Everything Nobody Wants This Gives Us in Season 2

Remember Ryan Gosling’s famous question, “What do you want?” It’s a surprisingly hard question to answer! The second season of Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s show, Nobody Wants This, explores this very idea. The show follows a rabbi and a podcaster who fall for each other, even though they have a lot of differences and potential problems. It makes you wonder: does Joanne want to become Jewish? Is Noah willing to sacrifice his career goals for love with someone who doesn’t share his faith? And, most importantly, is all the drama worth it if they truly want to be together?

As a total cinema fan, I’ve been following Nobody Wants This, and let me tell you, this season is all about Joanne and Noah trying to figure things out. They’re constantly wrestling with big questions, looking for answers anywhere they can – from their gut feelings to what feels like divine intervention, and even questionable advice from a therapist who definitely bends the rules. Honestly, it’s amazing they manage to make any decisions – these two are a mess! So, I thought it would be fun to break down each episode and see how they stumble towards figuring out what they want, and maybe even decide for ourselves what we want (or don’t!) from the show.

Spoilers follow for all of season two.

Episode 1: “Dinner Party”

Despite the time apart, Joanne and Noah haven’t resolved the big issue threatening their relationship: Noah’s job at Temple Chai requires him to have a Jewish wife, and Joanne is hesitant about converting. This problem has actually gotten worse. They realize they’re completely misunderstanding each other – Noah believed Joanne was still considering conversion, while she thought they’d agreed to remain an interfaith couple – and begin to wonder if their relationship is destined to fail, especially after Noah is passed over for a promotion in favor of another Noah whose partner is Jewish. On a brighter note, their attempt to introduce their friend groups at a dinner party isn’t a total loss. Sure, Joanne’s friend Ryann spent the evening upset about a recent breakup and no one could get the lighting right, but overall, it wasn’t terrible!

It looks like Esther is ending Sasha and Morgan’s close friendship – she’s simply not okay with him enjoying time with another woman. This is disappointing, as their friendship was a highlight of the first season. However, the resulting conversation about threesomes does give us a fantastic line from Jackie Tohn: “First of all, neither of you would be involved.” Honestly, maybe they should just go for it and resolve all this awkwardness.

Let’s be honest, everyone appreciates a thoughtful gesture. Noah (and especially Adam Brody, according to the author) has a knack for making even something simple, like a nightstand, feel special. It’s a bit unfair to the rest of us, really – he can ease anxieties and reassure Joanne just by buying her a place to put all her nighttime skincare products. It doesn’t magically fix their bigger issues, like deciding whether or not to convert to Judaism, but it does remind them that they’re both committed to making the relationship work, and allows them to postpone that tricky conversation for another time. (The author is certain Noah would appreciate that pun.)

Episode 2: “Leave It at the Tree”

The response to Big Noah, who replaced Noah at Temple Chai, has been overwhelmingly positive – people are calling it a truly special experience. However, Bina absolutely hates Big Noah, and blames Joanne for everything, including his success. She even went to a baseball game to tell his son’s girlfriend how she feels! Meanwhile, Sasha tries to repair the strained relationship between himself and Esther, who is still upset about Sasha’s close friendship with Morgan, by revisiting a meaningful spot from their childhood. It seems like a lot of important conversations are happening around tables this season of Nobody Wants This!

Honestly, no one is invested in this storyline. It’s irrelevant that Morgan shared with Bina how Joanne let Noah pursue his career goals, and that Noah was the one who chased after Joanne. Even though Bina witnesses Noah and Joanne’s connection – particularly Joanne helping Noah process his feelings – she’s still determined to keep them apart, even going so far as to use a predictable Taylor Swift song. This rehash of last season’s drama is simply frustrating and dull!

Everyone seems to be falling for Morgan! During a basketball game, Noah’s friend Lenny criticizes Morgan’s behavior at the dinner party – calling her harsh, self-absorbed, and inauthentic – which sends her to the bathroom to cry. There, she unexpectedly connects with Bina, who points out that Morgan’s hurt likely stems from a belief that the criticism is true. Morgan later describes Bina as “small and wise.” With Morgan and Sasha’s friendship on hold, could this new connection with Bina be a positive development?

Episode 3: “The Unethical Therapist”

Noah is struggling after being demoted at the temple, so he starts using his rabbinical skills to help people in his personal life. He gives advice to listeners of Joanne and Morgan’s podcast – someone should really give him a podcast! – encourages Joanne to revive old birthday traditions for her mother, Lynn, and even helps Lynn fulfill her lifelong dream of getting a tattoo. While a tattoo might not be a typical rabbinical pursuit, it was a kind gesture from Noah.

