Nobody Wants This: We Can’t Get Enough of Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s Amazing Show | television

FOr for a time, it seemed as if rom-coms as an art form had died and been replaced by a series of Marvel movies and drama series. Rachel and Ross were a distant memory (and not just because it was 20 years ago). Fortunately, the genre – and our collective broken hearts – has been revitalized by a wave of new releases. Few have been more poignant than Nobody Wants This (Netflix, starting Thursday, October 23), the thrilling story of Rabbi Noah and relationship anchor Joan.

When the first series debuted on Netflix last year, the success was somewhat unexpected. With the streaming giant focusing on content that viewers could watch after a lobotomy, few expected a hit that would create a real emotional connection. Then we meet Noah (a millennial-nostalgic Adam Brody) and Joan (Kristen Bell) and their combination of likable acting and characterization and sharp writing has seen them receive critical acclaim, Emmy nominations, and — most importantly — old-fashioned longing. The Internet had a new friend. Fleabag’s sexy priest was old news. Hot Rabbi was here to save us. He was a good listener and could also cook pasta.

Inspired by creator Erin Foster’s experience with her husband’s conversion to Judaism, Nobody Wants combines faith, family, and modern dating in a packed 26 minutes. In addition to ex-girlfriends and formidable mothers-in-law, our two lovers have a central obstacle to overcome: If he wants to become the chief rabbi, Noah needs to marry a Jewish woman.

When we last saw the couple, they were at a crossroads: Noah had been offered his dream job, and Joan had done the selfless act of leaving him so he could accept her. The final scene of their reunion and kissing in the street sets up perfectly for season two and with it burning questions. Will Joan convert? Will Noah leave his calling? Will Noah’s mother kill Joan when she finds out?

It tells us something about the slow pace of modern television that it’s actually fun to get a second series just 13 months after the first. All 10 episodes were available for preview but we were sworn to secrecy on the finer points. This included a PDF file containing bullet points listing seven specific plot points that could not be revealed, as well as veto power over the naming of characters played by certain guest actors. (Fans will already know that Gossip Girl alumna and Brody’s real-life wife Leighton Meester has joined the cast, as has Seth Rogen.) I can’t help but wonder if there are state secrets hidden behind Brody’s beard. However, in an age where spoilers are posted online as soon as a series ends, you can’t help but applaud Netflix’s commitment to the art of surprise.

Without going into too many details, I can say that this new series will find the couple facing reality. That’s not to say the honeymoon is over — the chemistry between Brody and Bill is as attractive as ever — but now a romantic reunion has taken place, they must face the daily challenges of a relationship with different cultures, religions, and friends.

One of the strengths of this show from the beginning has been its fantastic supporting cast, most notably Joan’s sister Morgan (Justine Loeb in a career-best role), Noah’s brother Sasha (Veep’s Timothy Simons) and sister-in-law Esther (Jackie Tohn). So it’s nice to see each of them getting more screen time. After finding out that her husband has been platonic texting “bitch number two,” Esther gets a chance to show some vulnerability and expand on the slightly two-dimensional portrayal of the battle-axe wife we ​​saw in season one.

As the two families begin to merge, the result is that the different cast members interact with each other. I’d happily watch a spin-off that consists entirely of Noah talking to Joan’s newly outed, self-obsessed father. The writers even managed to give Morgan and Noah’s mother a scene together. By the time half the family is being crushed in a shed in episode three, you find yourself wishing it was 2008 and we got 24 episodes a year.

Hopefully, Netflix will deliver Season 3 in record time — and start churning out other smart, heart-stopping romantic comedies. Everyone wants more of this.