‘Nobody Wants This’

“A religion that encourages you to argue? Love that!” Season two of Netflix’s number one trending show Nobody Wants This continues the story of Joanne-a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, agnostic sex and relationships podcaster-who falls in love with “hot Rabbi” Noah and struggles about whether or not to convert to Judaism.

Jewish viewers instantly recognize Joanne’s quip as a nod to a core Jewish value-and, true to that spirit, they’re invited to do the same: analyze, engage, and debate how the show portrays contemporary American Jews to a global audience.

There’s plenty to dissect. Viewers were quick to notice Temple Ahava’s Rabbi Neil mislabeling Tisha B’Av-a solemn day of mourning-as Tu B’Shevat, the “Jewish Earth Day.”

Rabbi Noah’s family’s mistimed “Good Shabbos” greeting raised eyebrows. Critics flagged the familiar tropes of the overbearing mother and controlling wife as the story’s villains. The show portrays the Reform movement as “ultra-lax”: rabbis lead therapy-like classes, no one wears a kippah, and conversion can be fast-tracked in a breezy six months.

“A non-Jewish viewer will walk away with a very partial understanding of Judaism,” warned Rabbi Benjy Forester of Anshe Emet Synagogue.

Yet, despite its simplifications, the romantic comedy brings Jewish ritual and culture to millions of screens. Nobody Wants This offers viewers glimpses into Jewish milestones: Shabbat dinners, Purim parties, and a B’rit Bat (baby naming). Noah explains naming traditions: “As Ashkenazi Jews, we traditionally name a baby after a relative who’s died”-and introduces Hebrew phrases like ayin tovah (“good eye”). He teaches from Parashat BeShalach, in which the Israelites wander through the wilderness. For many non-Jewish audiences, this may be their first real exposure to Jewish warmth and community.

Creator Erin Foster, who converted to Judaism for her husband, defended the show in Vanity Fair.: “With the heaviness of what’s going on in the world around the Jewish faith…to have a lighthearted, sweet, happy show that reminds people how beautiful Judaism is-don’t find something wrong with it! Take the win,” she said.

Despite his qualms, Rav Ezra Balser, Rabbi of the Luba & Bernard Friedman Base Loop, acknowledged, “Any pop-culture portrayal that highlights traditions while showing Jews as fully human is a win.”

But should Jews simply “take the win”? Can one truly understand what it means to be Jewish without acknowledging the “heaviness”-the trauma, memory, and resilience-that underpins Jewish identity? Forester notes the series neglects the concept of Jewish peoplehood: the sense of shared history, heritage, and destiny that binds Jews together.

Conversion is about joining K’lal Yisrael, the Jewish people, and shaping one’s Jewish identity through ritual, faith, and chesed (acts of righteousness). Joanne never quite reaches that understanding.

The show also misses the chance to explore Noah’s background as the child of presumably Eastern-European immigrants. His mother, Bina, speaks with a thick accent, hinting at her background, yet the series never addresses how her history of persecution or displacement might shape her discomfort with her son dating a non-Jew. The absence of any mention of antisemitism-or Israel-is another missed opportunity to add realism and emotional weight.

In one scene, Noah’s sister-in-law Esther gives Joanne a “Jewish pass” for being warm and funny, calling her a “kibbitzer” and “yenta.” It’s played for laughs, but as Forester notes, “The vibe alone will only take you so far.” Conversion is a demanding process involving study, ritual, Hebrew, synagogue attendance, spiritual growth, and connection to the Jewish people.

With Netflix renewing Nobody Wants This for a third season, Balser hopes it will delve deeper into Jewish wisdom and tradition. Forester plans to use the show as a springboard for an interfaith program at Anshe Emet -aptly titled Everybody Wants This-to spark dialogue about interfaith relationships.

Season two of Nobody Wants This is a mixed blessing. It offers visibility and a lighthearted entry point to Judaism, yet flattens a tradition rich in complexity, history, and meaning into something easily digestible. It’s entertaining, yes-but understanding what it truly means to be Jewish takes more than a rom-com.

Jamie Hendler is a licensed Certified Public Account and a marketing professional in the Chicago metropolitan area. She is a graduate of Washington University Olin Business School.