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November 21, 2024 Movie Review: Piece by Piece
November 14, 2024 "Humor on the Margins: Cartoons in the Turkish Jewish Newspaper Şalom" by Rakel P. Meşulam
November 7, 2024 The "Ottoman and Turkish Ketubbot" Exhibition
November 1, 2024 The Irresistible Drunkenness of Reading Books
October 31, 2024 "Goodness Is Being Kind and Generous" - Interview with Wendy Liebman
TV Show Review: Nobody Wants This
November 4, 2024
By Bessy ADUT
I consulted my chief editor about writing a review about a TV show for the first time after watching NOBODY WANTS THIS because, I haven’t watched and enjoyed a show so much in a while. Plus, it is relevant as it is a story with a Jewish protagonist who happens to be a young Rabbi falling in love with a woman out of his own religion. It’s a beautiful love story. It's mostly funny, so that gives you a good amount of comedy and lots of laughter but it’s sad and dramatic at the same time. Last I checked, it’s the #1 show on Netflix.
In the main cast, we see Kristen Bell, whom I know from GOOD PLACE, another TV show I really loved and enjoyed a few years back. As for Adam Brody, I am familiar with him from the O.C., a show with young people. It’s nice to see them together in this show as the leads. They do have a very great chemistry on screen and both are good actors in drama and comedy the same.
I binged on this show quickly and I am glad to see it has already been renewed for a second season. I am looking forward to seeing it.
In a nutshell, the screenplay is about the relationship of a very odd couple; an unconventional young rabbi from a traditional family and an agnostic woman who comes from a very liberal family.
Kristen Bell, Joanne, does a dating podcast that could be considered quite dirty and Adam Brody, Noah, is a Rabbi. Justine Lupe plays Morgan who is Joanne’s sister and they do the podcast together and Timothy Simons as Sasha plays Noah’s older brother.
The show was greenlit by Netflix as a comedy series last spring. The series was created by Erin Foster, based on his real-life stories.
In the pilot episode, we get introduced to Noah as a rabbi. His Jewish girlfriend Rebecca is doing everything to get him to marry her. Meanwhile, Joanne is going from one bad date to another and talking about her experiences on the podcast with her sister.
The contrast of these main characters and their conflicting views and families is mesmerizing to watch. Protagonists and their supporting characters steal our hearts right away. There is always a hook question: Is their relationship going to work out against all the odds? How is this going to work out? Is Joanne going to convert to Judaism and would that solve the problem?
In the upcoming episodes as romantic comedies do there are many break-ups, and kiss-and-make-ups. I think it’s a great premise and the dialogue is very cleverly written. The characters are believable. It makes you feel good and want to keep watching more. I don’t want to give spoilers any further but if you have Netflix, I definitely recommend taking a look at this wonderful show. I hope you will enjoy it too.
The subtext message of the film is powerful. Be it religion, race, ethnicity, or something else; when love comes into play, nothing really matters. Love is truly wired in a way to overcome all sorts of obstacles. If it is true love, no matter what people around us say, we listen to the voice of our hearts and follow the magnetic attraction. At least we should. Ideally, we would like to pick someone who will also please our friends and families but we can’t always live up to other people’s expectations of us.
There is comedy and drama in the differences. The common thing of all is the love a human being feels for another.
Looking at the Rotten Tomatoes reviews, there is a close to 100% approval rating. Reviews and ratings are amazing 7.8/10 with 48 reviews. This is very well said: "Contrary to its title, "Nobody Wants This" proves to be a welcome binge thanks to Kristen Bell and Adam Brody's irresistible chemistry and some thoughtful considerations of interfaith romance.”
It’s also important to have positive Jewish stories out there when there is so much antisemitism going on in the world with people confused by politics and one-sided media outlets. Opposite to the title: EVERYBODY WANTS THIS.
We all just want to love and be loved in return. That is the path to true, free happiness.
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