Is Nobody Wants This Mildly Antisemitic?

As a Jewish woman who has navigated my own complex relationship with Judaism and its many quirks, I must say that “Nobody Wants This” left me feeling rather disheartened. The show’s portrayal of Judaism is a far cry from the rich, nuanced, and deeply meaningful experience it can be for so many people.

In the eighth episode of Netflix’s fresh romantic comedy series titled “Nobody Wants This“, the main character and charismatic Rabbi Noah Roklov, portrayed by Adam Brody, along with his brother Sasha (Timothy Simons), devise a strategy to intrigue Noah’s non-Jewish girlfriend, Joanne, played by Kristen Bell. Their goal is to convince her that converting to Judaism would simplify their lives. They summarize the mission as simply making Judaism appear incredibly appealing.

In a different scenario, or perhaps a 30-minute romantic comedy TV series, things might be straightforward. However, “Nobody Wants This” presents a challenging situation: The show has spent the last seven episodes, along with two more to come, depicting being Jewish as something that’s not at all what one would consider incredibly wonderful.

The television series was devised by writer and podcast host Erin Foster, drawing inspiration from her personal courtship and subsequent marriage to talent manager Simon Tikhman, who is not a rabbi but converted to Judaism following their relationship’s end. In the show, titled “Nobody Wants This,” the term “the big C” represents conversion, which serves as one potential resolution to the central conflict: most characters in the series appear reluctant or even hostile towards Judaism and how it shapes their lives.

The Roklov family often discuss and refer to Joanne using antiquated and derogatory language, such as “shiksa” instead of the more neutral term “goy.” Their limited perspectives seem to be justified by their closeness, but it’s clear that everyone involved is unhappy. Their Jewish identity appears to be primarily a matter of social status, rather than spirituality or moral character. Apart from Noah (who is a good person), few if any other Jewish characters display any form of godliness towards Joanne or even each other. Despite the efforts of Noah’s mother Bina, his sister-in-law Esther, and his ex-girlfriend Rebecca to break up Noah and Joanne, in the final episode, Joanne decides – temporarily at least – to convert to Judaism as a means of preserving their relationship. As one of her friends puts it, conversion offers an appealing solution because it doesn’t require any strong beliefs or commitment to anything specific.

That throwaway joke is far more indicative of the show’s overall point of view, as well as its take on modern Judaism. Joanne’s lack of ideals in any way imbue the show with a profound and thudding cynicism. It’s not just that she thinks religion is kind of stupid, but that belief permeates every kind of subculture depicted in the show. Joanne and her sister Morgan (a very funny Justine Lupe) are relationship podcasters, a career that the show treats with utter disdain, frequently rendering them the two most naïve and moony characters on the show. (It takes five episodes, for instance, for Joanne to finally ask Noah what “shalom” means.) Joanne and Morgan’s dotty mother, Lynn (Stephanie Faracy), dabbles in the metaphysical to constant mockery; their gay father, Henry (Michael Hitchcock), is rarely able to enjoy his own happiness. Even what ought to be a cute if not awkward visit to a sex shop for Noah and Joanne descends into an uneasy conversation about their biggest fears, which causes Joanne to totally shut down. Her cynicism stems from her own personal defenses: avoiding getting hurt at any and all possible costs. But the show doesn’t break down that attitude — this isn’t a “change yourself for a man” type of narrative, and in turn, Joanne’s cynicism mostly hardens. It isn’t just she who finds the world stupid and naïve but a whole show built around that worldview. If it’s all bullshit, so is conversion.

In the third episode of their podcast, Joanne and Morgan encounter a self-proclaimed “doctor” (who graduated from the University of Turks and Caicos, as his mother claims) who specializes in reading auras. During this session, it’s revealed that Joanne appears to have no aura or one that can’t be detected. Skeptical, Joanne queries if the lack of detection might be because the practice is not genuine. The discussion between them descends into debates about the appropriateness of the “doctor’s” attire (opinions differ on whether he should wear a kimono) but the facts remain clear. Joanne, and the show itself titled “Nobody Wants This“, are not convinced by such practices that rely on faith.

That Nobody Wants This can’t find a way to make Judaism seem fun feels like a fundamental flaw of its otherwise charming core romance. Though Noah is an undeniable sweetie — this is Adam Brody we’re talking about, to be clear — it seems as though he’s the anomaly in his religion, rather than a shining example. Even so, in the episode’s final moments, Joanne goes back on her promise to convert. She sees this big step in her life as an ultimatum, the kind that Reform and other progressive takes on organized religion seem to mostly avoid in their teachings. What feels most antisemitic is the profound inflexibility of the show’s view of Judaism, that it’s a religion imbued with ors in lieu of ands. “Baked into the Jewish experience is wrestling with what God is or isn’t, not knowing,” Noah explains to Joanne the night they meet. Sure, there is cultural skepticism in that wrestling but also a sense of hope — if only Joanne knew that was a part of the Jewish experience too.

2024-10-01 16:53

Is Nobody Wants This Mildly Antisemitic?

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