Veronica Mars and The O.C. stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody leading a new show together sounds like a Millennial dream, but possibly also a gimmick. Luckily Nobody Wants This on Netflix seriously delivers in charm and wit.
Created by Erin Foster, the rom-com show is centred around a love story between an atheist podcaster and a rabbi. If you’re thinking this sounds like an odd new Chrismukkah episode of The O.C., that’s also what I thought initially, but Nobody Wants This has more to offer.
Joanne (Bell) and her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) are riding the success of their podcast called “Nobody Wants This,” where they talk about sex and relationships, but mostly Joanne’s failed dating stories.
Showing up to a friend’s dinner party, Joanne meets Noah (Brody), who she mistakenly thinks is the asshole divorced dude invited to the party, not a rabbi, after Joanne and Noah flirt while opening a bottle of wine.
Noah just broke up with his girlfriend Rebecca (Emily Arlook) after she went into a locked drawer in his home and started wearing a ring she found, claiming she knew he was going to propose anyway. Getting impatient she thought they could just skip the actual asking to get married part.
Joanne thinks there’s absolutely no way she could actually date a rabbi: She’s not Jewish — in fact, she’s an atheist. Unable to get Noah out of her mind, she shows up at his temple, and the romance begins.
But this love story isn’t without its issues.
Firstly, Noah is up for a head rabbi position, but in order to get the job he can’t be with a woman who’s not Jewish, opening up that awkward converting conversation. Additionally, Morgan isn’t necessarily the biggest fan of Noah, especially because Joanne’s love life is impacting their podcast. And lastly, Noah’s brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) is married to Rebecca’s best friend Esther (Jackie Tohn), so tensions are high.
While Bell and Brody are both 2000s TV icons, it’s somehow still shocking exactly how much chemistry the two have on screen. At the core is also this incredibly appealing and engaging sarcastic banter the two have throughout the show. It’s exactly the flirty and fun relationship you want to see.
Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts may be one of our favourite TV couples of all time, but Joanne and Noah are incredibly lovable, and it’s thanks to this incredibly perfect casting choice for Nobody Wants This.
But that’s not the only perfect pairing in the show. Justine Lupe and Bell are electric as sisters and podcast hosts, and Timothy Simons and Brody are a great comedy duo as brothers.
The premise of this story rides a thin line. It easily could have fallen into a cringe-worthy, corny or soap opera-type show, but there’s a level of charm that feels sincere all the way through.
Admittedly, nothing’s feels particularly earth-shattering or unique about the show, other than this incredible cast.
It stays light and funny, a perfect show to binge watch, with just enough emotional stakes where you want this couple to work out their issues.
While I’ll admit I was nervous about Nobody Wants This having the looming shadow of previous shows featuring its stars, it’s a delightfully fun and messy ride, and lighthearted fun.
