Nobody Wants This Recap: Courting the Youth Vote

As a seasoned observer of human dynamics, I must say this narrative is as captivating as a campfire under the starry night sky. The characters are as intriguing as the tales spun around that very fire.

Listen, I’m all for Joanne and Noah having to face the disdain of youths at camp — a true test for any budding relationship — but the contrivances made to get those two into that situation are ridiculous. In what world would the woman who has repeatedly made sure people understand that her podcast is important and deep and empowering, the woman who has vehemently disagreed with her sister’s interpretation of what they do, the woman who has placed all of her career eggs in one basket and might finally see it pay off, blow off what is possibly the biggest meeting of her life to go away with her new boyfriend? And, like, not even a good away! To a Jewish camp in Ojai full of teenagers where her boyfriend has to work and there aren’t even plush bathrobes? It’s not like they booked some lavish vacation they can’t reschedule. You can reschedule this! Sure, Joanne comes to the conclusion that she is being cuckoo for coconuts here eventually, but it takes way too long to be believable. And it’s not just Joanne, either. Both she and Noah make some choices in “My Friend Joanne” that feel out of step with their characters thus far.

It seems like Nobody Wants This is trying to convince us that Joanne is so engrossed in the initial stage of her relationship with Noah that she’s fine with neglecting her job duties. While their adorable scenes at the start of the episode, where they can hardly move or part their lips, are quite appealing and could potentially keep viewers hooked for half an hour, one might question Joanne’s work ethic given the critical Spotify meeting approaching. Even though Joanne has been known to be fixated on tasks, it’s surprising that she doesn’t seem to prioritize this important meeting, even when Ashley stresses its significance, especially since these executives are lower-level. However, considering Morgan’s assertion that Joanne rarely lets work slip from her grasp, one might expect her to reconsider given her doubts about Morgan’s capabilities in professional settings.

In this story, there are numerous puzzling aspects that leave us wondering: Why doesn’t Ashley show more determination in prioritizing Joanne’s needs? Couldn’t she manage both attending the camp and returning for dinner? Or perhaps drive two vehicles? Also, why didn’t someone mention that their romantic getaway was shifted to a youth camp due to Noah’s job requirements? One might expect more female empowerment from Joanne in such a situation. It’s acceptable for characters to make mistakes, but it’s preferable if those errors have some rational explanation. On the positive side, Camp Haverim offers several engaging moments. The main reason Noah agreed to bring Joanne along while standing in for Rabbi Cohen was because no one associated with his temple would be there, allowing him and Joanne privacy without fear of gossip. However, when his former camp counselor, Rabbi Shira (played brilliantly by Leslie Grossman), appears, Noah introduces Joanne as his “friend.” While this doesn’t seem to bother Joanne initially, it becomes a concern when a group of teenage girls, who are well aware of Noah’s charm, make it clear that they can see Noah is trying to hide her. This subtle hint may lead to some tension later on.

Noah often talks about his past as the popular guy at camp, and his love for Beanie Babies just adds to his story. He always managed to find a girlfriend by summer’s end, which he considered crucial. Joanne seems to be enjoying it all. When Morgan calls to say that the head of the podcast department will attend this meeting, Joanne gets nervous enough to jot down some extra notes for her sister, but not so much as to rush home to secure her career’s future. By the way, they could easily arrange a more pleasant weekend trip next week instead. Why put yourself through unnecessary stress?

The situation takes a turn for the worse: As Noah was preparing some food for a cozy picnic, Rabbi Cohen unexpectedly showed up; his plans had changed and he decided to drop by to check on Noah’s Torah studies. Noah started acting strangely, hastily closing the curtains, suggesting an indoor picnic, and explaining that Rabbi Cohen holds significant influence over his career. It doesn’t take Joanne long to understand that it wouldn’t be appropriate for Rabbi Cohen to witness her with Noah because she is not Jewish.

As I nibble on a pair of bagels, I find myself once again immersing in my cherished pastime of delving into the complexities of my emotions. En route, I bump into Rabbi Shira, who’s gracefully preparing Shabbat candles for the evening. Her serene and collected demeanor is a soothing balm to my turbulent feelings. I can sense that she’s also navigating her own challenges.

Initially, what catches Joanne’s attention upon arriving at the large Spotify meeting is that things are going exceptionally well, with Morgan excelling notably. It’s no surprise given that she had received strategic guidance from Sasha, who had needed to escort her into Noah’s residence to retrieve her computer. Sasha shared with Morgan, who boasted confidently to her sister but was surprisingly candid with Sasha about feeling anxious, a technique he learned from a hostage negotiator – repeating the last few words of what someone says as if they’re insightful or intriguing, which keeps them talking. The strategy proves effective, not only with Sasha, who is unaware of its use for some time, but also with the Spotify executives. Sasha also points out another insightful comment to Morgan: he refers to them both as “the loser siblings.” Although Morgan denies it, it seems to resonate deeply within her. Despite their differences – Morgan being attractive and exuding a “hot Mother Earth” vibe, while Joanne is short – Sasha can sense the truth of his words, and he understands their bond. I’m fond of this growing unusual friendship between them.

During the meeting, Joanne discovers her concerns about Morgan are unfounded. She awkwardly tries to apologize indirectly, which instead leads to an argument between them. However, Morgan manages to turn their disagreement into something beneficial, using it as proof of their podcast’s successful dynamic. There’s another interruption: Noah arrives on the scene.

Is it hard to believe this man’s behavior? To put it another way, this situation is incredibly over-the-top and inappropriate. The teenagers at camp are the ones who inform Noah that Joanne left because of his suspicious actions and treating her disrespectfully as if she were an object, when in fact she wants a romantic relationship with him. One of them even questions, “Are all guys clueless?” I find myself admiring her more and more. This harsh criticism is followed by a heartwarming conversation between Noah and Shira. He confides in her about the entire situation and wonders if he could ever be promoted to head rabbi if he were with a non-Jew. She suggests he’s focusing on the wrong question; instead, he should consider how Joanne affects him. “Honestly, I’ve never felt like this my whole life,” Noah admits, and I must confess, I did place my hand on my heart. Well, that answers his question. You don’t give up on something wonderful just because it’s challenging, she tells him, reminding him that nothing is set in stone, and yes, “change is a process” — perhaps one of them will change or maybe both will adapt to make it work, but you don’t give up. It’s an inspiring speech, and I understand Noah’s urgency to find Joanne and apologize for his past actions, but… couldn’t he have waited until after her crucial meeting?

Their affection is genuine; I wholeheartedly support it. I value it deeply, and even when he disrupts an important dinner, I can’t help but feel, Oh dear, sir, please don’t. It’s him who consistently emphasizes the importance of her job! He noticed how anxious she was about it! Oh my, these characters seem to be acting irrationally in this scene. It seems completely out of character for Noah, who is typically thoughtful and caring.

Anyway, he does it. And yes, sure, he is romantic as hell here. He doesn’t want to lose her. When she tells him how hurt she was when he called her a friend in front of the teens whose opinion she cares about most, as she puts it, he agrees, “That was sus.” And when she tells him she’s mostly disappointed that all of this means she missed her first Shabbat, he sets up a little makeshift version of the ceremony, a pop-up Shabbat, if you will. And then, like any good camper, he asks Joanne if she would like to be his girlfriend. Yes, okay, he is very cute when he yells out, “She said yes!” I want to be mad at him, but I just can’t do it for very long. Is this how Joanne feels? It’s exhausting!

2024-09-27 01:54

Nobody Wants This Recap: Courting the Youth Vote

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