A “shiksa” and a rabbi walk into a party and fall in love. Enticing premise for a show, no?
“Nobody Wants This” is a smash hit for Netflix, and it has got everyone talking about Jewish comedy. It’s so captivating that one gets the impression that it was meticulously crafted and executed. But well-thought out and developed is the opposite of “Nobody Wants This.”
An agnostic sex podcaster, Joanne (Kristen Bell) and a newly-single rabbi, Noah (Adam Brody), meet at a dinner party in Los Angeles and instantly spark a connection. The two embark on a wild journey, discovering if their relationship can survive their differing outlooks on life—one coming from a Jewish background and the other Christian—and navigate modern obstacles of love as an interfaith couple. The series reflects on the complexities of faith and religious identity and, of course, converting to Judaism.
Was the show entertaining? Yes. I was hooked immediately and binged six episodes in one morning. It has all the conventions of a Netflix romantic comedy that makes you want to watch more: cringey yet heartwarming, flashy, and addictive. But it’s these aspects of the show that I find fault in. It fails to portray significant character development or provide meaningful insight into the societal issue of Jewish-gentile relationships which it was meant to do. To make up for a lack of cultural exploration, Judaism is portrayed with excessive stereotypes and tropes.
Though conversion and intermarriage are the central themes of “Nobody Wants This,” the show includes no conversations about what Judaism means to Noah, someone who grew up in a Jewish household, or to Joanne, who is exploring the religion for the first time. The show mainly focuses on exhibiting rituals and routines, neglecting the beauty of the Jewish community or connection to God. Noah walks Joanne through the customs of Shabbat, like lighting the candles, saying kiddush, and blessing the bread. But it’s a shame that such a beautiful moment shared between the couple didn’t lead to any further discussion on the significance of Shabbat in Judaism.
Instead of focusing on the Jewish community or religious aspects, the show focuses more on Joanne’s journey to conversion. She flip flops between converting to Judaism and not—a life-changing decision. After a quick discussion with friends and a brief online research session, Joanne decides to convert. There’s no deliberation about what this would mean for her or an explanation as to why Noah needs her to convert. But at the end of the season, she changes her mind, telling Noah she cannot convert because she would be doing it for him and not for “the beautiful things about Judaism.”
Notably, Rabbi Noah doesn’t follow the laws of Kashrut very strictly. And while it’s true that reform rabbis like him are prominent leaders among North American Jews—one million of whom are reform Jews—I can’t help but feel as though Noah’s character was mainly for non-Jewish audiences. The show portrayed a mostly secular or culturally Jewish identity to mainstream audiences—an assimilated version of Judaism. Many reform Jews struggle with the balance of Jewish heritage and integration into broader American society, and Nobody Wants This shows that the better balance is embracing one’s American identity more than their Jewish one. Of course, this viewpoint has a beneficial side, too, encouraging more people to identify with Jewish people. But it detracts from authenticity and relatability for Jewish viewers. I love watching Jewish characters come to life through TV shows, making me feel proud about my Jewish identity. But Brody’s portrayal of Judaism made me feel like I am too Jewish for America.
Bottom line: I don’t understand why Joanne and Noah end up back together. I know that I’m probably one of the more cynical, critical viewers—and the show did make me laugh a few times. But if I can’t identify how these characters have grown over the course of one season, I can’t imagine how they possibly could in the future. With the announcement of a second season in production, I am left asking, “does anybody want this?”
Powered by Froala Editor
