Nobody Wants This

Loosely based on the colourful life of creator Erin Foster, Nobody Wants This is Netflix’s latest feel-good urban dating comedy. Joanne (Kristen Bell) is successful in her professional life, hosting a relationship podcast with her younger sister, Morgan. But her love life is sorely lacking, as she finds herself stuck in a cycle of embarrassing bad dates – the only upside being that they provide her with great podcast material. After meeting charming rabbi Noah (Adam Brody) at a party, her luck appears to be changing.

With Gen-Z verbiage dominating pop culture as of late, it’s nice to see a show about 40-somethings living life to the fullest. This is particularly refreshing when it comes to Bell: while men are allowed to age in Hollywood, actresses are all too often relegated to “mum” or “mature” roles once they reach a certain age. As such, it’s pleasantly surprising to see Bell depicted as a vivacious, trendy woman who isn’t subject to casual ageism or misogyny. It’s also no shock that it’s become a huge hit among Millennials, many of whom grew up crushing on Brody as Seth in The OC.

Though billed as a romantic comedy, it’s rather light on jokes. The writers rely on cringe-worthy set pieces rather than organic plot developments, to elicit chuckles. Some of the characterisations also border on the farcical, particularly Sherry Cola as Joanne’s BFF Ashley, whose flamboyant persona, though infectious, lacks substance.

Moreover, it’s a familiar tale of a neurotic girlboss thriving in all aspects of her life other than love. One could easily imagine Jennifer Aniston taking on the role of Joanne in the noughties, for instance. However, Bell is a charming lead, and Brody is equally likeable, making them enjoyable company despite the series’ shortcomings.

Following the cynicism and mean-spiritedness that has permeated US sitcoms over the last two decades (think Arrested Development and Big Bang Theory), Nobody Wants This is a refreshingly wholesome take on a familiar format. And while not every quip lands and some of the writing is more than a tad clichéd, it’s nonetheless heart-warming comfort viewing with a stellar cast to boot. 

Antonia Georgiou

Nobody Wants This is released on Netflix on 26^th September 2024.

Watch the trailer for Nobody Wants This here: