Nobody Wants This Recap: Soft Launching Judaism

As a long-time observer of human dynamics and relationships, I can’t help but admire the complexity unfolding here. The matriarch figure in this narrative, much like a seasoned Yiddish storyteller, weaves a tale that intertwines tradition, love, and a dash of sibling rivalry.

It was clear all along that the conflict between Joanne and Noah was inevitable. Noah has been open about his ambition to become the head rabbi upon his current boss’s retirement, but he also knew that this dream would remain unattainable if he were married to a non-Jewish person. However, events took an unexpected turn when Rabbi Cohen confronted Noah in his office. Not only did he correct Noah about the pronunciation of Zen-day-a instead of Zen-dye-a, but he also announced his retirement and expressed his wish for Noah to take over. The problem is that the board is unlikely to approve Noah if he remains with Joanne. Essentially, it’s the second revelation that sets off a chain reaction in Noah’s life.

There’s still a chance: Rabbi Cohen encourages Noah that Joanne might consider converting to Judaism. He advises starting with the enjoyable aspects of Judaism and expresses his strong affection for her. He’s not ready to let go of Joanne yet. That evening, they all have a double date, including Esther, dinner at Noah’s with Miriam also in attendance. Recognizing the need to subtly introduce Joanne to Judaism, Noah seeks Sasha’s assistance to highlight its advantages. Sasha is taken aback that Noah hasn’t discussed Judaism with Joanne before (apparently unaware of what “the big C” refers to), but he’s eager to help introduce Judaism in a gentle manner.

In my humble opinion, as a film critic, it seems that Noah’s timing could have been better timed. Joanne has been elated for six days since discovering the Rebecca box without opening it. Eventually, she shares this discovery with Noah, expressing her feelings about it, and I must admit, I admire her for keeping such a secret. She feels proud of herself too, and to quote her, “I’m so glad we’re adults, especially me.

The box contains mainly harmless items, except for a mold of Rebecca’s baby foot, but it leads to a more significant, heated discussion than anticipated. When Joanne becomes upset that Morgan went through the box, as it violates her privacy and she shares a trusting, mature relationship with Noah, she refuses to use any of this on the podcast. In response, Morgan criticizes Joanne for allowing the relationship to transform her so drastically. According to Morgan, the old Joanne would have delved into the box without hesitation, lacking any embarrassment. She also claims that Joanne is altering every aspect of herself, a statement which Joanne denies. Instead, she explains that she’s simply maturing and improving as an individual, not changing for a man.

It seems tricky for Noah to propose that Joanne convert to Judaism, as it could require significant changes in her identity. To contradict Morgan’s viewpoint, Joanne decides not to bend over backward to win people’s approval anymore. For instance, she opts for comfortable pants instead of dressier attire for dinner, and she vows to stop pretending to enjoy basketball, which she truly dislikes. Interestingly, Joanne is making a strong stance at the very moment when Noah intends to suggest a life-altering change for her.

The dinner was filled with a certain tension, as Esther remained firm in her reluctance to welcome Joanne. However, cracks in her resistance appeared when Joanne assisted Miriam in choosing a unique theme for her bat mitzvah: “Miriam takes a bite out of the Big Apple.” Though it wasn’t the Euphoria-themed bat mitzvah with candy pills on the dessert table, Joanne convinced Miriam of New York’s appeal, mentioning fashion, Broadway, and Sasha’s colorful description: “it’s hot dogs, it’s pizza, it’s hookers in Times Square,” not forgetting to include “they got the giant rats!” Fortunately, Miriam disregarded her father’s suggestions and agreed to the theme that her grandmother had insisted upon. In doing so, Joanne managed to earn some goodwill from Esther.

As Joanne strives to embrace her authentic self, Noah subtly amplifies Judaism’s influence. He casually shares tidbits about the religion’s matriarchs, such as Ruth who converted, and later leads everyone outside to spot the first three stars, marking the end of Shabbat. This allows them to perform the Havdalah ceremony. Noah expresses his joy in sharing this aspect of his life with Joanne, appreciating her openness towards it. My man is putting in a lot of effort! However, let’s not forget about Sasha: he too is putting forth a tremendous amount of work. When Esther wonders why they’re searching for stars, since they never do this, Sasha replies, “because it’s an extraordinary tradition for our people, my inquisitive little angel,” fully embracing his role as a Jewish ambassador. Sasha is truly a national treasure; safeguard him at all costs.

After Joanne gets her phone back, she becomes deeply engrossed in some significant news: Morgan is dining alone, and who else but Rebecca is seated at the bar’s end. Joanne approaches her, pretending to be Julie, and manages to engage her in conversation. She learns that Rebecca had a very emotional day due to her ex, Noah, as they have been texting frequently. Rebecca mentions that Noah claimed his relationship isn’t serious, he saw her that day to return the box, and they’ve been exchanging messages because they miss each other. This leaves Joanne in shock. Upon discovering the box is indeed missing, she takes it as evidence that everything Morgan shared is accurate. She confronts Noah, holding back tears. Caught off guard, he assures her that he returned the box and that their texting wasn’t because they long for each other. He offers to let her check his phone to prove it. At this point, I almost yell, “Calm down, woman!” but surprisingly, she takes a moment to breathe. For the first time, she doesn’t want to snoop through his phone. Instead, she trusts Noah. It’s refreshing to witness growth in a character, and even though Joanne will always dislike basketball, learning to trust her partner is a mature move for her.

In a heartfelt embrace, both individuals apologize and acknowledge the uncanny nature of the baby foot mold as “downright unsettling,” prompting Joanne to recognize Morgan as the one who has been subtly undermining her relationship since its inception. With anger simmering, she strides towards Morgan’s residence. The ensuing argument escalates significantly. Joanne accuses Morgan of deceiving her for the sake of sabotaging the relationship because she has never endorsed it. Morgan counters that the relationship is preposterous, but insists that she isn’t lying and thinks Joanne is misguided about this man, as he is altering every aspect of Joanne for him. “He doesn’t want me to change!” she exclaims at her sister, a statement that might give her pause in the near future. Joanne responds by claiming Morgan is envious and bereft because she has found herself in a stable relationship, while Morgan is still reliant on dating apps in search of desperation. The confrontation concludes with a flurry of harsh words, slammed doors, and it’s safe to say the intensity was palpable. As for the podcast, folks? Just joking. Is anyone even paying attention to that plotline anymore?

Joanne returns to Noah’s place, finding solace in his strong arms from his basketball practice. She confesses that he is the one constant in her life she’s absolutely certain about. It’s at this moment that Noah proposes the idea of her converting, leaving her wondering, “What if I say no?” He admits he doesn’t know the answer. If these characters end up splitting up, the show might be too much for my heart to handle! I wish Sasha with his unique (excellent) New York accent were here right now!

2024-09-28 02:54

Nobody Wants This Recap: Soft Launching Judaism

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