Things get interesting when Morgan shows up to the party with Dr. Andy, who everyone learns is her former therapist – they’d just finished their last session. Noah might find himself with more romantic attention too, as Sasha, encouraged by Bina, has started talking about having another baby, much to Esther’s dismay. And Noah might have more free time to deal with the drama, because he’s decided to follow his rabbi’s advice and embrace the unknown, officially leaving Temple Chai.

Seriously, nobody wants to hear this: Joanne actually said, “Noah and I are figuring out how to be a ‘we’,” and it’s just… really off-putting.

Everyone’s been hoping for a romantic moment in season two, and it happens when Noah finds Joanne upset in her mother’s bed after a fight with Morgan about Dr. Andy. Noah kindly tells Joanne that even though she doesn’t approve of Morgan dating her therapist, she can still support her sister. Joanne, in turn, comforts Noah, understanding how difficult it is for him to leave his dream job. They share a warm hug and a kiss. And Lynn? She’s there the whole time, enjoying the scene just as much as the viewers!

Episode 4: “Valentine’s Day”

Valentine’s Day doesn’t go as planned for Noah and Joanne when Joanne discovers Noah uses a formulaic approach to dating – he gives all his girlfriends identical gifts and plans the same dates, focusing on what he thinks a perfect boyfriend does instead of getting to know each woman as an individual. They manage to work through the issue, though. Elsewhere, Dr. Andy’s Valentine’s Day isn’t quite what Morgan hoped for, but it’s exactly what someone’s dreams are made of. Despite some reservations about how quickly things are progressing, she agrees to move in with him, possibly swayed by a romantic serenade (“Kiss From a Rose”) or, perhaps, his subtly manipulative tactics.

This episode definitely lacks the spark of the passionate kiss from the first season. Everything Noah tries to do for Joanne falls flat – the dates are dull and things just keep going wrong. Their attempt at a romantic bubble bath is particularly awkward! While they do manage to be honest with each other, it’s hard to say if it was worth sacrificing the romance.

Let’s be real, everyone’s been talking about this episode. Was it funnier seeing Joanne gift Noah that old Shaq movie poster, or Sasha’s awkward dance to Ariana Grande? Nope. The real highlight was that unsettling picture of what Sasha and Miriam’s child might look like. And yes, you read that right – Miriam is Sasha’s daughter. I’m not going to explain any further.

Episode 5: “Abby Loves Smoothies”

I finally understood a long-held grudge when Joanne and Morgan explained their intense dislike for Abby, an influencer who hired their friend Noah. Apparently, Abby cut off the hair of their beloved Felicity doll back in sixth grade – a particularly painful act, considering Felicity was a resilient character who ‘survived the Revolutionary War’! Even after all these years, Joanne realizes her anger isn’t about the doll itself. She’s actually envious of Abby’s seemingly perfect life – her beautiful home, loving husband, and adorable children – and confesses she wants that for herself. Meanwhile, Sasha and Esther demonstrate that a conventional life isn’t always ideal when Esther experiences a possible pregnancy scare, and they both handle the news in contrasting ways. And, most notably, Esther gets a new haircut with bangs.

Seriously, who asked for this? That ridiculously long focus on the Estee Lauder serum was… a lot. Let’s just say the product placement this season isn’t exactly blending in.

Seriously, everyone is hoping for this! Does anyone think Leighton Meester could deliver the lines, “It was really nice seeing you. Can you get out of this room, please?” with that perfect mix of sweetness and sharpness she’s known for? We need more Leighton Meester – both on this show and in everything she does!

Episode 6: “Anything Can Happen”

Purim is a wild holiday where anything goes – people dress up, get tipsy, and unexpected things happen. It seems like Joanne’s kind of holiday, but she’s stressed because Noah wants her to consider officially converting to Judaism during the celebration. Even in a Cinderella costume, she’s a nervous wreck. To make things worse, Noah asked for time off to prepare for a job interview at a more modern temple (and he gets the job!), which Joanne takes as a personal rejection. She always feels like she needs to be the center of attention. It makes you wonder if her dad – who’s dressed as Queen Esther – isn’t the only one with a big ego. And the chaos doesn’t stop there: Lynn suddenly declares she’s Jewish, only to be outdone by Dr. Andy, who realizes he never wants a break from Morgan and proposes on the spot. It’s a total disaster for Joanne.

It’s pretty obvious Esther doesn’t want to be seen as the regal Queen Esther this year – she’s opted for a much more playful, sexy cat costume. The joke, delivered by Bina with the line “Esther doesn’t want to be Esther,” is a bit heavy-handed. This costume choice, and the resulting tension between Esther and Sasha, is really bringing down the atmosphere.

Everyone loves a good connection! Sasha quickly became a big fan of Dr. Andy after discovering they both played Kenickie in their high school’s production of Grease – and in the same year, just three states apart. It was a funny coincidence, like discovering a shared inside joke!

