Discover the heartfelt and hilariously awkward plot of Nobody Wants This, Netflix’s breakout 2024 rom-com starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. Love, faith, and podcast drama collide.
Nobody Wants This: What’s the Plot of Netflix’s Unlikely Rom-Com Hit?
In a television landscape overflowing with predictable romantic tropes, Nobody Wants This manages to break the mold. Created by Erin Foster and starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, the 2024 Netflix original reimagines the classic “opposites attract” storyline. The result is a sharp, emotionally layered, and quietly daring exploration of modern relationships.
The Premise: When Belief Systems Collide with Chemistry
At the center of the story is Joanne (Kristen Bell), a cynical and emotionally guarded sex and dating podcaster. She co-hosts her wildly popular (and very explicit) show with her younger sister, Morgan. Together, they dissect the messy world of modern romance with biting sarcasm and unapologetic candor.
Meanwhile, Noah Roklov (Adam Brody) lives in a completely different world. He’s a newly separated rabbi, still emotionally bruised from a broken engagement, and struggling to balance his spiritual duties with family pressures. Unlike Joanne, Noah is gentle, principled, and deeply committed to his Jewish faith.
Their paths cross at a dinner party neither of them actually wants to attend. Nonetheless, their chemistry is undeniable. However, it quickly becomes apparent that their connection is anything but simple. She’s an agnostic who openly questions religion, while he’s a man of faith raised in a devout household. Despite these differences, something keeps pulling them toward each other.
A Romance That Pushes Boundaries
From this point forward, Nobody Wants This begins to ask harder questions. Rather than simply wondering whether Joanne and Noah will fall in love, the series poses a more complex inquiry: should they?
Throughout the season, the show explores what happens when love crashes into opposing values, cultural expectations, and personal fears. In other words, it doesn’t just examine romance—it dissects the very foundations that sustain or destabilize a relationship.
At the same time, Nobody Wants This introduces a compelling ensemble of secondary characters, from Noah’s well-meaning but overbearing family to Joanne’s chaotic inner circle. These relationships don’t merely add comic relief; instead, they deepen the show’s emotional stakes and create a textured, believable world.
Why It Works for Everyone?
So, why does this show resonate so deeply? For starters, Nobody Wants This doesn’t rely on clichés or contrived scenarios. Rather, it builds its humor and drama from character-driven moments—awkward conversations, painful realizations, and those quiet in-between spaces where real life happens.
Additionally, the performances are key. Kristen Bell brings both sharp wit and surprising vulnerability to Joanne, avoiding the “hot mess” stereotype and instead portraying a woman who’s both self-aware and emotionally complex. Similarly, Adam Brody gives Noah a softness that makes his inner struggles feel authentic, not preachy.
Moreover, the show smartly avoids making either character “wrong.” Instead, it shows how love can exist in tension—how two people can be drawn together by something intangible, even when everything around them says it won’t work.
Final Thoughts: This Is What Love Looks Like in 2024
Ultimately, Nobody Wants This isn’t just a love story—it’s a reflection of what romance looks like today. It’s messy, complicated, sometimes uncomfortable, but always grounded in emotional truth. Rather than promising easy answers, the show invites viewers to sit in the discomfort and ask themselves: what does real connection require?
If you’re tired of polished, predictable rom-coms, this beautifully imperfect story might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Nobody Wants This Season 2 is already in production, but until it hits our screens later in 2025, watch Season 1 on Netflix.