WhileErin Foster’sNobody Wants ThisstarringKristen BellandAdam Brodydidn’t get much buzz before its release, weeks after its premiere, the romantic-comedy series is scoring high on Rotten Tomatoes andsecured a spot in Netflix’s Top 10. The show follows Joanne (Bell), a podcaster who openly talks about her (struggling) relationships, and Noah (Brody), a devout rabbi who’s going through a breakup. The duo have differing views of love, but once they meet, their chemistry is electric. As they navigate their very mature and heartwarming relationship throughout the season,the major problem they don’t want to acknowledge is how a rabbi dating a non-Jewish woman will work.
Despite going into the relationship knowing that it could end badly for them, Joanne and Noah can’t deny their feelings for one another. However, Noah’s mother, Bina (Tovah Feldshuh), is the bigger naysayer of the relationship. With the help of Noah’s sister-in-law, Esther (Jackie Tohn), they attempt to split the two up. Meanwhile, Joanne’s sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe), and Noah’s brother/Esther’s husband, Sasha (Timothy Simons), work to keep their siblings together. Although Morgan was initially cold to Sasha, she warms up and builds an interesting friendship with him. With these different plot threads, does theNobody Wants ThisSeason 1 finale neatly wrap things up orleave things open for Season 2?
Do Joanne and Noah Have a Happy Ending in ‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 1?
At the start of the series, Joanne struggles to make healthy relationship choices, but she evolves throughoutNobody Wants ThisSeason 1 the more time she spends with Noah, even though she does have an ick or could be considered emotionally available. In the first episode, Noah breaks up with Rebecca (Emily Arlook) after realizing he’s not willing to commit to her. Some time after meeting Joanne, though, he’s ready to lay it all out for this new woman. But he starts toquestion if their relationship can surviveif she doesn’t convert to Judaism.
In the Season 1 finale, Joanne tells Noah she’ll change her faith. But after talking with Rebecca, Joanne questions if she’s really doing it for the right reasons. Does she truly want to be Jewish or is it just to make Noah happy? As for Noah, he’s been aiming to be the head rabbi at his synagogue all season. His dedication and work make him deserving of the role, but Joanne not being Jewish has been an obstacle. Rabbi Cohen (Stephen Tobolowsky) tells Noah that he’s basically been chosen for the position in the final episode. Seeing Joanne, he confesses his love to her, but she tells him, “But because I love you, I can’t convert.” She feels the pressure of what it could mean to be the partner of a head rabbi and doesn’t want Noah to have to choose between his faith and their relationship. After a tearful separation, Noah chases after Joanne saying he “can’t have both” beforegiving her a passionate kiss.
Are Joanne and Noah Still Together at the End of ‘Nobody Wants This’?
In aninterview with Tudum, Adam Brody interprets the ending ofNobody Wants ThisSeason 1 as Noah telling Joanne, “I put you first. Everything else will work itself out, but I’m saying that you are my priority.” Just like he has been throughout their relationship, Noah is committed to Joanne and doesn’t want to lose her. He initially thought it was a dealbreaker if she didn’t convert to Judaism, buthis love for her outweighs that. Brody also notes that Noah’s decision may not be as secure as fans would like to assume: “In the light of day, will he still feel that way? I don’t know. It’s an open question.”
Going off Brody’s interpretation, Noah thinking everything will work out isn’t realistic. The series has covered the good and bad aspects of modern dating, especially when religion is involved. As much as Noah loves Joanne, he’s not the type to throw away his faith and his goals for her. In the Season 1 finale, Joanne tells Noah that she can’t promise to be what he wants, and it wouldn’t be fair to him if she inadvertently sabotages his life as a rabbi. IfNetflix doesn’t cancel another beloved show prematurely,Nobody Wants ThisSeason 2 will be the opportunity to explore how Joanne and Noah will navigate thishuge hurdle in their relationship.
This Comedic Mystery Film Proves Adam Brody Should’ve Been a Bigger Star
Adam Brody gives a low-key excellent performance in this 2020 film.
Morgan and Sasha’s Friendship Is Revealed in the ‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 1 Finale
Nobody Wants Thisnot only succeeds in featuring a blossoming love between two people, but it also shows how arelationship affects the duo’s family and friends. This is heavily seen through the dynamic between Morgan and Sasha. Referring to themselves as “the loser siblings” in comparison to Joanne and Noah,they gradually get to know each other more and form a unique friendship. Morgan is initially dismissive towards Sasha, but after having a sex dream about him, she begins to develop romantic feelings for him. Without meaning to do so, Sasha mends the rift between Morgan and Joanne after a big fight. As Morgan and Sasha work together to realize Noah has truly moved on from Rebecca, their friendship grows even stronger.
InNobody Wants ThisEpisode 10, Morgan suggests to Sasha that their relationship might be something for Esther to worry about, but he plays it off. Throughout the series,Sasha has longed for companionshipas he tries to hang out more with Noah or get more involved in his daughter, Miriam’s (Shiloh Bearman), life. Morgan is the friend that Sasha has been waiting for, and he doesn’t see anything wrong with that. However, he hasn’t been open about this friendship with his wife, Esther. Sasha doesn’t think Esther will understand it and is scared that she might cut it off. He’s exactly right, as Esther makes it her goal to get Morgan and Joanne out of their lives after seeing Morgan and Sasha interact in person and discovering their texts in the Season 1 finale.
The end ofNobody Wants ThisSeason 1is more ofa set-up towards a potential Season 2than a close-ended conclusion. But what it does tease for future storylines is enough to keep interest high in the next batch of episodes.A second season was officially greenlit, so only time will tell how the story will continue from here.
Nobody Wants Thisis available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
