As someone who loves cozy, low-stakes rom-coms, I went into Nobody Wants This with high expectations. After all, Adam Brody and Kristen Bell headlining a romantic comedy together feels like a millennial dream come true. If you grew up watching The O.C. or Veronica Mars, seeing these two actors take on a love story about mismatched souls sounded like the perfect recipe for a heartwarming, easy watch. And in a lot of ways, that’s exactly what Nobody Wants This delivers—comforting, predictable, and with enough charm to keep me invested, even if it’s not breaking new ground.
The premise is straightforward: Noah, played by Adam Brody, is a junior rabbi navigating the expectations of his devout Jewish family, while Kristen Bell’s Joanne is a free-spirited podcaster who doesn’t exactly fit into the traditional mold Noah’s family wants for him. They meet at a dinner party, sparks fly, and despite the odds—and the strong disapproval from almost everyone around them—they decide to give love a shot.
Right off the bat, the show’s setup feels like a nod to the rom-coms of the early 2000s. It’s a classic “opposites attract” story, but what makes it feel more contemporary is the inclusion of the podcasting angle, which offers a peek into modern media culture and the often messy lives of people who share a bit too much online. The podcast Joanne hosts with her sister Morgan (played hilariously by Justine Lupe) becomes a recurring plot point, as Joanne’s growing relationship with Noah complicates her ability to keep producing the kind of juicy, tell-all content that made her podcast popular in the first place.
While Nobody Wants This isn’t necessarily revolutionary, it does attempt to infuse its romantic narrative with a few fresh ideas. The tension between Noah’s deeply rooted religious values and Joanne’s more irreverent, modern approach to life offers a layer of complexity that most rom-coms tend to gloss over.
However, I’ll admit, the show never fully dives into these differences in a way that feels deeply meaningful. Instead, it stays in the cozy, safe territory, focusing more on the charm of its leads than on exploring the tougher questions about love and compromise.
One of the things that hooked me about Nobody Wants This is the undeniable appeal of seeing Adam Brody and Kristen Bell together on-screen. There’s something so comforting about watching two actors who defined an era of TV for many of us come together in a rom-com.
Brody’s Noah brings back shades of his The O.C. character, Seth Cohen, with his awkward, sincere charm, while Bell’s Joanne carries the same snarky wit we loved from Veronica Mars. They feel like familiar faces in a familiar genre, and that’s part of what makes the show so watchable.
However, I couldn’t help but feel like their chemistry, while sweet, didn’t quite sizzle the way I expected it to.
Don’t get me wrong—they’re fun to watch, and their banter is often charming. But there’s a certain spark that’s missing, especially in the more intimate moments. Their connection feels more like two old friends catching up than two people falling deeply in love. It’s nice, but not exactly swoon-worthy.
That said, Nobody Wants This is more about the cozy, feel-good vibe than about intense passion. If you’re looking for a rom-com that makes you smile without demanding too much emotional investment, this show delivers in spades. It’s the kind of series you can put on after a long day, knowing you’ll get a few laughs and some heartwarming moments, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
Where the show really shines, though, is in its supporting cast. Justine Lupe as Morgan, Joanne’s slightly chaotic but deeply loyal sister, is a scene-stealer. Her dynamic with Joanne is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series, especially as they navigate the shifts in their sibling relationship once Joanne’s romance with Noah starts to get serious. The podcast they run together serves as a backdrop for many of the show’s funniest and most relatable moments. Morgan’s role as the more reckless, outspoken sister adds a refreshing contrast to Joanne’s somewhat more grounded character.
Then there’s Timothy Simons, who plays Noah’s brother Sasha. His awkwardness and inability to fully get his life together are played for laughs, but there’s also something endearing about him. His interactions with Morgan create a secondary dynamic that’s just as enjoyable to watch as the main romance. In fact, I found myself looking forward to their scenes together just as much, if not more, than the moments between Noah and Joanne.
The show also includes the archetypal overbearing Jewish mother in Tovah Feldshuh’s Bina, who embodies the familiar trope of the disapproving matriarch. Bina is constantly throwing guilt at Noah for not dating someone within their faith, and while her character doesn’t stray far from the stereotypical, Feldshuh brings enough nuance to make her performance enjoyable rather than tiresome.
If there’s one major criticism I have of Nobody Wants This, it’s that it never really takes any risks. The plot unfolds exactly as you’d expect—there are no real surprises, no dramatic twists, and while that’s part of what makes it such a cozy watch, it also means the show doesn’t leave much of an impact.
The conflicts between Noah and Joanne are resolved fairly easily, and even the disapproval from Noah’s family feels more like a hurdle to be jumped over rather than a deep, lasting challenge.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking for a rom-com that doesn’t demand too much from you. But as someone who loves seeing characters grow and struggle in ways that feel real and relatable, I couldn’t help but wish for a bit more depth. The show hints at interesting themes—like the tension between religious obligations and personal desires—but it never fully commits to exploring them. Instead, it wraps everything up neatly in a way that feels satisfying but not particularly memorable.
One thing that Nobody Wants This does get right is its overall tone and atmosphere. The show is set in Los Angeles, and the sunny, laid-back vibe of the city seeps into every scene. There’s something about the easy, breezy setting that perfectly complements the low-stakes nature of the story. Whether Noah and Joanne are wandering through the city or having quiet moments together, there’s a warmth to the visuals that adds to the overall coziness of the series.
The production quality is solid, and while it doesn’t necessarily stand out in any particular way, it does exactly what it needs to: provide a comfortable backdrop for the romance to unfold. The soundtrack, featuring plenty of indie pop and soft rock, also adds to the show’s mellow vibe, making it a perfect show to unwind to.
Despite the show’s shortcomings, I found myself looking forward to each new episode.
There’s something undeniably comforting about Nobody Wants This. It’s not a rom-com that’s going to challenge you or make you rethink your ideas about love, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s warm, funny, and charming enough to keep you hooked, especially if you’re a fan of the genre.
For me, the best moments weren’t necessarily the big romantic gestures but the quieter scenes where Noah and Joanne are just being themselves. Whether it’s a sweet kiss on the sidewalk or a moment of awkward vulnerability, those little moments are what made me keep watching. They felt real in a way that the grander rom-com moments sometimes don’t.
In the end, Nobody Wants This is exactly the kind of rom-com I can imagine putting on when I want something comforting and easy to watch. It’s not going to blow anyone away with its originality, but it doesn’t need to. The chemistry between the cast, the warmth of the setting, and the light-hearted humor make it a fun, cozy watch. And sometimes, that’s all you really need from a rom-com.
If you’re someone who loves the genre as much as I do—and especially if you have a soft spot for Adam Brody and Kristen Bell—you’ll find plenty to enjoy in Nobody Wants This. It’s not a game-changer, but it’s a heart-warmer, and that’s enough for me.