By Elena Waller-Sanchez, Third Year, English
Following the successful release of romantic comedies like Red, White, and Royal Blue (2023) and Anyone But You (2023) in recent years, there is a clear public appetite for modern takes on the classic early 2000s romantic comedy. Netflix's new series Nobody Wants This (2024) does not disappoint in appealing to audiences looking for a charming love story, particularly in an era of dating app fatigue.
The series follows the relationship between Joanne (Kristen Bell), a thirty-something sex podcaster who is often unlucky in love, and Noah (Adam Brody), a rabbi who has just ended a long-term relationship with a woman he was expected to marry. A series of miscommunications and cultural clashes result in somewhat of a will-they-won’t-they story arc spanning the show’s ten episodes. We follow the protagonists as they experience the spark of their first meeting and subsequently face several obstacles including a disapproving mother-in-law and a semi-obsession with Noah’s ex-girlfriend Rebecca (Emily Arlook) that makes the audience root for the relationship to work out eventually.
The show does an excellent job of establishing believable chemistry between its two leads, achieved through masterful performances and beautifully written witty dialogue. Bell and Brody are real-life friends - an authentic connection that translates extremely well to the big screen. Nobody Wants This is also loosely inspired by the creator and writer’s (Erin Foster) relationship with her Jewish husband, another personal connection that allows the passion for the project to shine throughout.
The show also benefits from an excellent supporting cast, with a standout comic performance from Justine Lupe (Succession) who plays Joanne’s sister and podcast co-host Morgan. Lupe’s Morgan is a perfect screen partner for Bell’s Joanne, able to produce some brilliantly timed one-liners while also keeping the central couple grounded in reality - often being openly sceptical about the long-term survival of Joanne and Noah’s relationship. Overall, a complex bond between the two sisters is established as we follow the breakdown and eventual reconciliation of a relationship. This proves to be almost as significant as the reunion of the central romantic couple.
The couple’s families also become entangled in interesting ways, most significantly in the developing of the somewhat reluctant friendship between Morgan and Noah’s older brother Sasha (Veep’s Timothy Simons), known to each other as the ‘loser siblings’. This is a relationship I found particularly endearing, as it allows the audience to connect with these often-overlooked supporting characters who share concerns surrounding their siblings' relationship.
Despite the show’s comedic accomplishments, real emotional stakes underpin the story. From the couple’s differing cultural and religious backgrounds and the disapproval of families to the possible consequences of Noah’s future career as head rabbi for both characters, there are genuine obstacles facing their romance that make their commitment to each other all the more heartwarming.
While Nobody Wants This is largely a success, there are a few moments when the show falls flat. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with the use of rom-com tropes and conventions, I felt that at times the story became slightly too predictable, limiting emotional investment in certain scenes when a romantic reunion felt inevitable. Additionally, while sometimes funny and relatable, the decision to comment on Gen-Z relationship issues and slang (‘the ick’, for example) felt slightly heavy-handed at times in its attempt to appeal to modern audiences. However, I was completely invested from episode one and would recommend the series to anybody looking for a feel-good love story.
Overall, Nobody Wants This is an enjoyable watch from start to finish, with its balance between romantic escapism and an authentic depiction of relationship difficulties offering a refreshing take on the rom-com genre. By the end of the series, Joanne and Noah are a couple you want to root for thanks to the adorable on-screen chemistry cultivated by the lead actors. This is certainly a love story that everybody wants.
What did you think of Nobody Wants This?
