Is “Nobody Wants This” the Rom-Com Binge You’ve Been Waiting For?
Creator: Erin Foster
Writer: Erin Foster & More
Starring: Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe
Tagline: “A Shiksa Walks Into a Temple“
Trivia: Originally titled “Shiksa”, which is also the last word said in the first episode.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about creating realistic romance between characters without veering into cheesy territory.
Lo and behold, Netflix delivered Nobody Wants This, a rom-com series that almost seems like it’s answering my blog post in real time!
It’s as if Netflix read my advice (before I even wrote it!) and decided to give us a fun, if imperfect, example of what it looks like to create a love story full of endearing (and occasionally cringeworthy) moments. Amid today’s TV landscape, crammed with intense dramas and dystopian sagas, Nobody Wants This offers a refreshing throwback to classic rom-com charm.
Following the unlikely romance between Joanne (Kristen Bell), a bold, blunt podcaster, and Noah (Adam Brody), a thoughtful, progressive rabbi, the show embraces classic rom-com tropes with a modern twist. Watching it brought me back to movies like Keeping the Faith, where Ben Stiller’s rabbi character also finds himself grappling with love, humor, and tradition.
Why “ Nobody Wants This” Feels Like a Rom-Com Love Letter.
Nobody Wants This is full of those signature rom-com elements we know and love—awkward first meetings, cute misunderstandings, and the inevitable family tension that comes from mixing two very different lives.
The series revels in the charming discomfort of Joanne and Noah fumbling through each other’s worlds.
Joanne, with her bold sense of humor and a tendency to say exactly what’s on her mind, is the exact opposite of Noah, whose background and profession demand diplomacy and thoughtfulness. Watching them navigate their differences offers that feel-good predictability that defines the genre.
Bell and Brody have great chemistry, which is half the magic of the show. Their easygoing charm as they navigate cross-cultural mishaps and dating “ick” moments gives the story a sweetness that is hard to resist.
For writers, this is an important reminder: character chemistry matters just as much as plot in a romance. Bell and Brody bring a natural, relatable spark to their scenes, elevating some of the more predictable scenarios. If anything, they show us that who you cast is as crucial as what happens.
When Predictable Becomes a Bit Too Predictable.
While the show nails many rom-com basics, it also stumbles in ways that writers can learn from.
For starters, Nobody Wants This relies a bit too heavily on rom-com cliches, which can make the storyline feel overly familiar.
Joanne’s mishap bringing a pork dish to Noah’s Jewish family, or the classic “overprotective Jewish mother” stereotype, are cute, but they’re also predictable—and sometimes overdone.
It’s a reminder for writers to balance nostalgia with originality, finding fresh ways to show classic scenarios so they don’t feel too obvious or tired.
Another pitfall is the way the show drags its story over a full season.
Don’t get me wrong—I love a binge-worthy series as much as anyone, but this plot felt more suited to a movie. At times, it seemed like the series was padding for time, and while the humor was mostly on point, the story’s emotional weight could have been better served in a more concise format.
A takeaway for writers here is that sometimes less is more. Stretching a story out can dilute its impact, especially when it’s meant to be light and engaging.
When Stereotypes Go From Cute to Cringe.
Then there’s the humor around cultural differences, which occasionally misses the mark.
The Jewish characters, particularly the women, are portrayed with a bit too much stereotype and not enough depth. Joanne may have all the “main character” relatability, but the female Jewish characters end up as caricatures.
Especially now, with rising concerns about antisemitism, it’s important for creators to offer nuanced portrayals, especially of groups that might already face oversimplification in media.
For screenwriters, this can be a reminder to dig a bit deeper into characters and challenge stereotypes—even in rom-coms. Viewers appreciate humor, but we also love characters with dimension, who feel real and relatable beyond just “the nagging mother” or “the opinionated sister.”
The Verdict: A Binge-Worthy Throwback with All the Classic Flaws
For all its flaws, Nobody Wants This is a welcome break from the usual dark and heavy fare.
It’s a series that embraces the nostalgic charm of classic rom-coms while updating the formula for a modern audience (and maybe even poking fun at itself in the process). It might not reinvent the genre, but it’s like slipping into your favorite comfy sweater. Sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
If you’re a writer, watch Nobody Wants This not just for the laughs and romance, but for the lessons.
Notice the chemistry that keeps us hooked even when the plot gets predictable.
Take note of how stretched plots can water down impact, and remember that depth can only improve a story—even in a rom-com.
So grab some popcorn, press play, and let this modern rom-com remind you why we love to watch people fall in love (and occasionally embarrass themselves) on screen.
Verdict – 4/5 Stars in my book
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