Nobody Wants This
By Sioph W. Leal
Nobody Wants This centres around Joanne (Kirsten Bell), an agnostic podcast host, and an unconventional rabbi, Noah (Adam Brody), who become romantically involved with each other despite their differences. There is something between Joanne and Noah, but their differing outlooks on life, family composition, and religious belief make it hard to explore what they want when nobody wants their relationship. On top of everything working against them, Noah and Joanne must decide if the relationship is something to risk everything they have built.
In a romantic drama, chemistry is key, and though there is nothing explosive or steamy about Bell’s and Brody’s chemistry, it’s believable. Between the two, there is a natural ease, which really helps to build Joanne and Noah’s romantic relationship. Helped by the score, the early stages of them getting to know each other are refreshing. Of course it is fast-paced, but having the score come in as they discuss deeper topics of honesty and expectations adds levity to the scenes. Noah is open and willing to have the deeper conversations early on in their relationship, and while it isn’t dramatic, Brody brings a calm and endearing quality to Noah that will have you rooting for him.
Typical of the Netflix formula, there aren’t many episodes this season, and the run time is short. With thirty-minute episodes, there is a danger that Noah and Joanne’s story could be rushed, but, thankfully, this is not the case. The shorter episodes allow the story to focus mainly on the romantic relationship between Joanne and Noah, with the occasional subplot that helps enhance their dynamic and difficulties. While a lot of the plot does focus on Noah’s religion, as it’s a big part of him, it’s more on the outside noise of his family. It adds an obstacle to his desires for Joanne; some of the family composition can be an interesting way to showcase their differences. Where Noah’s family has religious expectations for his romantic partner, Joanne’s family doesn’t share in this pressure. Instead, the questioning comes from Joanne’s sister Morgan (Justine Lupe), who is the voice of wisdom in Joanne’s romantic life in a realistic yet brutally honest and supportive way.
Noah is a well-rounded character, but as the series progresses, it follows a predictable pattern, particularly evident after the third episode. Noah and Joanne are in a blissful bubble until something work- or family-related comes along, leading Joanne to question if the relationship is worth it only to be resolved at the end. It can be a little frustrating, especially when Joanne’s one defining characteristic is that she is unsuccessful in love and wants Noah to be the change. Her whole self revolves around Noah while he has a lot more going on in his world. Having Joanne’s whole character focus on her romantic entanglement is a detriment to her character. Everything feels very surface-level with Joanne, and as the episodes progress, she feels like a stagnant character while Noah has some growth.
As a supporting cast, Joanne’s sister Morgan and Noah’s brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) steal the show. Sasha is content with being the lesser brother, while Morgan is constantly told that she is not good enough by Joanne. These two find themselves in an unlikely friendship, but it's Lupe’s comedic timing and overall performance that help elevate Nobody Wants This to another level. Exploring the sibling dynamics as Noah and Joanne become more involved in each other’s world felt like a great natural progression. Had it not been for Morgan and Sasha, Nobody Wants This would have faltered by the halfway mark.
Exploring the intricacies and difficulties of a different religion and cultured relationship was a great idea, but Nobody Wants This falls short of the depth of this exploration. Maybe it was due to the shorter run time, but it felt like the series was exploring Noah’s career and possible advancement while neglecting to dive deeper into Joanne’s psyche.
Chemistry is key in the romantic drama "Nobody Wants This." Bell and Brody's believable chemistry helps build up Joanne and Noah's relationship, with Brody bringing a calm and endearing quality to Noah. Despite shorter episodes, the story focusses on their romantic relationship, with subplots enhancing their dynamic. The predictable pattern in the episodes can be frustrating, but supporting characters like Morgan and Sasha steal the show, adding depth to the series. The exploration of religion and culture falls short, lacking depth in Joanne's character.
Nobody Wants This premiers on Netflix September 30th 2024.