Rabbis aren’t typically known for being hot, but what happens if a sexy, young rabbi falls for a sex podcast host who isn’t Jewish?
That’s the premise of Netflix’s charming new rom-com “Nobody Wants This.” Jewish actor Adam Brody, known for his roles as Jewish high schooler Seth Cohen on “The O.C.” and Seth Morris in “Fleishman’s In Trouble,” stars as Rabbi Noah Roklov. His overbearing girlfriend Rebecca (Emily Arlook) tries to push him into an engagement, but it backfires. Many may take issue with the stereotypical portrayal of the “Jewish girlfriend” that come up throughout the show.
Joanne (Kristen Bell) is surprised to meet Noah at a dinner party, and even more stunned that he doesn’t look like a stereotypical rabbi.
“You’re pretty smooth for a rabbi,” Joanne tells him, before bizarrely asking if he’s allowed to have sex.
Why ‘Nobody Wants This’ works as a romantic comedy
The 10-episode series works primarily because Brody and Bell are completely believable as a couple. Joanne’s titular podcast, “Nobody Wants This,” which she co-hosts with her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe), raises questions about whether a rabbi and a “shiksa” (a slur with negative connotations repeatedly used by Noah’s family) can make it work.
Read more: Erin Foster brings her conversion story to the forefront in ‘Nobody Wants This’
Lupe, recognizable from “Succession,” is fantastic as the witty and sassy sister who at one point threatens to derail Joanne’s relationship with Noah. Honestly, Morgan deserves her own show.
Where’s the rabbi in ‘Nobody Wants This’?
“Nobody Wants This” was created by Erin Foster, who converted to Judaism before she married her husband, Simon Tikhman. Foster’s personal experience lends authenticity to some aspects of the show, but the rabbi angle? That’s pure invention.
While Brody is charming and someone to root for, he isn’t quite convincing as a rabbi. Sure, he can pronounce l’chaim (cheers/to life) over wine, but we never see him do anything truly rabbinical. He doesn’t teach, share intellectual insights, or read from the Torah. A scene where he offers advice to a couple feels completely superficial.
At one point, Noah mispronounces the Hebrew phrase lashon hara (gossip or evil speech) in two different ways, back-to-back. As with most Hollywood scripts involving synagogues, meaningful moments quickly devolve into jokes. There’s room for both seriousness and humor, but the latter dominates here. A brief sermon could have been lifted straight from ChatGPT before everything predictably turns into a punchline.
Some jokes land, like when someone harasses Noah about needing another person to run the synagogue raffle. But others, like a quip about a young woman with shingles, miss the mark.
No cantor, but plenty of banter
The writing shines in moments of witty banter between Noah and Joanne, though it could’ve been fun to see a cantor sidekick thrown into the mix. That said, some of the humor is lazy, like when Noah says, “You know who enjoys being cozy more than anyone? Jews!” (No, Jews don’t have a monopoly on coziness.) If you want the audience to believe someone is a rabbi, give him more to work with than one quick Talmudic story from Rabbi Yishmael.
Rebecca, Noah’s ex, seems to have been reduced to a stereotypical “overbearing Jewish woman” with zero personality. Why not give her some positive qualities beyond good looks and thick hair? And Joanne not knowing what “shalom” means? Come on. All of my non-Jewish friends know that! The same goes for her confusion about prosciutto being pork — seriously?
Timothy Simons brings humor as Noah’s brother Sasha, and Jackie Tohn is pitch-perfect as his wife, Esther, the ultimate mean girl. Shiloh Bearman plays Miriam, a bat mitzvah girl forced to wear a dress she hates, while Tovah Feldshuh nails the role of Noah’s domineering mother, who desperately wants him to marry his Jewish ex. A subplot involving food from the garbage is a bit silly, but it moves the story along.
Will Noah choose the job or the woman?
Noah is in the running to be head rabbi of his synagogue in Los Angeles, but for that to happen, Joanne would need to convert. Will she do it? Will he accept her if she doesn’t? Everything’s on the line: he doesn’t want to lose her, but she’s unsure if such a drastic change is the right move.
A scene at a Jewish camp where teens chat with Joanne works well. In an era when romantic comedies are rare or failing, it’s refreshing that Foster has created a series where we care about the characters and want their relationship to succeed. That’s no small feat. And while Noah may not be much of a rabbi, he’s caring and thoughtful, which makes us root for him. The show even pulls off a memorable first kiss between the leads—no easy task.
Bell and Lupe also make a fantastic sister duo, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them team up in future projects.
Verdict: Delightful despite flaws
Despite some missteps, Brody and Bell’s charisma and chemistry are undeniable, and most viewers won’t mind that Noah is hardly a believable rabbi. With Season 2 likely, I’m hoping for more screen time for Bina (Feldshuh) and, maybe, some details on her past with Frank Sinatra! It’d also be nice to see Noah step up as a more convincing rabbi.
All in all, Nobody Wants This is a delightful series packed with laughs and memorable performances by Brody, Bell, and Lupe. Despite its flaws, this rom-com has plenty of heart and enough spark to keep viewers hooked.
