The quirky rom-com starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody is the stuff of millennial fever dreams. After all, the cast played Veronica Mars and Seth Cohen, two smart and fast-talking teen TV actors, and they’ve been likable in everything they’ve done since. And in many ways Nobody Wants This it’s itching to see these two together, satisfying any curiosity about what their on-screen chemistry might be like. The 10-episode comedy series, created by Erin Foster, stars Bell as Joanne, an atheist, sex-obsessed podcast host living in Los Angeles. He’s unlucky in love, but his career, which he shares with his free-spirited sister Morgan (Justine Lupe), is booming. One night, at a party, Joanne meets Noah (Brody), a hipster rabbi who has just broken up with his perfect Jewish girlfriend Rebecca (Emily Arlook). Sparks are flying, but is it a good or unlikely reunion for Noah?
Either way, the series moves forward under the classic premise of compelling opposition, especially since Joanne has no idea of Judaism or what it means for Noah to be a rabbi. He’s eager to learn, even showing off one of his services, but he’s a blonde shiksa out and about
Nobody Wants This it stumbles early, maybe because the characters are too deep, but after a few episodes it becomes hard to press “stop” on the remote control. He really wants to know what will happen to Noah and Joanne. Will they stay together despite Bina’s best efforts to separate them? Will Esther, who is Rebecca’s best friend, ever treat Joanne right? Does Joanne care enough about Noah to consider converting, something she learned about in five minutes on Google? Although the characters themselves are not as complex as they could be, the conflict is real and complex. And it’s something real couples have experienced, including Foster, who converted to her now-husband Simon Tikhman.
The creator, because of his experience, clearly understands the contemporary Jewish life, which is refreshing to see on TV. Religion is not used for comedy, but instead as an important background to the story. Which is not to say Nobody Wants This it’s not funny—of course. Simons, the main supporting player Veependless fun as Sasha, a dad and husband who doesn’t sit well but wants to try, no matter how stoned he is. Lupe, too, is a standout, playing Morgan with a carefree enthusiasm that’s a nice complement to Joanne’s constant need to overthink everything. Several actors from Bell’s past shows, including Ryan Hansen and D’Arcy Carden, have small, humorous roles. It’s not a great series, but you immediately want more episodes when it’s over. It may not be Veronica Mars–The OC we’ve always dreamed of a crossover, but it’s a nice comfort.
