Nobody Wants This is back on Netflix for season two, and Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s undeniable banter is back in the forefront of this acerbic, LA-based romantic comedy.
The show explores love, religion, and identity in a funny yet sentimental way – albeit with some existential tangles in tow.
The central figures in the narrative are Noah (Adam Brody), a rabbi, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), an outspoken agnostic sex podcaster. Their love is founded on contradictions – one through religious orthodoxy and the other through secular liberty. Season one concluded on a cliffhanger, with viewers left wondering if their love could endure such ideological differences.
Now that the second season is under way, however, the series artfully evades tension by cutting forward to a more real-world take on their romance. The two are now blissfully experiencing the ups and downs of domestic life – giving dinner parties, having offbeat podcast arguments, and enduring cringe-worthy family moments. Even though there were tensions in the past regarding Joanne’s refusal to convert to Judaism, the couple seems at ease – at least superficially.
- Noah’s challenges: He’s passed over for his dream job as head rabbi, but is quickly offered a new role at a forward-thinking temple by an underutilized but comedic Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant.
- Joanne’s conflict: She continues to struggle with her unease regarding conversion, seeking sincerity in religion instead of duty.
- The supporting cast: Joanne’s sibling and podcast co-host Morgan (played by Succession’s Justine Lupe) is wonderfully unhinged – in-your-face, insecure, and side-splittingly funny. Her affair with therapist Dr. Andy (Arian Moayed) and friendship with Noah’s brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) bring richness and emotional texture.
The series, based on creator Erin Foster’s own experience converting to Judaism for the sake of love, approaches its religious topics with humor and contemporary sensitivity. But it sometimes skates over more profound theological concerns – such as when Noah’s sister-in-law bores down Judaism to “warm and cosy vibes” and equates it with personality characteristics instead of faith. It is a light touch that sometimes threatens to seem flimsy, but Nobody Wants This is endearing because of the charm of its characters.
What holds the show together is the crackling chemistry between Bell and Brody. Brody, still sporting the heartthrob vibe he had during his days in The OC, is a perfect counterpoint to Bell’s quick-witted comic sense and emotional truth. Their sparring sounds genuine, their love ring true, and their tension familiar – keeping the story grounded even when the script teases absurdity.
The humor is consistent, with more smirking than belly laughs, but the dialogue is full of nuance and observational humor. From Joanne ribbing Noah’s “classy bedside carafes” to Noah’s insidiously moral flaws emerging over previous relationships, the writing eschews humor for realism.
- The tone: Intelligent, swift, and emotionally rooted.
- The humor: Dry, sharp, and character-based.
- The themes: Faith vs. love, identity, and compromise.
In the end, Nobody Wants This doesn’t get too complicated. It’s a contemporary romcom that lives on character interaction and dialogue more than grand gestures. Despite eschewing the heavier discussions it introduces, its leads’ charm and humanity render it impossible to look away.
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody bring life to Erin Foster’s universe of flawed people attempting – and frequently flailing – at balancing love, faith, and individuality. It’s that same messiness that makes the show feel authentic.
Nobody Wants This is currently available to stream on Netflix – a sharp, sentimental, and quietly subversive exploration of love in all its contradictions.
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