Nobody Wants This Is a Messy, Rule-Breaking Romcom — That’s Why I’m Totally Obsessed

There are some TV series that hit you right in the heart and leave you with all the feels. And for me that was definitely the case after watching Netflix’s latest offering Nobody Wants This. It tells the tale of the rather chaotic Joanne, loosely based on the show’s writer, actress and entrepreneur Erin Foster, and Noah, a liberal Jewish Rabbi, falling in love. The leads are played by Adam Brody, who proves at 44 he has still got the ability to turn millennials (and dare I say it now Gen Z) on with his awkward charm, and Kirsten Bell, who makes this not very likeable character on paper completely and utterly loveable.

As the series goes on, in very short 20-30 minute episodes for those of you with short attention spans, you find yourself rooting for this unlikely pair who seem to break every dating rule with their constant communication and refreshing honesty. There is no waiting three days to text back, Joanne literally messages Noah as she leaves the date (obviously he is in the hospital as his ex girlfriend hurts her wrist) and he just shows up at her house at 2am, where she arrives back with a stray dog and doesn’t consider he might be a maniac.

We see them meet one another’s friends (hers instantly love him, his try desperately to hate her), we witness the uncomfortable meeting of the parents, we watch two backgrounds collide and at times combust. There’s family fall outs and a perfect ex girlfriend. Yet with every calamity it leaves you feeling happy and gooey.

There is also dialogue, so much dialogue. The bits they usually miss out in most movies, the uncomfortable conversations that need to happen and aren’t all flowers and butterflies. As an over-sharer who prides herself on believing you have to have every uncomfortable conversation this authenticity spoke to me. My partner and I have experienced more ups and downs than most, but hands down it’s our ability to talk through everything that has seen us through those dark times. I often think this is the part of relationships we wrongly celebrate the least, it may be easier to put up a photo of an engagement or a lavish date night, but actually it’s the conversation about who is taking the bins out after you’ve laid all your cards on the table that shows the true strength of your bond.

Brody is everything my 19-year-old self wanted him to be and more. He pretty much plays a version of Seth Cohen from The OC in his early 40s, if he had found faith and decided to become a Rabbi. Which let’s be honest, it could have happened. He is awkward and understanding, attractive without being overpowering or self aware and oh-my-days can he do an on screen kiss. It made me want to watch The OC all over again, but also feel comforted that actors in their 40s are still deemed desirable, cool and young. The same goes for Bell, who looks incredible, her outfits get better and better as the episodes go on, and she reminds us why she is still one of the best in Hollywood.

Nobody Wants This had me drawn in completely and at times I found myself laughing out loud — something that I don’t take lightly. I don’t know if it was just the exceptional writing (Foster has really made her stamp with this one) or that personally it spoke to me on so many levels. My partner and I are from different religious backgrounds and cultures and I know for sure he has had to politely decline the chopped liver on numerous occasions. It also made me make a mental note that I need to stop kissing my son on the lips before he hits puberty… Although my mother-in-law is no Bina, I sometimes wonder if my mum has shared some of her thoughts, but just doesn’t say them out loud. I’m kidding, obviously.

I’m all for love stories that break the rules, I mean who wrote them anyway? And I for one think it’s about time we see characters on screen who are chaotic and make mistakes. Of course there’s a place for cheesy, syrupy-sweet romcoms, but life isn’t a fairytale and it feels reassuring to watch relatable characters who stalk their ex’s partner and lie to get out of family functions, but yet get through it all.

All I will add is, yes it’s true, Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s are the best parties ever — and bring on season two. The world needs to see more of this messiness, but until them I’m going to watch it all over again.

Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.