At first, I didn’t prioritize Nobody Wants This, the new Kristen Bell and Adam Brody-led romantic comedy on Netflix created by Erin Foster, the actress and writer who also happens to be the daughter of music industry executive David Foster. That’s very unlike me, especially with a series like this that—at a glance—checks all the boxes.
This New, Top-Rated Netflix Show Has a 93 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes—and It’s Proof the Rom-Com Isn’t Dead
Why ‘Nobody Wants This’ is a Must-Watch
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Updated Sep 30, 2024
Netflix
Netflix
First and foremost, Bell and Brody, who together or separate carry the star power that would make me sit down and watch regardless of the content. There’s also the charming premise—Joanne (played by Bell) is a podcast co-host with her sister, Morgan (played by Succession’s Justine Lupe) who has zero luck when it comes to romance. That is, until she encounters Noah (Brody) for a meet-cute that’s full of comedic errors at a friend’s dinner party. (There’s a rabbi at the party; the non-religious Joanne pegs Noah for someone else, but as it turns out, he’s the rabbi. Whoops.)
Netflix
Add to that a stellar supporting cast. I already mentioned Lupe, but there’s also Tovah Feldshuh (she plays Noah’s mom); Timothy Simons (Jonah of Veep fame—he’s Noah’s brother); and many more. (Come on, the best rom-coms are the ones with a proper range of joke-wielding and plot-driving characters that rival the show’s leads.)
But here’s the thing: The main reason I looked the other way is due to the fact that, aside from Australian import Colin from Accounts, it’s been a minute since a series has gotten the rom-com right. Still, that’s when I started to see quite a few friends and smart people in my social feeds buzzing about the series, so I checked it out.
Now, the good news: Nobody Wants This is the rare rom-com unicorn that nails the job.
Netflix
It was apparent in the first five minutes of the first episode (I’m now several episodes in)—the jokes were smooth vs. cliché; the interactions and banter fresh and modern-feeling; the pacing on point without any awkwardness or lag time. More than anything, the central characters (credit once again to Bell and Brody, but also Lupe) delivered an easy rhythm that felt authentic. Yes, real life doesn’t always produce moments like when Joanne gets a good parking spot and stumbles into a party and meets a perfect match and sparring partner all while dining al fresco against a picture perfect Los Angeles backdrop. But when a rom-com does this right, there’s a suspension of reality that makes it believable—and worth the time. (Hey, as far as escapist TV goes, I’ll drink to that.)
Bottom line: I’m happy to report Nobody Wants This delivers the opposite of what it’s title suggests. In fact, everybody wants this. (Bonus: At 30 minutes an episode, you can’t go wrong.)
