‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 1 Recap Before Season 2 Hits Netflix

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When “Nobody Wants This” premiered on Netflix in fall 2024, its success wasn’t a sure thing. While the series starred popular actors Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, it took a risk with its unique style and subject matter. It’s less a typical romantic comedy and more of a dramedy, and the central relationship between people of different faiths isn’t just part of the story—it’s deeply explored. The show is both funny and sincere, a combination that could have appealed to some viewers but turned others off.

Despite a rocky start, strong reviews and positive buzz quickly showed there was an audience for a show that offered genuine humor and realistic drama. Nobody Wants This received three Emmy nominations – for its lead actors and for outstanding comedy – and has been renewed for a second season, debuting October 23, 2025. This fast renewal is rare for streaming shows, but viewers might want to refresh their memories of Joanne and Noah’s backstory before the new season begins.

Joanne and Noah Meet Cute and Fall Fast


Netflix

Okay, so I just watched Nobody Wants This, and it starts off feeling like a typical rom-com – you know, a meet-cute situation. The main character, Joanne, played by Kristen Bell, is this really open and honest woman – a feminist who hosts a popular podcast, also called Nobody Wants This, where she talks pretty candidly about her dating life. She meets a guy, Noah, at a party, thinking he’s someone else, and they hit it off. It’s funny because Noah is a rabbi who just got out of a relationship with a woman his family really wanted him to be with. He eventually reveals who he really is during dinner – it’s a classic case of mistaken identity that kicks everything off!

Noah is still grieving and it’s not the right time for him to be dating. Even if he were ready, Joanne doesn’t seem like a good fit. He’s always planned to become the lead rabbi at his temple, which traditionally means marrying within his faith. Beyond that, her career as a provocative social media influencer clashes with his role as a religious leader. However, despite all these obstacles, they keep finding themselves drawn to each other.

Joanne’s sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe), and Noah’s brother, Sasha (Timothy Simons), both find themselves caught between helping and meddling in Joanne and Noah’s whirlwind romance. While Joanne and Noah rush into things, Sasha and Morgan connect over feeling like outsiders in their families, forming a close, and sometimes awkward, friendship. This bond is complicated by the fact that Sasha is married to Esther (Jackie Tohn) and has a daughter, Miriam (Shiloh Bearman).

Joanne and Noah are a perfect example of how opposites attract. She’s social, independent, and a bit skeptical, while he’s more of a homebody, traditional, and openly affectionate. In episode six, “The Ick,” Joanne is put off by how much Noah wants to impress her parents. But what makes Nobody Wants This different is that, despite their differences, Joanne and Noah actually work well together. Watching the show feels a lot like being in couples’ therapy – it’s insightful and relatable.

This couple faces challenges that feel very real and understandable. Sometimes these are small – like Joanne being so content that she doesn’t make for interesting podcast conversation. Other times, they’re much bigger – Noah worries about how and when to introduce Joanne to the people he knows. His ex, Rebecca, and her friends aren’t immediately welcoming, and neither is his family, especially when Noah is up for a big promotion he’s been working towards.

Noah Wants Joanne and His Dream Job, But Can’t Have Both


Netflix

With the first season ending, Joanne and Noah are officially a couple and their relationship is serious enough that Noah introduces Joanne to his parents. This also brings up the topic of Joanne potentially converting to Judaism, a step they’ll likely need to take if they want a future together. There are some awkward moments when Joanne brings a tray of prosciutto to meet Noah’s parents, but she turns the tables on Noah’s mother, Bina, by catching her secretly eating ham. However, Bina quickly gets the upper hand again, subtly implying to Joanne that she’ll never truly win Noah’s heart.

Noah left dinner believing his family liked Joanne and invited her to Miriam’s bat mitzvah, hoping she’d meet Rebecca. His ex-wife had tried to sabotage their relationship, and had also misled Joanne and Morgan into thinking Noah and she were still in contact. However, because of her complicated relationship with Sasha, Morgan discovered the truth. Confident in what they knew, Morgan and Joanne unexpectedly showed up at the bat mitzvah, having told a white lie about Joanne being sick.

While slow dancing, Joanne shares with Noah that she’s decided to convert to Judaism. The rabbi is thrilled by this news, especially because he’s likely to become the new head rabbi – as long as he doesn’t make any mistakes with the synagogue board. At the same time, Joanne and Rebecca finally have a direct conversation. They both confess they’ve been focused on each other’s connection to Noah, and Rebecca concedes that Joanne has gotten what she wants – the life of a rabbi’s wife. However, Rebecca’s description of the demanding role makes Joanne question her commitment to both Noah and her decision to convert.

As the party ends, Joanne ends her relationship with Noah. Both confess their love for each other, but Joanne reveals she was only considering converting to Judaism for his sake, and wasn’t truly interested in the religion herself. Knowing this would prevent him from getting a promotion, she decides she can’t let him sacrifice his career for her. She leaves, asking him not to come after her, but he ignores her request. The first season closes with them sharing a kiss, despite an uncertain future. Season 2 of Nobody Wants This premieres on Netflix on October 23.

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2025-10-22 02:03