The first season of Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This” ended on a note of high drama. Would Joanne — an agnostic sex podcaster — convert to Judaism and marry Noah, her boyfriend who was on track to become the senior rabbi of his synagogue? Or would the mounting pressure between faith and identity pull them apart?
Season 2 opens with a dinner party that quickly spirals into misunderstandings, setting the tone for the emotional and comedic tension to come. Jewish star Adam Brody and Kristen Bell continue to share fantastic chemistry, anchoring the show with warmth and wit. The new season remains bingeable, though at ten episodes, it might have packed an even sharper punch if trimmed to eight.
“Nobody Wants This” is based on Erin Foster’s real conversion journey
While “Nobody Wants This” plays like a sharp, modern rom-com, its foundation is personal. Creator Erin Foster has said the show draws loosely from her own experience of falling in love with a Jewish man, marrying him, and choosing to convert to Judaism. Like Joanne, Kristen Bell’s character, Foster began the process of conversion not simply for her partner, but out of a genuine desire to understand and participate in Jewish life.
Read more: Erin Foster’s conversion story shines in ‘Nobody Wants This’
In an interview with Unpacked, Foster explained that her own conversion class sparked the story. Out of twenty-three students, only three were converting for marriage — a revelation that inspired her to explore the many reasons people choose to join the faith. She emphasized that while the show takes “creative license” with the details, it reflects the emotional truths of her journey: the curiosity, the awkwardness, and the tension between belonging and identity.
The result is a series that uses Foster’s life as a launching point rather than a blueprint — a smart, funny, and sometimes messy exploration of what it means to fall in love across faith lines and decide which traditions to claim as your own.
The same drama with the Jewish mama?
Jewish Broadway legend Tovah Feldshuh, who plays Bina, Noah’s fiercely protective mother, remains a commanding presence in Season 2. In the first season, she was adamantly opposed to her son dating a non-Jewish woman — a stance that made her one of the show’s most formidable antagonists. This time around, however, Bina begins to soften after learning a surprising piece of information. The writers allow her more emotional dimension, and Feldshuh rises beautifully to the challenge, delivering a layered and memorable performance. Her standout moment comes in a scene with Morgan, Joanne’s outspoken sister, played by Justine Lupe, where Bina unexpectedly becomes the voice of wisdom.
Lupe, for her part, continues to be a scene-stealer. She has a rare gift for hurling razor-sharp insults with such deadpan precision that they land as both cutting and hilarious. Dressed in bold, attention-grabbing outfits and driven by impulse, Morgan’s chaotic energy plays perfectly against Bell’s more grounded Joanne. Their “sister talk” scenes — whether they’re bickering, bonding, or recording their sex podcast — pulse with warmth and wit. When Morgan receives unexpected news that stirs up sibling rivalry, it adds new emotional stakes to their dynamic.
Ultimately, the powerhouse trio of Lupe, Brody, and Bell anchors “Nobody Wants This” with humor, heart, and authenticity — the reason the series remains one of Netflix’s most watchable comedies.
Risk for Rabbi Roklov
Noah is convinced he has the senior rabbi position in the bag — especially with his predecessor, Rabbi Cohen (played with endearing goofiness by Stephen Tobolowsky), preparing to retire. But just as everything seems certain, a blast from Noah’s past throws his plans into chaos, leaving him reeling and unsure how to move forward. His attempts to clear his head lead to one of the show’s funnier sequences: a post-game heart-to-heart after a scrappy match with his synagogue basketball team, the Matzah Ballers.
More depth for Jackie Tohn’s Esther
One of the show’s greatest strengths lies in its dialogue — sharp, funny, and self-aware, often landing laughs while revealing genuine emotional insight. Though the tone occasionally dips into melodrama, the writing mostly keeps a deft balance between humor and heart.
Last season, Noah’s sister-in-law, Esther (Jackie Tohn), came off as abrasive and one-note. This time, the writers give her more nuance, allowing flashes of warmth and vulnerability beneath her biting humor. In one standout scene, her husband Sasha (Timothy Simons) steals the spotlight with a wildly unexpected hip-hop dance that’s as awkward as it is hilarious. Together, the couple wrestles with the question of whether to have a second child — a storyline that grounds their comedic energy in something more relatable.
