Fortunately, Nobody Wants This, the new Netflix series featuring Adam Brody as Rabbi Noah and Kristen Bell as his “shiksa” love interest, wraps up without any cliffhangers.
Even though Halloween is approaching, it’s always the right moment for a lighthearted, binge-worthy series, particularly with Bell and Brody leading the cast.
The storyline of this Netflix rom-com centers around Joanne (Bell), who is an irreverent and outspoken podcaster discussing sex while also bickering with her best frenemy sister Morgan (Justine Lupe). Her encounter with Jewish rabbi Noah (Brody) turns both of their lives upside down.
The big question remains: Can their relationship succeed? Thankfully, you’ll discover the answer by the conclusion of Nobody Wants This, which premiered on Netflix on Thursday, September 27. *Warning: spoilers ahead!*
The Ending of Nobody Wants This Is What You’d Want
In a nutshell, Joanne and Noah reconcile, culminating in a kiss in the final scene of Nobody Wants This, although the lead-up is quite tumultuous.
At the series’ onset, both characters are navigating significant life changes. Joanne and Morgan’s podcast, aptly titled Nobody Wants This, sees a surge in ratings and is on the verge of being acquired.
While Joanne finds dating in Los Angeles challenging, she cleverly utilizes her disastrous dating experiences as content for her podcast.
At the same time, Noah is on the verge of becoming the head rabbi at his synagogue and is in a relationship with Rebecca (Emily Arlook), who has the unwavering approval of his family.
Rebecca is very close to Noah’s parents, Bina (Tovah Feldshuh) and Ilan (Paul Ben-Victor), as well as Noah’s brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) and his wife Esther (Jackie Tohn).
However, in Episode 1, Noah discovers Rebecca flaunting an engagement ring. She has gone through his belongings, found the ring, and orchestrated the entire engagement without his knowledge.
“You were clearly going to propose anyway, and I don’t really know what was taking so long. So now we can just skip past the whole ‘will you marry me’ part, because I say yes,” Rebecca declares, leaving Noah frustrated: “That was my whole part,” he responds.
Rebecca and Noah Break Up
This revelation prompts Noah to realize that his future is not with Rebecca, leading him to end their relationship.
Subsequently, Noah attends a party hosted by Ashley (Sherry Cola), Joanne’s friend and the podcast’s agent. It’s here that Noah meets Joanne, and there is an immediate connection.
However, a significant challenge arises—Joanne “doesn’t have a Jewish bone in her body,” complicating their budding romance.
Throughout the next ten episodes, the couple faces numerous humorous ups and downs while navigating their relationship.
Joanne struggles to earn the approval of Noah’s family and friends, especially Esther, who happens to be Rebecca’s best friend. Meanwhile, Noah attempts to conceal his relationship with a “shiksa” from his boss, head rabbi Cohen (Stephen Tobolowsky).
Things take a turn when Rebecca tries to disrupt their relationship, saddened by Noah’s swift move on. Joanne feels as though she is in competition with Rebecca.
As the season finale approaches, Noah learns that Rabbi Cohen is retiring and wishes to pass on the position to him. The catch? He cannot have a gentile partner.
Esther and Bina Don’t Warm to Joanne
Even though Joanne decides to convert to Judaism, she grapples with the enormity of this decision. Tensions escalate when she confronts Rebecca, who emphasizes the immense pressures she will face as the head rabbi’s wife.
“He represents the temple, so you represent the temple,” Rebecca asserts. “People look to you as an example.”
“Like a good example?” Joanne replies. “That’s a lot of pressure.” With all this weighing on her, when Noah confesses his love, she admits she feels unable to convert.
“I’m just not ready… if I’m being honest, I was only doing it for you,” she tells him. “I’m saying goodbye. You can’t have both, and I would never make you choose.”
Joanne urges him not to follow her, but once she returns home, she finds Noah waiting for her.
“So how does this work?” she inquires. Noah responds, “Well, you were right. I can’t have both.” He pulls her in for a kiss, signifying his choice of Joanne over his responsibilities—this is how Nobody Wants This concludes.
What Does Shiksa Mean?
Shiksa is a Yiddish slang term commonly used to describe a non-Jewish woman or girl.
This term has evolved into English and some Hebrew usage over the years and is often (though not always) utilized in a derogatory manner.
Joanne and Morgan are Called “Shiksas”
In Nobody Wants This, the term is introduced when Joanne visits the synagogue to hear Noah’s sermon. At the end of the service, several mothers try to introduce their daughters to Noah, suggesting they would be perfect matches now that he’s single.
Noah interrupts them to talk to Joanne. When they gaze at each other affectionately, Esther asks Noah’s mother Bina, “Who the hell is that?” to which Bina replies, “A shiksa.”
In Episode 2, titled ‘A Shiksa Walks Into a Temple,’ Noah and Sasha enjoy drinks with Joanne and Morgan, where Sasha labels them as shiksas.
When they inquire about the term, Noah awkwardly explains, “It’s basically you guys… technically, it’s a Yiddish insult that means you’re impure and detestable. But nowadays, it just means you’re a hot, blonde non-Jew.”
Will There Be a Season 2?
As of now, Netflix has not officially announced a renewal for Season 2 of Nobody Wants This, but there is certainly potential for more storytelling.
Although it concludes with Joanne and Noah’s passionate kiss, signaling a reunion, we do not learn how their relationship will unfold moving forward.
Noah may choose against becoming the head rabbi, potentially causing unrest among his family and friends, or Joanne could delve deeper into the Jewish faith and choose to convert.
There are abundant storylines to explore in their rollercoaster relationship, so the writers have plenty of new material.
Ultimately, Netflix tends to make data-driven decisions (which explains why many beloved series get canceled after only one season).
If Nobody Wants This can break into the top 10 and maintain a solid standing in the charts, the chances of Season 2 being greenlit increase significantly. For now, viewers will have to wait and see.
In the meantime, you can binge-watch Season 1 of Nobody Wants This on Netflix now. Also, don’t miss out on other popular Netflix series, including our guides to Stranger Things Season 5, Wednesday Season 2, and more breakdowns of current streaming offerings this month.
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