Why We Love Netflix's Nobody Wants This

A comedy about an agnostic podcaster and a recently single rabbi- it doesn’t sound like a concept that would be a big hit, but Nobody Wants This has gathered a lot of buzz following its release on Netflix on 26th September. It’s a show that’s on everyone’s lips right now, and if you’re keen to find a romcom series to get lost in, Nobody Wants This should definitely be your next streaming obsession. Here’s five reasons you need to watch:

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It’s the most binge-able rom-com

Worlds collide in Nobody Wants This as two people from rather different backgrounds meet and find they have a mutual interest in the other. Kristen Bell, star of The Good Place, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Gossip Girl, plays Joanne, who like so many others these days hosts a podcast. Hers is one dedicated to discussing the ins and outs of sex and dating and has gotten quite popular, with her sister co-hosting.

She’s also not very interested in religion, being agnostic and quite outspoken. So, quite the opposite of Noah (played by Fleishman Is In Trouble, The OC and Promising Young Woman’s Adam Brody), who is a rabbi, and takes his religion seriously. But, the two meet at a party, and there’s a spark. If you love romcoms, the show has just the right mix of romance, comedy, and drama that will have you rooting for the couple in spite of the over-protective mother, the sad ex-girlfriend, the mean sad ex-girlfriend’s friends and of course, the constraints of religion.

The characters are loveable and relatable

Both Joanne and Noah are well-written and well-acted, with plenty of chemistry between them. Joanne is keen to shape her podcast into a successful one, and Noah is pursuing his dream of being head rabbi. It’s refreshing that the series focuses on characters who seem to be in their mid-30s, with quite a realistic portrayal of two people falling in love amidst chaos.

Other characters, like Joanne’s sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) and Sasha (Timothy Simons), Noah’s older brother, hilariously play roles as the self-proclaimed “loser siblings”. Sasha’s wife, played by Jackie Tohn plays a formidable and pretty unforgettable role too.

Joanne’s sister Morgan and Sasha, Noah’s older brother, hilariously play roles as the self-proclaimed “loser siblings”.

The will-they won’t-they dynamic

Joanne and Noah both find that they do really like each other, and in many ways are a perfect match. Yet circumstances and their individual histories stand in the way. Noah is still only recently out of a long-term relationship, and while he seems quite well moved on, his family is still pressuring him to go back to his ex.

Joanne has her podcast to run that’s doing well, with Morgan as her co-host, but Morgan also has doubts about the relationship as she feels her sister slipping away from her. Then there’s the religious element, with family pressure from Noah’s side and the fact that Noah becoming the head rabbi would require Joanne to convert.

A rom-com that tackles religion

Yes, it’s very Fleabag-coded (Noah is even called the “hot rabbi”). Nobody Wants This is a rom-com, first and foremost. It’s a very binge-able tale about blossoming romance and the issues that can come with it, and is sweetly funny. But it does tackle some deeper themes, namely interfaith romance. Noah’s Jewish background, as he balances his more modern progressive adherence to the faith and his responsibilities as a rabbi, is properly explored, and we meet the rest of his Jewish family.

It’s a very binge-able tale about blossoming romance and the issues that can come with it.

Joanne doesn’t have that strong religious element in her life but has nagging doubts about whether she is a good and virtuous enough person to date someone like Noah. The first episode features a scene in which she listens to one of his sermons about where one wants to be in life, and these gentle thematic elements make for a more rewarding experience and story.

Finally, the romance

What you’re really here for though is the romance, and Nobody Wants This has plenty of the key elements. The chemistry and interplay between our two main characters aren’t cliched and boring, with good dialogue and character work that draws you in to care about where they end up. There are moments that you’d expect like the meet-cute, the first date, the first kiss and more- but also comedic bits like Joanne and Noah making a trip to pick up a dildo to be discussed in her podcast, only to lead to an awkward interaction with a member of Noah’s temple. All of this is sustained through ten episodes, though you’ll hardly notice the runtime.