A new Netflix romantic comedy show starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, that shows the blossoming and unlikely relationships between an agnostic podcast host and a Jewish Rabbi. The show consists of ten short episodes, and wow, it impressed me, to say the least. So let's dive in to... Nobody Wants This.
I'm a romantic at heart and a big fan of both Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, so when I saw this was coming out, I was excited. It's been a while since there has been a more mature romantic comedy show in recent years. Most of them involve teenagers and love triangles. Although I was once there, I'm not anymore so it's nice to have something more relatable.
Noah and Joanne meet at a mutual friend's party and there's an immediate connection. However, once they discover their religious differences, they decide it would be best to go their separate ways.
However, Joanne decides to visit Noah during one of his sermons at Temple and that is where the true love story begins. I won't give any more of the story away but let's talk about a few things the show did fantastically.
Firstly, it showed how relationships and the challenges they face should be handled maturly. I'm sure most of us have been impulsive and (dare I say) dramatic at some point in our lives. It's normal, especially in our younger years. However, as we get older, we learn how to deal with our emotions in a healthier way.
Joanne and Noah face a number of challenges that most of us face anyway, such as insecurity about an ex. What the show does a phenomenal job of, is showing that honesty with the right person goes a long way. By communicating openly, you can find a resolution together. On top of that, Noah never undermines Joanne's feelings. Neither of them is made to feel silly for the way they feel about certain situations.
The major point of the show is two different cultures coming together. I think it goes without saying that Noah is a very modern Rabbi, but his faith is still very important to him. There is a tricky situation he has to navigate of whether he should follow his heart or tradition. This is something very important to me.
Coming from a different cultural background myself, I always found it difficult to navigate friendships and relationships. When a relationship gets serious, it isn't just about love. If it was then that'd be great. But you have to find a way to see if your values truly align. A lot of people think it's not important if one person has faith and the other doesn't, but actually, it's so important. At the end of the day, it's a lifestyle. Without getting too deep too quickly, the biggest thing you'd have a conflict about would be children. How can they be brought up with stability if the parents have opposing beliefs?
The show handles this topic fantastically and respectfully. It's a fantastic insight into Judaism and certain traditions as well as expectations. It also humanises all of the characters. Everyone has their flaws but there is no single character that is 'bad' by the end. I think that's also a crucial step forward that's happened in recent years.
There's enough hate in the world, but really, most people do their best. Yes, we won't get along with everybody, but we should do our best to understand their viewpoint and make peace with them. Again, handled really well in the show.
Basically, there are a lot of fantastic life lessons in this series as well as it being thoroughly entertaining. We probably know most of these lessons, but it doesn't hurt to see it play out.
Plus, the ending is perfect in my opinion. Of course, I hope there's a season two but even if not, it's wrapped up nicely.
Overall, my rating 9/10
P. S. The soundtrack is great!
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