The title of Nobody Wants This, a romantic comedy now streaming on Netflix, is ambiguous.
It revolves around a liberal American rabbi who falls head-over-heels in love with a secular woman who happens to be a Christian but who is lukewarm toward organized religion.
Given the interfaith nature of their relationship, viewers are bound to ask themselves two basic questions.
Should he be courting her in the first place? Is he setting a bad example by doing so? Or should he be free to follow his heart and damn the consequences? Even at the risk of losing his job and jeopardizing his career?
In other words, can love conquer all?
This ten-part series, created by Erin Foster and loosely based on her own experience, is set in Los Angeles and stars Adam Brody as Rabbi Noah Roklov and Kristen Bell as Joanne (her surname is omitted).
They meet at a party in Los Angeles, and while their backgrounds are different, they form an instant rapport. “You’re pretty smooth for a rabbi,” she says. Hoping she has some Jewish ancestry, he wonders, “Are you even a little bit Jewish? Like an aunt, or a great grandmother, or a forged document?”
“Say something rabbinical,” she counters as their conversation deepens. Impishly, he replies, “There’s a fiddler on the roof.”
Judging by the tender look in her eyes, she is seriously interested in him.
Bina (Tovah Feldshuh), the rabbi’s intrusive, Russian-born mother, immediately recognizes Joanne as an outsider. “Who’s that shiksa?” she asks archly.
Not being familiar with that word, Joanne asks what it means. Noah is only glad to explain: “Technically, it’s a Yiddish insult that means you’re impure and detestable. But these days it just means you’re a hot, blonde, non-Jew.”
Intrigued by Noah, Joanne, the co-producer of a podcast on sex in contemporary society, shows up at his synagogue unannounced. “It’s not every day that a shiksa walks into a temple looking for a rabbi,” she says sardonically.
Indeed.
Bina, however, opposes her son’s liaison with Joanne, while Rebecca (Emily Arlook), Noah’s ex-finance, tries to sabotage it. Joanne’s younger sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe), thinks they’re a “weird pair.” Esther (Jackie Tohn), Noah’s demanding sister, does not care for Joanne, but eventually warms up to her.
Their differences crop up in a restaurant. He requests bacon to be removed from a salad. She orders it with extra bacon. This culinary blip does not interfere with their blooming romance.
Despite his infatuation with Joanne, Noah is torn by doubts. Should he even be dating a Christian?
Fearing she may block his chance at a job promotion, he keeps Joanne under wraps. She learns about his maneuver and confronts him, whereupon he apologizes and asks her to be his girlfriend.
The next crisis that engulfs Noah is also related to his position at the synagogue. Rabbi Cohen, his boss, is retiring and wants Noah to succeed him. But Noah cannot be a viable candidate as his successor unless Joanne agrees to convert to Judaism.
As he confides to his brother, Sasha (Timothy Simons), “We don’t have a future if she’s not Jewish.”
These serious developments unfold against a comedic backdrop. The creators of Nobody Wants This do their best to keep it light and accessible. They succeed, in large part, because the lead actors fit snugly into their respective roles.
In the last episode, the issue of Joanne’s possible conversion looms large because their future as a couple and Noah’s career path are both impacted by it. The dilemma he ultimately faces after Joanne makes up her mind about this pivotal matter is truly agonizing.
To some, his decision will be seen as too pat and implausible. To others, it will appear to be real.
Whatever your reaction may be, you likely will not be disappointed by Nobody Wants This, which, despite boring and silly interludes, is well-crafted and reasonably entertaining.