romance. But grief lingers. Now, in the final season, Brian realises he needs closure. He begins hallucinating Jason and lashing out at loved ones. Finally, he seeks therapy from Dr Evelyn Meyer (Linda Purl).
Brian also connects with his younger employee Luca (Wyatt Fenner), who has feelings for him.
Fenner praises the show’s “focus on queer life after 50”. Having recently lost someone, he understands how After Forever speaks to “anyone coping with… loving someone so intensely that, when they’re gone, they’re still with you”.
The series, which won a GLAAD Media Award and six Emmys, boasts an acclaimed LGBTQIA+ cast including Cady Huffman, Mary Beth Piel, and Julie Halston.
Don’t miss the poignant final season of After Forever, streaming on Amazon Prime.
