Nobody Wants This premiered on Netflix in September 2024. Audiences were instantly attracted to the show as it was a truly refreshing romantic comedy. The series centers around the love story of Kristen Bell’s Joanne and Adam Brody’s Noah. Joanne’s a sharp-tongued, agnostic sex podcaster, and Noah’s a newly single rabbi, who instantly catches her eye. The story sets out to explore many different elements like love, identity, religion and family. It blends humor and realness in a way that makes the show feel funny, lighthearted and heartfelt.
From the initial release of Nobody Wants This, viewers became instant fans due to Brody and Bell’s electric on-screen chemistry. The relatable and oftentimes messy portrayal of modern relationships made the show a bigger success. It has a unapologetic willingness to deal with some inter-faith dynamics without instantly setting conflict. That authenicity has drawn more viewers to the show.
With the romantic comedy recently wrapping its second season, many are wondering if the series will be renewed for another season. Here’s everything you need to know about the show and the future of the Netflix hit.
What is ‘Nobody Wants This’ about?
Nobody Wants This follows Joanne, who’s a very outspoken woman. She co-hosts a podcast all about sex and relationships with her sister Morgan (played by Justine Lupe). One night, she meets Noah, a progressive rabbi, and the two develop a special connection. However, as Joanne doesn’t practice Judaism, the couple quickly realize that they have a bumpy road ahead of them. Despite their big differences, the two are drawn to each other and form an undeniable connection. As their livelihoods and separate cultures class, the romantic comedy leans into the awkward and laughable scenes as they showcase the pair navigating their issues together.
This series has been praised for its more realistic vibe. As fans know, the characters go on a rollercoaster of emotions, similar to any real couple. They enjoy each other, discover new things about themselves, fight and face difficult decisions. However, by the end of season two, Joanne and Noah have to face the elephant in the room. They have to decide whether they think their relationship is worth the hassle of trying to blend their two worlds.
For Joanne, it means making the decision on whether she’ll convert to Judaism, while Noah has to choose between his head and his heart. He has to determine if his love for Joanne is strong enough to accept that she may never convert to his religion. These internal and external conflicts set up an ongoing mix of emotional stakes throughout the show.
Is ‘Nobody Wants This’ based on a true story?
This series’ unique premise may make some viewers wonder where it came from. As People reports, the series is loosely based on the inspiring story of its creator Erin Foster. She actually had a real life relationship similar to Joanne and Noah’s, complete with complicated relationship and religious conflict. Though she eventually converted to Judaism, the backbone of the true story lies in its emotional journey.
The aspects of show, including meeting someone from a different faith and culture, getting serious about the relationship and having to navigate family expectations, are all things drawn from her real-life experience. The show does take some creative liberties to keep things interesting, and the characters and their storylines are fictionalized.
Does Joanne convert to Judaism?
This is one of the biggest questions for fans of the series. It is one of the major emotional threads of the show that has kept viewers at the edge of their seats. During the season two finale, Joanne seemingly decides to convert to Judaism. At the same time, Noah comes to the conclusion that he wants to be with her despite her decision. The season ends with them lovingly embracing, keeping avid watchers on the edge of their seats wondering where the couple will go next.
When is ‘Nobody Wants This’ season three coming out?
After two wildly popular seasons, fans of the show are likely asking themselves if another installment of the romantic comedy will be coming out. Fortunately, many sources have confirmed that a third season is indeed in the hit show’s future. Netflix already renewed the show for season three, and it seems that a 2026 release date is on the horizon.
Given that season one released on Netflix on Sept. 26, 2024 and season two launched Oct. 23, fans can expect a similar release schedule. While there is no exact release date yet for season three, fans will have to wait to discover the exact release date for season three.
What are other shows like ‘Nobody Wants This’?
If you really liked the dynamics in Nobody Wants This, there are some other releases that are similar. Some of these shows have a similar tone, theme or genre. All of these recommendations have a comedic and realistic take on some pretty high stakes subject matter. This is perfect for viewers who prefer a bit of humor with their drama shows.
‘You’re the Worst’ (2014-2019)
Stephen Falk created this dark comedy, flipping the idea of the perfect couple on its head. It follows Jimmy (Chris Geere), who’s a cynical British writer, and Gretchen (Aya Cash), a PR exec who’s battling depression. They attempt to make a relationship work, despite their deep flaws. Similarly to Nobody Wants This, it’s refreshingly honest about love being anything but a fairy tale. It still manages to be incredibly romantic in its own unique, unconventional way. You’re the Worst is now streaming on Hulu and FXNow. It’s also available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Catastrophe’ (2015-2019)
Written by and starring Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, Catastrophe begins with a one week fling between a writer and an ad executive. It spirals into the perfect non-romantic comedy. The series chronicles their attempt to make a life together as they tackle everything from family clashes to cultural misunderstandings. Similar to Noah and Joanne’s relationship, the humor between them comes from in the messiness of adulthood. Catastrophe is not streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Master of None’ (2015-2021)
Created by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, Master of None explores love, careers and cultural identity through the lens of Dev Shah (played by Ansari). Dev Shah is a first generation Indian-American actor in New York. The second season, which the crew filmed in Italy and New York, dives into some deeper themes. Some of these topics include religion, family expectations and love across cultural divides. The show, which is currently streaming on Netflix, echoes Nobody Wants This‘s exploration of faith and personal identity.
‘The Big Leap’ (2021)
The Big Leap is feel good dramedy is all about second chances. The series, currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+, follows a group of people who are down on their luck and join a competition reality series to reinvent themselves. While this storyline is less romantic in nature, the show’s message is about finding connection, meaning and self worth later in life. It premiered on Fox in September 2021, but only ran for one season. It is a nice watch for viewers interested in a short, but sweet watch.
‘Love’ (2016-2018)
Produced by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin and Paul Rust, Love follows the ups and downs of Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Rust). They are two flawed people trying to form a relationship in Los Angeles. After moving in together, the couple must shed a light on their emotional baggage and do the slow work of becoming better for someone else. Across three seasons, which are now available for viewers to watch on Netflix, the series explores the growth from awkward first beginnings to something much more deep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Esther in Nobody Wants This?
As IMDb reports, Esther Roklov, who is the sister-in-law of Noah, is played by Jackie Tohn. She is the wife of his brother Sasha and proves to be a devout member of the Jewish community. Esther is a key character in both seasons of the show and is commonly referred to as larger-than-life.
Who wrote Nobody Wants This?
As LA Times reports, Erin Foster wrote the series after years of not writing. It was actually during the process of converting for her fast approaching wedding to her Jewish partner when she decided to turn her story into a show.