Warning: Spoilers ahead for season two of Nobody Wants This.
The beloved Netflix comedy series, Nobody Wants This, which captivated audiences with its unconventional love story between a rabbi and a podcast host, has returned with its much-anticipated second season. This delightful series follows the lives of Joanne, portrayed by Kristen Bell, and Noah, played by Adam Brody, as they navigate the complexities of their evolving relationship.
Season two, now available with ten new episodes, begins with Joanne and Noah basking in the glow of their recent commitment to one another. Their relationship, however, faces a significant challenge: Joanne’s reluctance to convert to Judaism, which remains an unresolved issue until the season finale.
In the early episodes, Noah finds his professional aspirations hindered when he is overlooked for the senior rabbi position at Temple Chai, a setback attributed to the uncertainty surrounding Joanne’s potential conversion. Embracing a new opportunity, Noah accepts a position at Temple Ahava, a progressive congregation led by Rabbi Neil, played by Seth Rogen. This temple, which welcomes members without pressing conversion timelines, seems like an ideal compromise for Joanne and Noah, despite Noah’s more traditional views.
Does Joanne Decide To Convert To Judaism?
Complicating matters further, Joanne faces eviction after making disparaging comments about her landlord on her podcast, co-hosted with her sister Morgan, played by Justine Lupe. The logical solution would be for Joanne to move in with Noah, but he hesitates due to the unresolved issue of her conversion. Concerned that cohabitation might lead to further avoidance of the matter, Noah fears potential resentment and unhappiness.
Despite Joanne’s gradual inclination towards conversion, her inability to make a definitive commitment leaves her uncertain about their future together, casting a shadow over their otherwise promising relationship. As the season unfolds, viewers are drawn into this heartfelt exploration of love, faith, and compromise.
Things get complicated when Joanne faces eviction for talking negatively about her landlord on the podcast she cohosts with her sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe).
The easiest solution is for Joanne to move in with Noah, but he’s opposed because she hasn’t answered the conversion question yet, and he’s worried that if they move in together, they’ll never deal with and he may become unhappy and resentful toward her. Although Joanne has been inching closer toward wanting to convert, she can’t guarantee that she’ll get there, and therefore doesn’t understand how they can move forward as a couple.
They agree that they deserve to be in relationships where they can both be fully themselves while still progressing, but neither of them wants to break up.
Adam Brody as Noah, Timothy Simons as Sasha, Kristen Bell as Joanne and Jackie Tohn as Esther on season two, episode nine of “Nobody Wants This.”
Erin Simkin/Netflix
This tension continues in the season finale, which takes place at the extravagant engagement party for Morgan and her therapist, Andy (Arian Moayed), whom she recently started dating.
At the celebration, Morgan starts questioning her feelings for Andy and her mom, Lynn (Stephanie Faracy), gives her some useful advice. Lynn says that Morgan needs to be in an equal partnership with someone who holds her accountable but sees the best in her. This message resonates with Joanne, and she wants to continue dating Noah. But Noah has an eye-opening conversation with his older brother, Sasha (Timothy Simons), who’s lost the spark in his marriage to Esther (Jackie Tohn) and says that relationships shouldn’t be this hard.
Noah then breaks up with Joanne.
“There are a hundred different ways I could convince you to be with me right now, but I’m not gonna do that,” he says. “Nothing good happens when it’s forced. I don’t want to be the person who’s asking you to be someone different. We can’t start our life that way. You would wake up in 20 years, you would hate me.”
“I don’t know what other choice we have. I love you. But we can’t keep going like this. It’s too hard,” he says, leaving the party.
Joanne is distraught and gets consoled by Esther, who’s in a rut after telling Sasha that their relationship isn’t working anymore and she needs space to figure it out on her own. Through her conversation with Esther, Joanne realizes that she’s already Jewish.
“I feel like you have this idea of being Jewish that’s so much more complicated than it actually is,” Esther says. “I mean, you feel Jewish to me. You’re warm and cozy. You always wanna chat about everything. You’d be a pretty good get for us.”
“With or without Noah, you’re Jewish,” she adds.
Do Joanne And Noah Stay Together Or Break Up?
Adam Brody as Noah and Kristen Bell as Joanne on season two, episode seven of “Nobody Wants This.”
Erin Simkin/Netflix
Noah and Joanne break up and then get back together over the course of the season finale.
After the eureka moment about her faith, Joanne runs to find Noah, who was replaying the greatest hits of their romance in his head while leaving the party, and doesn’t want to throw away what they have together.
“None of it matters,” Noah tells Joanne once they catch up to each other. “You are my soulmate. That’s it. I don’t care if you’re Jewish. I don’t care if you’re not Jewish. I choose you. Every time.”
“Well, you’re in luck,” Joanne says, smiling.
The episode ends with the couple kissing, finally on the same page about their future.
Nobody Wants This hasn’t been renewed for a third season yet, but if the show returns, it would likely focus on Joanne’s conversion journey.
Season two of Nobody Wants This is streaming on Netflix.