Simons, with his natural everyman charm, perfectly complements Tohn’s fiery presence, making their scenes together some of the most entertaining — and unexpectedly tender — moments of the season.
Season 2 brings on an impressive group of guest stars
In the sixth episode, we’re treated to a brief but memorable appearance by Seth Rogen, whose character — a Jewish man married to a non-Jewish woman — now works at Temple Ahava.
Some viewers may bristle when he describes Torah traditions as “weird,” but the show smartly lets Noah push back, insisting that those same traditions are deeply meaningful to him. The line “We keppa it very casual when it comes to kippahs here” is undeniably weak, yet Rogen delivers it with his trademark charm, selling the joke as best he can while capturing the laid-back atmosphere of his synagogue. It’s a shame he doesn’t get more screen time — though perhaps it’s for the best that we’re spared the sight of him as a rabbi lighting up.
Arian Moayed — reuniting with Justine Lupe after their “Succession” days — is perfectly cast as Morgan’s boyfriend, Dr. Andy. Once her therapist, now her lover, he blurs every professional and emotional boundary in the book. The show keeps viewers guessing: is Andy genuinely good for Morgan, or is he exploiting his insight into her psyche? Leighton Meester of “Gossip Girl” fame (who’s married to Brody in real life) also pops in for a brief but effective cameo, revealing a wild secret from her past that adds a dash of mischief to the mix.
You’ll continue to root for Noah and Joanne
Adam Brody and Kristen Bell continue to be the heart of Nobody Wants This. Their chemistry feels effortless — two actors completely at ease with each other, grounding the show in authenticity. They’re more than believable as a couple in love, navigating faith, identity, and the everyday chaos that tests their relationship. Their banter has a natural rhythm, playful yet emotionally charged, and they shine brightest in the quiet, vulnerable moments between the jokes. Honestly, the series could focus entirely on the two of them and still be compelling television.
“Nobody Wants This” hasn’t fully worked out its Judaism problem
It’s refreshing to see authentic Jewish settings on screen — from synagogue scenes to a lively Purim party where Joanne’s mom dresses as Madonna and Noah goes full Dracula. The synagogue moments offer a few laughs, but the rabbinic sermons often feel stilted and far removed from what an actual rabbi might say, or what you’d want to watch one on TV say. At a Shabbat dinner, Joanne jokes that the challah looks shiny and quips, “Hallah!” — a line that might’ve landed better a decade ago.
Some of the show’s details veer into the implausible. In one scene, Joanne gets out of a bath with Noah to turn on the air conditioning — even for Los Angeles, that’s a stretch. It’s equally hard to believe Noah would buy his new girlfriend the same gift he once gave an ex. A subplot involving a woman who once cut the hair off a doll at a party feels lifted straight from “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” And the character of Ryann (D’Arcy Carden) contributes little to the story, a missed opportunity given Carden’s comedic range.
Even the holiday humor occasionally misses the mark. During the Purim celebration, Noah’s father, dressed as Haman, gets booed as if during the Megillah reading — a creative twist, but not one rooted in any real custom. And in one of the more baffling moments, Joanne’s mother suddenly declares that she “feels Jewish” without any emotional buildup or explanation. It’s the kind of scene that leaves viewers scratching their heads.
Do they make it to the aisle?
Season 2 of “Nobody Wants This” is, for the most part, a satisfying follow-up — buoyed by sharp writing, heartfelt performances, and a cast with undeniable chemistry. While a few scenes feel contrived, the show delivers enough genuine tension to keep viewers guessing: will Joanne and Noah make it, or are they destined to fall apart?
The emotional core of the series lies in Noah’s quiet struggle — torn between his love for Joanne and his fear of pressuring her into a faith she may not fully embrace — and Joanne’s own uncertainty about what she truly wants. Their push and pull feels honest, even when surrounded by the show’s lighter, sometimes cheesy moments.
In an era starved for romantic comedies with both humor and heart, “Nobody Wants This” earns plenty of goodwill. The final scene may surprise you, but it feels earned. Those seeking deep theological insight or flawless depictions of Jewish life might walk away unsatisfied. But if what you want is a smart, funny, and refreshingly offbeat rom-com anchored by two charismatic leads, you’ll definitely want this.
