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Nobody Wants This is a Bold Take on Interfaith Romance

Netflix is not unfamiliar with controversy, and the interfaith romance at the heart of Nobody Wants This is no exception. What’s more surprising is the series’ immense popularity despite the vitriol leveled against it.

It’s hard to say if Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas is an agitating factor, but it doesn’t feel that way. Instead, the squabble at the heart of ‘Nobody Wants This’ centers around the two primary love-struck characters.

It’s a romantic comedy, after all, and when romantic comedies are well-written and acted, they usually do very well. Netflix is certainly happy. As it currently stands, ‘Nobody Wants This’ has a 94% critic score and an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The interplay of Rabbi and agnostic is one of the more interesting aspects of the series.
(Courtesy of Netflix/Stefania Rosini)

Even so, there always has to be a balancing out effect, and this one boils down to stereotypes, ‘shiksas,’ and perhaps a sprinkle of jingoism insofar as interfaith marriage is concerned.

That said, the show’s creator is Erin Foster, herself a Jewish convert, charting a semi-factual work that parallels her own life.

The show’s audaciousness is not the product of current events but an aggregate of religion and jaundiced eyes.

Why The Vitriol?

Unfortunately, it’s a multifaceted affair. The immediate and loudest outcry is over the show’s use of the term ‘shiksa,’ which is a sort-of insulting term for ‘non-Jewish’ women.

It’s not so much the word but the attitude from which the word emerges.

It’s fair to say that some of the Jewish women in the series are represented aggressively, especially his former girlfriend (Rebecca) and Noah’s mother (Bina).

Noah, played by Adam Brody.
(Courtesy of Netflix/Saeed Adyani)

They are the primary focus of the show’s critics, who are accusing Erin Foster of facilitating the ‘Jewish mother’ trope. ‘Shiksa’ is a big part of that, but it sits in the shadow of the primary complaint.

Of course, there is no such thing as non-controversy in the TV industry these days, interfaith romance or not. It seems like everything that hits the assortment of streaming platforms comes with a caveat.

It’s difficult to ascertain whether cultural and moral relativism is negligent or applied unless the background of every critic is known.

While conversion to Judaism is a complicated affair internally, the complexities of love are far more cumbersome to analyze.

Yet, in the form of this interfaith romance, the combination of the two is ruffling feathers, especially among Jewish women.

Interfaith romance is not necessarily the heart of the story, but it is the heart of the controversy.
(Courtesy of Netflix/Saeed Adyani)

It’s hard to blame them. Watching the show, it’s easy to feel that they are overly oppressive in their remonstrations. Throw in the word ‘Shiksa,’ and it’s easy to see why there are some who have a distaste for the series.

Rebecca, Noah’s ex, breaks into his private things and steals an engagement ring, placing it on her finger to add insult to injury. Her sister-in-law is just as bad in her own way.

Some of the remaining angst is a holdover of bygone times. Interfaith romance, much less interfaith marriage, was not always an acceptable societal norm; only after the 1970s did it grow some semblance of acceptability amongst Jews.

It Shouldn’t Matter

I’m not at liberty to say whether most of these critics know Erin Foster’s background. I’m sure that at some level or another, most do.

Nobody Wants This is partially based on the real life experience of show creator, Erin Foster.
(Courtesy of Netflix/Saeed Adyani)

However, knowing someone’s background and living someone’s background are two different things, with the latter being obviously impossible.

There is little doubt that creators use elements of their own lives in their creations. It’s simply a part of the creative package. Many of the elements that bother critics result from Erin Foster’s impressions — right or wrong.

Does it make it right that she chose to insert elements of what some consider anti-semitic? You can be the judge of that. Of course, the best person to ask is the show’s creator herself.

If I made the Jewish parents, like, two granola hippies on a farm, then someone would write, ‘I’ve never met a Jewish person like that before…and that doesn’t represent us well.‘”

-Erin Foster

Basically, she’s putting voice to the same dilemma most creators face — damned if you do, damned if you don’t. At first, she’s looking in from outside. Now, she’s a part of that culture, religion, and tradition.

There are certainly greater authorities on everything Judaism out there, but it would be different if the show’s inception came from the mind of someone who knows nothing of the Jewish faith.

Ultimately, the points of conflict are not so egregious that they spoil the entire show. Its overwhelming popularity is a testament to that, at least.

'Shiksas' and stereotypes of Jewish women encompass the controversy around the series.
(Courtesy of Netflix/Stefania Rosini)

‘Shiksa’ is more difficult to pin down but nevertheless realistic in its portrayal.

It may not be a word of common usage any longer, but that doesn’t mean we should cringe at every cultural reference that doesn’t reflect anything other than greatness.

Give me a perfect culture and society, and I’ll ask why every single person on the planet doesn’t live there and wholly embrace it.

Besides, any show based on interfaith romance, regardless of the religion of choice, is bound to have its fair share of negative elucidation. While it’s not a license to go ham-wild with negative stereotypes, it lends a relevance and realistic feel to the story’s nature.

What Makes ‘Nobody Wants This’ Work

There are many complaints about the entertainment industry’s repetitive nature today. Surprisingly, however, it is repetition that drives ‘Nobody Wants This.’

Kristen Bell does a fantastic job as the agnostic that slowly converts to Judaism.
(Courtesy of Netflix/Stefania Rosini)

It’s your basic rom-com. Two complete opposites find each other despite a single, antagonistic conundrum resting solidly between them.

We’ve seen this song and dance a thousand times before. But there’s a reason we’ve seen it a thousand times. It’s popular. People love it. The interfaith romance is simply the antagonizing factor in this variation.

The thing that makes ‘Nobody Wants This’ such a ‘bold’ take on the traditional rom-com is this choice of counteraction. Besides, controversy often drives viewership, especially when the show is better than average on its own.

It’s well-acted. The chemistry between Noah and Joanne feels authentic and, in some ways, natural.

There’s the intriguing element of discomfort that Joanne has to endure throughout, as she is inserted into faith and culture with which she is not familiar.

Adam Brody plays Noah, a Rabbi that engages in an interfaith romance with agnostic, Joanne.
(Courtesy of Netflix/Stefania Rosini)

In shows or movies like this, it’s often the situation that serves as the true antagonist, not nagging sisters-in-law and ex-girlfriends.

As for everything else, Erin Foster has explained her reasoning, and it’s hard to argue with someone directly involved and with first-hand experience.

How do you feel about ‘Nobody Wants This’ as a traditional rom-com about interfaith romance, and do you think there’s anything controversial about it?

Take the poll below and then drop us a comment to expand on your thoughts below

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Evelyn

Tuesday 22nd of October 2024

I think for someone who wants to be a head Rabi, the relationship would be hard to pull off in real life but I was hooked on the show from the moment they met.As a fan of Kristen Bell, this was so good and they played a couple before on House of Lies.And Noah is just the right mix of hot guy.Thwy played so well againt each other and I loved Noah's brother and it's true he had zero husband energy.I think we love it because we long for that kind of relationship, with all the communication, accountability and an emotionally intelligent man. Obviously there were a few stumbles like the whole 'ick' thing but overall, I can watch some scenes over and over again. I don't know why but I loved her first Shabat scene as much as the first kiss scene.

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