You Want This

In the mood for a rom com? Here's a Netflix series worth your time

It is unfortunate that the series promo of Nobody Wants This, a rom com on Netflix, is not as impressive or persuasive as it should have been. Four women in the gym talking about Rebecca? (Opening scene of episode four.) It feels like it could be a satire on modern-day dating or an ensemble drama-comedy like Sex & The City. This doesn’t do the series any favours, so you give it a pass.

A week later, you’re aimlessly scrolling through the lists, so you consider checking out a few minutes of the half-hour pilot… and binge-watch the entire season. What it is, is a true-blue modern-day rom com. Sharp dialogue, quirky characters, impeccable casting.

Joanne meets Noah at the synagogue in 'Nobody Wants This'

The affable Seth Cohen from The OC plays the charismatic Noah Roklov – that’s the groovy Adam Brody, who grabs your attention from the moment he appears on screen and has half the female population swooning over him, going by the social media discourse.

Kristen Bell finally sheds the Veronica Mars label. You are invested in the journey of Joanne (with no last name) – the single, familiar podcaster-next-door, who could be making healthier relationship choices, but uses her bad dating experiences to fuel her podcast with unfiltered content. You initially think it’s intentional, but it’s not. She co-hosts the podcast with sister, Morgan – played by Justine Lupe – also single, also making bad dating choices, but fiercely opinionated about Joanne’s. Especially on air. Their sibling banter sets the tone of their podcast.

Joanne’s best friend and podcast agent, Ashley – played by Sherry Cola – invites her to a dinner party to meet potential subjects for her content, which sets up the love story.

Ashley: Jo, are you coming here tonight for the dinner party?

Joanne: Who’s gonna be there? A bunch of lesbians?

Ashley: No. Not as many as usual. But some potentially interesting guys for you. A divorcee with a young kid, a finance guy and a rabbi.

Joanne: (pauses) Oh, I thought you were starting a bad joke. They all sound terrible. I’ll be there.

Ashley: Perfect. Dress like a huge slut.

Joanne: Great. I’ll borrow something from your mom.

Ashley: My mom’s dead and you know it, you bitch!

Joanne: You didn’t even like her. Bye!

A perfect exchange between best friends.

Joanne does go to the party, dressed in a questionable faux fur coat. Noah notices as she chats with Ashley.

Joanne decides to help herself to the wine she has brought along; looks for a corkscrew in the kitchen.

She: Hi. Can you hand me that corkscrew?

He: Here. Let me open that for you.

She: Thank you.

He: Although… are you sure you should be drinking? (looking at her faux fur coat) You seem to be going through something.

She: Oh no, I am in constant need of attention.

He: I respect that. I also like attention. I say, I don’t. But… I do.

She: You do, right? Doesn’t it feel good to say it out loud?

He: Yeah. ‘Sorry, I’m cute. I like when people notice.’

She: There you go! You are cute. See I noticed.

Clever conversation, organically flowing between the Joanne and Noah, characterises their chemistry, setting up the series and our expectations for a beautifully told love story.

The meet cute continues:

She: Do you know there’s a rabbi here?

He: No shit! Where?

She: He has a beard, and he was definitely judging me.

He: Sounds like a rabbi.

The agnostic Joanne is visibly affected by the soulful and considerate Noah at the dinner table, even as she realises that he is the rabbi. The cultural conflict is an obvious hurdle so she avoids him… until she cannot. She reluctantly meets him for dinner, pretends that she doesn’t want to be there but enjoys his company so much that she suggests a kiss.

Joanne & Noah’s first kiss is a beautiful, aesthetically shot, moment, edited to the opening beats of See Her Out (That’s Just Life) by Francis and the Lights. Absolute fireworks.

Watch it here:

Joanne texts Noah on the way back home: “That was a great kiss. I think I might be pregnant.” This might have been true for some viewers as well.

The chemistry between the pair is intense, and this kiss makes them realise that they have something special. Is there any world where this works? That is the premise of this series, written by actor-director Erin Foster.

The aptly titled Nobody Wants This explores the cultural conflict between an agnostic host of a ‘sex and relationships’ podcast and an unconventional rabbi. The unlucky-in-love Joanne has a dysfunctional family; divorced parents: a distant father who discovers he’s gay and a kooky mother who still loves her husband and tries hard to come to terms with his new relationship. Noah, who has just gotten out of a long-term relationship, comes from a traditional tight-knit Jewish family.

Joanne’s sister and confidante, Morgan, is not too thrilled when she hears that Joanne wants to be in a serious relationship with Noah. Their podcast stands to suffer, after all. Also, there’s a hint of sibling rivalry.

Joanne and Morgan discuss Noah in ‘Nobody Wants This'

Similarly, Noah’s family, especially his orthodox mother, is mighty displeased when Joanne attends his sermon at their synagogue. Shiksa! A non-Jewish woman. They collectively try to keep him interested in Rebecca, his presumptuous Jewish ex-girlfriend who is still trying to win him back, and their idea of his perfect wife.

His elder brother, Sasha, however, is rooting for Noah’s happiness, even as he puts up a diplomatic front before the family. He tags along with Noah to meet Joanne. Here’s a snippet from the ensuing scene in Morgan’s car:

Joanne charges her phone in Morgan’s car. Noah and Sasha are in the back seat.

Joanne’s phone reads (electronic voice): “Message from Morgan. He’s cuter than I expected. He doesn’t look that Jewish.” Reactions in the backseat.

“Next message from Morgan: The brother is brutal. Ogre emoji. Vomit emoji.”

Joanne and Morgan panic.

Morgan: Unplug the phone.

Joanne: (yanks the phone off the charger) I am so sorry about my sister with whom I have since cut ties.

Nobody Wants This is multiple kinds of wonderful. It may not score high on religious authenticity, I am told, but it checks all the rom com boxes. Five hours later, you’re smiling to yourself.

Could it have ended differently? I don’t know.

Joanne would be uncomfortable pretending to be interested in religion, even if she does do it for love. It would take something radical to genuinely change her beliefs. Noah, on the other hand, given his character, can choose Joanne, above all else. As he did. That’s what makes it feel good fiction. And why would a rom com writer want to leave her viewers heartbroken? Doesn’t life do that already?

The score by Duncan Blickenstaff includes some wonderful tracks such as Fly by Anna Graves, You & I by Léon, Seen By You by Olivia Kaplan, Love On The Brain by Rihanna, Always Been You by Shawn Mendes and, of course, the catchy See Her Out (That’s Just Life) by Francis and the Lights. You can explore the entire soundtrack on music streaming platforms.

For a fair peek into the series, here’s a neatly cut trailer, which sums up the character chemistry and the witty dialogue that make this series a breezy and enjoyable watch. Awaiting season two.

Visuals Courtesy: Netflix

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