What happens at the end of Nobody Wants This? Netflix series explained

As someone who has been following the world of television for quite some time now, I must say that Nobody Wants This is a refreshing addition to the streaming landscape. The show masterfully combines elements of romance, religion, and identity exploration, all while maintaining a unique and engaging narrative.


Fortunately, the final episode of Nobody Wants This on Netflix, featuring Adam Brody as Rabbi Noah and Kristen Bell as his non-Jewish love interest, doesn’t leave viewers hanging with any unresolved plot points.

Although it might be nearing Halloween, there’s never a bad time for a lighthearted, binge-worthy series, especially when it’s got Bell and Brody front and center. 

The Netflix romantic comedy revolves around a straightforward concept: Joanne (Bell), a frank and argumentative podcaster, frequently discusses sex and banters with her closest sister Morgan (Justine Lupe). When she encounters and falls for Noah, a Jewish rabbi (Brody), their lives undergo dramatic changes.

Will they manage to pull it off? You’ll discover the answer by the conclusion of ‘Nobody Wants This’, following its premiere on a streaming service on September 27th. Note: potential spoilers follow!

The ending of Nobody Wants This is what you’d want

Ultimately, Joanne and Noah reunite, sealing their reunion with a kiss during the closing moments of Nobody Wants This. However, their journey towards that point was uncertain and tense.

Initially, in this show, both characters experience significant personal transformations. Their podcast, appropriately named “Nobody Wants This,” is gaining popularity, which suggests that it’s on its way to being purchased by a larger entity.

Joanne finds navigating the dating scene in Los Angeles challenging, but she manages to turn her less-than-ideal dating experiences into useful material for her podcast.

As I stand poised to become the leading rabbi at my synagogue, I find myself walking hand-in-hand with Rebecca (Emily Arlook) – a woman who’s won over not just my heart, but also the affection of my entire family.

She has a strong bond with Bina (Tovah Feldshuh) and Ilan (Paul Ben-Victor), Noah’s parents, as well as Noah’s brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) and his spouse Esther (Jackie Tohn). In simpler terms, she is quite close to them all.

In the first episode of Nobody Wants This, Noah discovers that Rebecca was wearing an engagement ring. It turned out that she had rummaged through his belongings, found the ring, and secretly planned their engagement without informing him.

Rebecca expressed that it seemed inevitable you’d propose sooner or later, and she couldn’t understand why there was a delay. She suggested we bypass the traditional ‘will you marry me?’ question since she’s already agreed, but Noah wasn’t pleased as this was his planned moment.

What happens at the end of Nobody Wants This? Netflix series explained

His overall experience leads him to understand that he’s not keen on spending his future with Rebecca, so he decides to end their relationship.

Afterward, Noah goes to a gathering hosted by Ashley, who is not only a friend of Joanne but also the podcast’s representative. Upon meeting, Noah and Joanne immediately find common ground.

There’s just one problem – Joanne “doesn’t have a Jewish bone in her.” And being a rabbi makes this a rather difficult issue to overcome. 

Over the following ten episodes, the duo experiences a series of amusing highs and lows while navigating their romantic journey together.

Joanne struggles to gain acceptance among Noah’s family and companions, particularly Esther, Rebecca’s best friend. At the same time, Noah faces difficulties in concealing his relationship with a non-Jewish woman, “shiksa,” from his supervisor, Rabbi Cohen (Stephen Tobolowsky).

Rebecca adds another obstacle to the situation when she interferes with the relationship, following her heartbreak over Noah’s swift move on. Simultaneously, Joanne experiences a sense of competition with Rebecca.

As the end draws near, Noah discovers that Cohen plans to step down, intending to hand over his role to someone else. However, there’s a problem: He cannot work with someone who is not Jewish.

What happens at the end of Nobody Wants This? Netflix series explained

Although Joanne decides she wants to convert to Judaism, she has her doubts about making such a massive decision. Her concerns reach boiling point when she finally comes face-to-face with Rebecca, who reveals just how much pressure she’ll face as the head rabbi’s wife. 

Rebecca says, ‘Since he symbolizes the temple, you are its symbol too.’ This means that others see you as someone they can look up to.

Joanne jokes, “A fine example, huh?” She replies, “That’s quite a burden.” The weight of it is so great that when Noah expresses his love for Joanne, she admits her feelings in return – and this is the reason she cannot change her stance.

She admits that she’s not quite prepared yet… In truth, her actions were mainly to please you. Now, she is parting ways. It’s a difficult choice, but you can’t have two of the same – and she wouldn’t ask you to make such a decision.

Joanne instructs him not to trail behind her, yet as she boards the return shuttle bus towards her residence, it’s evident that she’s deeply saddened. Upon reaching home, she finds Noah waiting for her.

She inquires, “How does this unfold?”, and Noah responds, “Indeed, your assumption was correct. I can’t hold onto both.” He leans in to kiss her, implying his choice lies with Joanne – at this point, the story Nobody Wants This concludes.

What does shiksa mean?

Shiksa is a slang term often used by Jewish people to describe a non-Jewish woman or girl.

Over time, a term of Yiddish origin has found its way into both English and certain Hebrew contexts. This term is sometimes (not exclusively) employed with a negative connotation.

What happens at the end of Nobody Wants This? Netflix series explained

In Nobody Wants This, it first pops up when Joanne pays a visit to the synagogue to see Noah speak. At the end of the service, numerous women try to introduce their daughters to Noah, indicating they’d be perfect matches now he’s single. 

Yet, he breaks off their conversation to talk with Joanne instead. Meanwhile, Esther looks quizzically at Noah’s mom, Bina, and inquires, “Who on earth is that?” To this, Bina replies, “She’s a non-Jewish woman.

In Episode 2, aptly named ‘A Stranger Enters the Temple’, I found myself joining Noah and Sasha at a local pub, where they happened to be with Joanne and Morgan. At one point during our conversation, Sasha referred to them both as shiksas – a term often used in Jewish culture for non-Jewish women dating or associated with Jewish men.

Asked about its meaning, I sheepishly explain, “Well, it’s sort of like a nickname for your group… Originating from Yiddish, it originally meant ‘impure and despicable.’ But nowadays, it’s more casually used to describe someone who’s quite attractive, specifically, a striking blonde who isn’t Jewish.

Will there be a Season 2?

Unfortunately, as of now, Netflix has not announced any plans for a second season of Nobody Wants This – yet there’s certainly potential for the narrative to carry on further.

Despite the fact that their emotional kiss at the end seems to suggest they’re reconciling, the story doesn’t reveal the specifics of how Joanne and Noah will manage to make things work between them.

What happens at the end of Nobody Wants This? Netflix series explained

I’m torn between two scenarios. One option is that Noah chooses to forego the role of head rabbi, a decision that might stir distress among my loved ones and friends. The other possibility is that Joanne continues her exploration into the Jewish faith, eventually deciding to embrace it through conversion.

There’s still a lot left to uncover about their tumultuous romance, implying that there’s no lack of fresh material for the writers to create from.

Essentially, Netflix makes decisions based largely on statistics (which is the reason behind canceling numerous cherished TV series shortly after their debut seasons).

If the current series manages to climb the Top 10 charts and stay there for some duration, it significantly increases the likelihood of a second season being produced. At this point, we just need to be patient and see how things unfold.

Until then, Nobody Wants This Season 1 is streaming on Netflix now for your binge-watching pleasure. You can also catch up on other Netflix series with our guides to Stranger Things Season 5, Wednesday Season 2, and our breakdown of other TV shows on streaming this month.

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2024-09-27 15:19