True love is famously bumpy, but for Noah and Joanne—the leads of the charming LA romcom Nobody Wants This—it’s been especially rocky. The issue? Noah is a religious leader, and Joanne is an agnostic sex podcaster. The bigger issue? Noah is a rabbi, and Joanne is—as his disapproving mother calls her—a “shiksa,” meaning she’s not Jewish.
Is that a dealbreaker? Season one seemed to say yes. After finally getting together with Noah (Adam Brody), Joanne (Kristen Bell) promised to convert to Judaism. But she later changed her mind, realizing it wasn’t right to adopt a faith just for practical reasons. So she broke up with him. Ethically, it was a commendable choice; Joanne didn’t want to force Noah to choose between her and his calling.
Yet true love is famously hard to reason away. When we last saw them, Noah ran after a dejected Joanne and admitted he couldn’t have both—before leaning in for a passionate kiss. It was a classic romcom moment and a cliffhanger. They’d both agreed their relationship had no future, so could this be Netflix’s most nihilistic romantic comedy? If not, how would the show escape this dead end?
Mostly by ignoring it. As season two begins, you might think none of it mattered. Instead, we see love’s dream—Brody and Bell are both 45, and though their characters’ ages aren’t specified, they seem in their late 30s. Their worries range from everyday (will their first dinner party go well?) to niche (should Joanne talk about Noah’s fancy bedside water carafes on her podcast?). Their relationship does have real consequences, like Noah missing out on his dream job as head rabbi, but he quickly finds a new role at a more progressive temple, led by the underused comic duo Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant.
Still, the question of conversion lingers over Joanne and Noah’s romance. Nobody Wants This is inspired by creator Erin Foster’s own experience converting to Judaism for love, so we can guess where it’s headed. But how? Joanne hopes to grow enthusiastic about the religion, but unlike her spiritual mother—who suddenly feels a connection at a Purim party—she’s skeptically relatable about just “feeling Jewish.”
Yet a more down-to-earth approach can feel off too. Noah’s sister-in-law Esther once described Judaism as a cozy fit, telling Joanne she’s “warm and funny” and “always in everyone’s business,” making her “basically Jewish.” But equating friendly stereotypes with a religion full of rules—especially when marrying a rabbi—seems shallow.
Fortunately, the show excels elsewhere. The chemistry between Brody—still charming as the heartthrob from The OC—and Bell, with her sharp wit, is electric. Their dynamic, full of brattiness and hidden fragility, keeps things engaging.Joanne’s younger sister and podcast co-host Morgan, played by Justine Lupe from Succession, stands out as one of the best comic characters on screen today. This season, she finds a real love interest—though unfortunately, it’s the love-bombing therapist Dr. Andy, portrayed by Arian Moayed, also from Succession. This plotline skillfully blends silly humor with emotional depth, much like the subplot exploring Morgan’s friendship with Noah’s older brother Sasha, played by Timothy Simons of Veep, who offers quirky advice while dealing with his own marital issues.
With a solid joke rate—more witty remarks that bring a smile than laugh-out-loud moments—and a steady flow of sharp observations (like Joanne’s visible joy at getting the devout Noah to genuinely complain, or the subtle erosion of Noah’s nice-guy image when Joanne learns about his past behavior), Nobody Wants This is both engaging and endearing. It’s especially enjoyable if, like the show itself, you don’t dwell too much on the complex theological question at its heart. Nobody Wants This is available to stream on Netflix now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Kristen Bell and Adam Brodys chemistry in Nobody Wants This designed to be clear concise and natural
General Beginner Questions
Q What is Nobody Wants This
A Its a short film written by and starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody Its a comedy about a couple trying to find someone to take their free piano
Q Why do people talk about their chemistry in this film
A Their chemistry refers to the natural believable and funny connection they have on screen They play a bickering couple so well that it feels real and is incredibly entertaining to watch
Q Is this the first time Kristen Bell and Adam Brody have worked together
A No they previously starred together in the cult classic TV show Veronica Mars where Adam Brody played a supporting character
Q Where can I watch Nobody Wants This
A You can easily find it for free on YouTube by searching for the title
Deeper Advanced Questions
Q What specific moments in the film best showcase their chemistry
A Key moments include their rapidfire bickering about the pianos history their shared defeated looks when a potential taker backs out and their synchronized petty excitement when they finally get rid of it The entire film is a masterclass in comedic timing between them
Q How does their chemistry compare to their dynamic in Veronica Mars
A In Veronica Mars their dynamic was more of a flirty teenage crush In Nobody Wants This its a fully realized slightly exasperated but ultimately loving marital partnership which allows for a different more mature kind of chemistry
Q Did they improvise any of their dialogue
A While the script was written by Kristen Bell the natural flow and overlapping dialogue feel very improvised Their comfort with each other likely allowed them to play off each others energy to make the scenes feel spontaneous
Q What makes their onscreen partnership so effective in this short
