Romantic comedies are back. The path to love is never easy, especially when the couple have different faiths. Nobody Wants This began with the working title Shiksas – a derogatory Yiddish term for an ‘impure’ woman. The title was changed to illustrate the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of cultural and religious clashes preventing a couple from being together. It is also the title of sex and lifestyle podcaster Joanne (Kristen Bell) when she meets hot rabbi Noah (Adam Brody). Sparks fly.

Drawing On Personal Experience

Screenwriter Erin Foster (Daddy Issues, The New Normal) used her life story as the basis for creating the characters of Joanne and Noah. “When I met my husband I was thirty-six years old and I had a really different worldview than he did.” Rather than cause a rift between them, it made the romance even more tantalizing.

“Noah comes from a traditional, conventional, and conservative family. Joanne comes from a very unconventional, progressive, modern, open-minded, fractured family and it set them both on two very different paths,” she says.

Noah grew up guarding personal information while Joanne was the exact opposite and shared too much. “They both are positive people and they both are curious.” This establishes the possibility of a relationship.

Erin Foster

As Joanne and Noah delve in each other’s worlds, they draw closer, as they appreciate their differences. Foster ensures that their romance is organic and not forced. “I wanted these two people to make sense, so they should be together because they belong together in spite of everything.”

Their differences however are significant. Noah can’t simply stop being a rabbi. And Joanne is an avid atheist – sort of.

Erin turned to her own dating life to inform Joanne’s character. “Ironically, I really wanted someone who believed in things that I didn’t believe in. I think Joanne is also looking for that,” says the screenwriter.

The Rocky Path Of Love

The fate of romcom lovers is often determined by their circle as well as their circumstances. “Joanne’s sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) is the closest person in her life and she really cares what she thinks. Being with someone that her sister doesn’t like or doesn’t approve of would upend everything for her.”

Noah faces his mom’s Bina (Tovah Feldshuh) and his ex-fianceé’s Rebecca’s (Emily Arlook) disapproval. Noah’s sister in law Esther (Jackie Tohn) sides with them in solidarity, so Joanne is fighting them on multiple fronts. It’s a matter of being loyal to your tribe.

In many regards, Nobody Wants This is a study in stereotypes with characters trying to break free from their expected moulds.

“Bina is typical a Jewish wife and mother. She is this very regal European immigrant mother who has high standards for her son. It would be terrifying for this young girl to come into the family.” Bina’s resistance to Joanne is imperative to the conflict of the story because it’s important for Jewish couples to replenish their declining population. “Her biggest fear is her son falls in love with the ‘shiksa’ and breaks all the family traditions.”

Joanne’s family is very unconventional. Her father Henry (Michael Hitchcock) recently came out as gay and flaunts his new partner. Her mom Lynn (Stephanie Faracy) still has feelings for what she perceives as a marital hiatus. These families are polar opposites and set in their ways, so merging them would be a tall order. The simple act of bringing welcoming flowers to a matriarch is met with opposite responses. Lynn rejects them and Bina expects them.

To Convert Or Not

Joanne and Noah finally make their relationship official before facing an existential dilemma – finding a way to co-exist without a happy medium available to them. Although agnostic, Joanne is open to the idea of Judaism. Noah is strongly tied to his faith and he’ll become the next rabbi of his synagogue after Rabbi Cohen (Stephen Tablowsky) imminently retires. Neither wants to leave their faith, but they want to be together. “They’re both going to want a balance and I don’t know if that’s possible.” 

Esther (Jackie Tohn) & Bina (Tovah Feldshuh) PHoto by Stefania Rosini/ Netflix

“They’re both going to have to sacrifice something and enter each other’s worlds.” Foster is mindful of Joanne and Noah never issuing ultimata to each other. If one pressures the other to convert faiths, it will inevitably lead to resentment. This is the dilemma they wrestle with until the end of the season.

Eventually, Joanne decides to convert to Judaism. Noah gives her the space to confirm that this is what she really wants.

Erin Foster carefully balances Jewish culture with the needs of a romantic comedy with various cultural elements. She couldn’t reduce the focus on Noah’s religion too much, because that’s the core of the story. She also ensures that Joanne’s podcast world is accurately depicted.

The writer was also mindful of the speed of Joanne and Noah’s budding romance. Initially, they were going to be engaged at the end of the season, but Erin decided on ending it with Joanne’s un-coerced decision to convert. This is a big step in Joanne’s life because she’s in her late thirties and firm in her values.

“What brings them great joy is that someone exists out there who’s perfect for them. Joanne and Noah connect with their sense of humor.” We know they’re right for each other.

Joanne and Noah enter their relationship clear-eyed. They have reached a place of mutual love and respect. They have accepted that theirs will be an unconventional relationship which comes with its challenges. They commit to that.

Most importantly, they will undertake this journey together one step at a time told through Joanne’s lens.