Episode 7: “When You Know, You Know”

Joanne seems unable to resist stirring up trouble, doesn’t she? While she’s right to be concerned about Morgan marrying Andy and feels Morgan is easily led, she handles it poorly, culminating in a dramatic wedding dress try-on during Morgan’s shopping trip. Joanne claims she’s not jealous, but her father bluntly calls her attention-seeking. This leads to a major fight on their podcast, and the sisters decide they need space from each other. Elsewhere, Noah’s hopeful job at the temple appears to be a dead end, offering no solution to his issues with conversion.

Seriously, who thought this was a good idea? They cast Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant as the heads of a progressive synagogue, Temple Ahava, which seems to operate without any clear direction, and then have them tell jokes about Fantastic Four and Kylie Kardashian? It’s just… baffling.

Everyone seems to love two things: all the hilarious antics of Stephanie Faracy and Michael Hitchcock at the wedding boutique, and Morgan’s strange, yet fascinating, revelations about Dr. Andy – specifically, that he dislikes his mother and was involved in a hit-and-run accident.

Episode 8: “A Better Rabbi”

As the season comes to an end, people are starting to be very open and honest with each other. Noah tells Temple Ahava that it’s just not a good fit for him, and he confesses to Joanne that he’s worried about her difficulty with commitment. Joanne insists she actually wants a stable, lasting relationship, something she didn’t have as a child. Meanwhile, Esther unexpectedly tells Rebecca that she wouldn’t choose Sasha if she were getting married today. Things get even more complicated when Sasha admits to Esther that he feels her pulling away is deeply upsetting, especially after Morgan discovers Dr. Andy has dated patients before and they try to access his phone. To top it all off, Joanne finds an eviction notice on her door after her landlord overheard her criticizing him on her podcast. Emotions are at an all-time high!

Honestly, I was so frustrated! They brought Gabe back to tell us he’s leaving, but couldn’t give us an update on Abby and her smoothies? Seriously? It felt like a slap in the face!

Stephanie Faracy’s character, Lynn, is quickly becoming a standout this season. This is thanks to both a heartfelt discussion with Joanne about discovering her desires, and a revealing conversation at Temple Ahava where she shared her incredible memory – comparing it to Marilu Henner’s ability to recall every day of her life.

Episode 9: “Crossroads”

This explains why these couples struggle to communicate openly. It also highlights the problem with relying on quick-fix solutions like therapist-designed games. All three couples end up together at a casual get-together, and Morgan and Dr. Andy, having just finished therapy, decide to play a relationship-focused card game created by their therapist (who’s even sold the movie rights – it’s complicated!). Given that Joanne and Noah are already arguing about moving in together, Sasha and Esther’s marriage is failing, and Morgan is starting to realize Dr. Andy has serious flaws, the game predictably backfires. Everyone ends up feeling hurt and arguing with their partner, and it looks like most, if not all, of the relationships might be over.

It’s become clear that this storyline isn’t resonating with viewers. The current conflict feels like a repeat of the first season. Noah believes the only way for him and Joanne to stay together is if she converts, leaving Joanne to question if they both deserve a relationship where they can be their true selves and move forward. It’s surprising, but Noah was the one who pursued her and wanted to try again, and I find myself surprisingly on Joanne’s side.

Everyone enjoys seeing Morgan and Dr. Andy’s chaotic relationship, which drives the romantic comedy aspects of the show. The reveal that Dr. Andy has a estranged twin brother, unknown to Morgan, provided a welcome break from the episode’s tension.

Episode 10: “When Noah Met Joanne”

Okay, this engagement party was… something else. Honestly, it was a total disaster! It started with Morgan finally breaking up with Andy – her mom basically gave her the push she needed, which was wild. Andy was upset as her fiancé, but weirdly proud as her therapist – talk about complicated! But the real gut punch was Esther and Sasha calling it quits. That one really stung. Still, Sasha seems to be handling it with grace, saying he’ll give her space. And honestly, I think Esther will thrive on her own – she’s always been a force of nature. It was like watching a domino effect – even Joanne and Noah decided to end things, realizing they shouldn’t have to struggle so much. Noah just didn’t want to pressure Joanne to be someone she wasn’t. It was a breakup party more than an engagement one, that’s for sure!

Then, Esther points out to Joanne that she’s making things too complicated. If Joanne already enjoys Jewish traditions, Esther wonders why she’s hesitant to fully embrace them. Meanwhile, Noah vividly remembers how amazing their kiss was last season, and all the things he loves about Joanne. Driven by these feelings, they rush towards each other.

It feels like we’re repeating ourselves: the season ends with Noah and Joanne reaffirming their love for each other, just like last season. It’s so similar, you almost wonder if they could have reused old footage without anyone realizing.

Let’s be honest, everyone loves a good, passionate kiss between Joanne and Noah. I admit it – I’m a hopeless romantic!

2025-10-24 00:58