Two decades ago, Six Feet Under delivered a humorous line about “giving up Chanukah,” a minor slip easily forgiven in a series not about Judaism.
But such leniency is harder to extend to the second season of Erin Foster’s Nobody Wants This, where a glaring mix-up between Tu B’Shvat and Tisha B’Av — the joyous birthday of trees and the saddest day in the Jewish calendar — exposes a deeper problem: the show’s lack of genuine understanding of the faith it depicts.
The Netflix comedy, starring Adam Brody as idealistic Rabbi Noah Roklov and Kristen Bell as his non-Jewish partner Joanne, attempts to explore modern Jewish identity but instead reduces it to stereotypes and surface-level references.
Despite moments that hint at insight, such as Noah’s reflections on the Jewish tradition of questioning, Nobody Wants This too often treats Judaism as a cultural accessory rather than a lived experience.
Scenes meant to showcase ritual — a Purim party resembling Halloween or a baby-naming ceremony focused on lavish homes and eccentric names — miss opportunities for meaningful portrayal.
More strikingly, the show ignores real-world issues shaping Jewish identity today, from October 7 to rising antisemitism.
While Foster defends her series by pointing to its “cool, young rabbi who smokes weed,” authentic representation requires more than aesthetic modernity.
Judaism, rich in moral and spiritual tradition, becomes here merely a backdrop for family conflict and romantic tension.
As with recent debates over political figures’ attitudes toward Israel, Nobody Wants This confuses visibility with understanding.
By failing to engage sincerely with Jewish belief or community, the show squanders its chance to illuminate a culture often misrepresented on screen. The result is a series that gestures toward faith but never truly sees it.
