Analysis of Nobody Wants This on Netflix: The Romance That Breaks the Mold

Nobody Wants This is a romantic comedy series that premiered its first season in September 2024 and its second in October 2025.

The show is based on the real-life story of its creator and writer, Erin Foster, and her husband, Simon Tikhman.

The cast includes Kristen Bell (Joanne), Adam Brody (Noah Roklov), Justine Lupe (Morgan), and Timothy Simons (Sasha Roklov).

Joanne is an agnostic and outgoing podcaster who openly talks about her love and sex life. She starts dating Rabbi Noah Roklov, who is recently single.

They meet and feel an instant, undeniable attraction, but they come from completely different worlds. Their relationship is constantly tested by their contrasting lifestyles and beliefs, as well as by family interference and the expectations of Noah’s community.

Nobody Wants This became both a critical and audience favorite on Netflix. It was praised for being light, funny, and smart in how it handles conflict, avoiding romantic clichés and showcasing great chemistry between the leads. It quickly entered Netflix’s Top 10 most-watched shows.

Official Trailer

Creator Erin Foster came up with the idea in 2019 during her conversion to Judaism, while she was beginning a relationship with Simon Tikhman. The two met in 2018 at a gym in Los Angeles and got engaged the following year.

Simon, co-founder of a music management company, comes from a family with a strong Jewish tradition of marrying within the faith. Although not strictly religious, he wanted to preserve his family’s lineage, as his parents had been forced to leave the Soviet Union in 1979.

Producer Erin Foster described the series as a love letter to her husband. Her conversion to Judaism, mirrored in the series, was something she discussed on The World’s First Podcast, which she co-hosts with her sister Sara Foster, portrayed in the show by Justine Lupe.

The main storyline about an “unlikely couple” overcoming cultural and religious differences to be together comes directly from the couple’s real-life experiences.

Profession

Real Life: Simon is a music executive, record label owner, and entrepreneur.

Series: Noah is a rabbi, which creates a deeper source of conflict.

How They Met

Real Life: They met at a gym in Los Angeles.

Series: They meet at a dinner party with friends.

Family Reception

Real Life: His family welcomed her warmly and loves her despite their differences.

Series: His family disapproves of the relationship, which creates a lot of tension.

Conversion

Real Life: Erin converted to Judaism in 2019 before getting married, as an act of love for her husband.

Series: Joanne goes through the conversion process for her love for Noah.

You know those romantic comedies that feel like a warm hug but also make you laugh nervously? That’s exactly what this is. The show takes the classic “opposites attract” formula and gives it a fresh, modern touch by exploring cultural clashes and, most of all, the weight of religion.

The casting is one of the show’s biggest strengths. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable. Kristen Bell is fantastic as a chaotic woman in her forties who speaks without thinking but ultimately just wants love. She’s funny, sharp, and incredibly relatable.

Adam Brody plays a rabbi who is anything but conventional. He’s charming, traditional yet open-minded (and yes, he smokes weed), which makes him feel more human and authentic. You can’t help but root for them even though their relationship makes no sense on paper.

What’s brilliant about the show is how it explores faith and stereotypes. It’s not just a simple love story. The writers aren’t afraid to show a rabbi who has doubts and flaws, breaking the mold of the “perfect religious leader.” At the same time, the show never mocks religion. It treats it with respect, showing that for love to work, Joanne has to embrace and commit to this part of Noah’s life, which culminates in her conversion.

The message of the series really resonates: love doesn’t care about labels, and we’re all a little lost, whether we’re successful professionals or respected spiritual leaders. It’s about discovering who we are and where we belong. It’s not just about the cultural contrast between Los Angeles single life and a deeply traditional family. It’s about learning to accept another person fully.

Nobody Wants This was very well received by critics, especially in its first season. The second season also received positive reviews, though with a slight drop in ratings.

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% critics’ approval, 71% audience score.

IMDb: 7.8/10 based on 70,000 reviews.

The show succeeds in blending the charm of classic rom-coms with a modern and honest look at the challenges of finding love today.

It stands out by combining the “unlikely couple” trope with complex adult themes such as cultural and religious differences, the insecurities of starting a serious relationship after 30, and the pressure from family to maintain traditions.

By treating these topics with humor and lightness, but without oversimplifying them, the series shows that in modern love, chemistry is just the beginning. Real connection requires communication, compromise, and vulnerability.

Instead of simply delivering a happy ending, Nobody Wants This suggests that true happiness comes from mutual growth and the willingness to embrace the discomfort of differences. It encourages viewers to seek relationships that push them to become their best selves.

See you next time!