Created by: Erin Foster
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eason 1 of Nobody Wants This ended with Noah (Adam Brody) chasing down Joanne (Kristen Bell) to choose her over becoming a rabbi. As romantic as that scene was, proving Noah’s genuine interest in being with Joanne, the finale ended with viewers wondering if leaving his duties at the synagogue would be as easy as the character had made it seem. Fast-forward to Season 2, and the protagonists are beginning to merge their lives and grapple with their decision to remain in an interfaith relationship. Joanne and Noah are no longer in the honeymoon phase, and that’s why the series’ return feels like a natural extension of Season 1, but with a whole new layer of realism that we haven’t seen before. There is no swoon-worthy moment this time around, yet the warmth and feel-good appeal from Season 1 is still very much present in this new batch of episodes.
In Nobody Wants This Season 2, Noah learns that he won’t be able to take on the position of a religious teacher at Temple Chai because Joanne hasn’t made up her mind about converting.
The realisation that his dream job has slipped away from his fingers is harder for Noah to grasp than he initially lets on. Even though Noah is in love with Joanne, there is a part of him that clings to his traditions and wonders if he will ever be able to maintain his faith while next to someone who has little interest in partaking in his belief system.
Although not getting the promotion takes a toll on Noah, Joanne is also facing her own dilemmas this season. She’s with the man she’s always hoped for, but she has to deal with Bina’s (Tovah Feldshuh) wrath, as she blames Joanne for her son missing out on a big career opportunity. Joanne is also ready to settle, but knows that Noah isn’t exactly on the same page. Every two steps forward are followed by two steps backward when it comes to their relationship, and being in limbo is the last thing she would like at this stage in her life.
For all intents and purposes, it isn’t easy for Noah and Joanne to be together. Yet, their determination to make it work is what makes them surpass every obstacle along the way. Joanne slowly wins the affection of her mother-in-law, and Noah decides to leave Temple Chai to find a new place of work. The real-world roadblocks that they overcome add a welcoming layer of truthfulness to Nobody Wants This. The series created by Erin Foster is one of the few TV shows out there that explores adult romance and the reality of dating in your thirties.
“Noah (Adam Brody) learns that he won’t be able to take on the position of a religious teacher at Temple Chai because Joanne (Kristen Bell) hasn’t made up her mind about converting. The realisation that his dream job has slipped away from his fingers is harder for Noah to grasp than he initially lets on. Even though Noah is in love with Joanne, there is a part of him that clings to his traditions and wonders if he will ever be able to maintain his faith while next to someone who has little interest in partaking in his belief system.”
Although Noah and Joanne are taking things slow, the latter feels like their relationship is stalling when seeing Morgan (Justine Lupe) and her boyfriend approach their connection at a faster pace. This glaring difference between the sisters’ respective romantic arcs allows for one of the season’s greatest strengths in its exploration of Joanne and Morgan’s sibling dynamic. As much as they disagree when recording their podcast or get in each other’s business when it comes to their dating lives, they would do anything for each other.
In addition to furthering Joanne and Morgan’s sisterhood, Season 2 deconstructs any idealised notion viewers may have had of Noah. Episode 4 in particular proves that despite the character’s charming smile and romantic gestures, he is far from perfect. In Season 1, Noah broke up with his long-term girlfriend, Rebecca (Emily Arlook), after she believed they were ready to tie the knot. Although earlier in the series, Rebecca was painted as the ex who just couldn’t let go, Season 2 holds Noah accountable for blindsiding her into thinking that everything was heading in the right direction. Having the character take a closer look at problematic patterns in his previous relationships in order not to let the past repeat itself is refreshing to see.
It’s also interesting when Noah starts over at a new place of worship that is much more open to the notion of him dating someone not from the same faith. In theory, Noah’s new workplace is the solution to his worries about being with Joanne while also getting to be a religious teacher, but in practice, this new temple has a much looser approach to the faith. Seth Rogen joins this season as Noah’s co-worker, who is trying to convince the latter that it’s alright to bend the rules if it will make the temple more approachable; this change of scenery reveals that maybe Noah isn’t as open-minded as he seemed in Season 1, and that Joanne’s resistance to conversion is becoming more and more of a dealbreaker. Although it’s hard to tell how the characters will work through their differences in the future, Season 2 gives each of them a reality check about both Noah’s desire for Joanne to convert before they can take the next step in their relationship and Joanne’s almost-hostile stance on conversion.
The back and forth between Joanne and Noah can get a little repetitive in the series’ latest episodes, making viewers shift their attention to a couple that was previously on the sidelines. Esther (Jackie Tohn) and Sasha (Timothy Simons) were seen arguing throughout most of Season 1, given Esther’s undying support for Noah’s ex. Yet, in Season 2, we are finally getting to see them work on their marriage and trying to reignite the spark that has faded over time. Instead of including an overplayed cheating storyline between Sasha and Morgan, it is much more compelling to see Noah’s brother be the bigger person here and respect his union while also being there for Morgan as a friend. The hope is that the series can continue to explore Esther and Sasha’s trajectory even deeper if Nobody Wants This gets renewed for Season 3.
Overall, Netflix’s rom-com captivates with a season that is nearly as charming as its predecessor. A focus on Noah and Joanne’s relationship after their honeymoon phase and having them work out their differences allows for the series to feel much more raw and real. Deconstructing the rabbi, giving Joanne and Morgan a more developed sibling arc, and turning Esther and Sasha into a couple worth rooting for allows Nobody Wants This to remain fresh and relatable. At this point, it’s safe to admit that everybody wants this show to continue.
– Courtesy: Collider.com
Rating system: *Not on your life * ½ If you really must waste your time ** Hardly worth the bother ** ½ Okay for a slow afternoon only *** Good enough for a look see *** ½ Recommended viewing **** Don’t miss it **** ½ Almost perfect ***** Perfection