Nobody Wants This, the latest Netflix romantic comedy, brings Kristen Bell and Adam Brody together as an unlikely romantic duo in a plot that navigates love, faith, and cultural differences. The show, created by Erin Foster, revolves around Joanne, an agnostic, no-holds-barred podcaster (played by Bell), and Noah, a charming but conflicted rabbi (Brody). The premise teases an entertaining culture-clash rom-com, but despite moments of charm, the series falls short of delivering a memorable story. While it may appeal to fans of light-hearted romance, deeper issues with characterization and narrative structure hinder its success.
Plot Overview
At its core, Nobody Wants This explores the budding romance between Joanne and Noah, two individuals from seemingly opposite worlds. Their relationship kicks off after a chance meeting at a dinner party, sparking both romantic and comedic moments as they grapple with their contrasting religious and personal beliefs. Noah, fresh from a long-term relationship, is a progressive rabbi with deep ties to his faith, while Joanne is a bold, outspoken podcaster who is disillusioned with organized religion.
From awkward family gatherings to moments of personal revelation, the show ticks off standard rom-com beats, like misunderstandings, cultural mishaps, and laugh-out-loud awkwardness. For instance, Joanne unwittingly brings a platter of prosciutto to Noah’s Jewish family, blissfully unaware that pork isn’t kosher. While the premise has potential, the show often leans into predictable tropes without offering much new to the genre.
Character Chemistry: The Show’s Saving Grace
One of the strongest elements of Nobody Wants This is the undeniable chemistry between Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. The pair’s playful banter and contrasting personalities make their romance somewhat believable and engaging, even when the plot falters. As The Independent points out, Bell and Brody bring warmth and charm to their roles, particularly in the more lighthearted moments. Bell’s portrayal of the brash, often emotionally raw Joanne adds humor and vulnerability to the character, while Brody’s Noah brings depth, particularly in scenes where his religious faith is explored.
However, beyond this central romance, much of the supporting cast, including characters like Noah’s overbearing mother and Joanne’s quirky sister, steals the spotlight. These side characters inject more color and humor into the show than the leads at times, and the supporting performances often make the more tedious episodes worth watching.
Narrative Weaknesses and Missed Opportunities
Despite the solid performances, Nobody Wants This struggles with its overall narrative direction. Critics have noted that the show feels disjointed, especially when it attempts to tackle weighty themes like faith, love, and cultural identity. The central conflict—whether Joanne and Noah’s relationship can survive their religious and personal differences—is only superficially explored. This leaves the show feeling shallow, with many of the more thought-provoking aspects of their dynamic reduced to sitcom-level hijinks.
One of the more glaring issues is the lack of character development for Joanne. Her character often comes across as irritatingly one-dimensional, with little growth or nuance. Her brash behavior and ignorance about Noah’s religion feel exaggerated for comedic effect, yet this robs her of depth and relatability. Meanwhile, Noah’s character, though well-acted by Brody, falls into the “too perfect” trope, making him feel less like a real person and more like a rom-com ideal.
Additionally, the show doesn’t seem to know what to do with its more serious plotlines. Issues like Noah’s struggle to balance his religious duties with his personal desires or Joanne’s disillusionment with love are raised but rarely delved into with any meaningful resolution. The show opts for surface-level solutions rather than exploring these complexities, resulting in a narrative that feels light but unfulfilling.
Cultural Commentary: Success or Stereotype?
One of the more controversial aspects of Nobody Wants This is its portrayal of Jewish culture. The show plays heavily on cultural stereotypes, particularly with Noah’s family. His mother, played by Tovah Feldshuh, is the classic “overbearing Jewish mother” trope, a character type often seen in Hollywood depictions of Jewish families. While the show tries to add a human touch to these portrayals, they still feel clichéd, lacking the nuance needed to make them feel fresh.
Moreover, the series doesn’t fully capitalize on its interfaith relationship premise. While there are a few humorous moments—like Noah’s awkward attempts to impress Joanne’s family or Joanne’s cultural faux pas—the show never delves into the deeper challenges of interfaith relationships. It touches on the surface issues but ultimately plays it safe, avoiding any meaningful commentary on the topic.
Conclusion and Rating
In the end, Nobody Wants This offers an easy-to-watch, occasionally charming romantic comedy that suffers from shallow writing and predictable storytelling. Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s chemistry manages to keep the series afloat, but even their performances can’t save it from its flaws. With a few standout moments and strong supporting characters, it’s not a total miss, but it certainly doesn’t live up to the potential of its premise.
Rating: 3/5. For those seeking a light, escapist rom-com, Nobody Wants This might just do the trick, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking from this “rabbi rom-com for goys”.
