To say I was hesitant to press play for Nobody Wants This is the understatement of 2026. When it comes to characters, I hold The O.C.’s Core Four (Mischa Barton, Ben McKenzie, Rachel Bilson, and Adam Brody) tight. Attempting to watch Adam Brody become and embody another character besides the adorable and insufferable Seth Cohen usually doesn’t work for me.
But I gave Nobody Wants This a shot for one simple reason: Adam Brody plays a rabbi. Which means there a chance Rabbi Noah might casually mention Chrismukkah. 🙏‼️
What Is Nobody Wants This About?
If you’re searching for a new Netflix binge-watch series, here’s the basic premise.
Adam Brody stars as Rabbi Noah Roklov, who meets Joanne Williams (Kristen Bell), an agnostic sex-and-dating podcaster, at a party. Noah has just ended a long-term relationship with a Jewish woman. Joanne isn’t exactly looking for a serious relationship. Yet sparks fly almost immediately.
What follows is a fast-moving romance filled with chemistry, awkward family dynamics, religious and cultural differences, and enough overthinking to power an entire podcast network.
Joanne constantly questions the relationship, while Noah’s mother makes it crystal clear she isn’t thrilled about the situation. Every family dinner, gathering, and milestone seems to come with another opinion about what Noah’s future should look like—and whether Joanne belongs in it.
The setup sounds simple, but the writing and performances (Seth Choen mannerisms and jokes) make it incredibly addictive.
Adam Brody Somehow Became Seth Cohen Again
After the first episode ended, I was hooked.
The strange thing is that Rabbi Noah isn’t Seth Cohen.
But he also kind of is.
There’s still that sarcastic charm. The quick wit. The awkward confidence. The ability to say something ridiculous and somehow make it endearing.
Watching Adam Brody carry a romantic comedy series felt like catching up with Seth Cohen 20 years later. Older, wiser, and somehow even more charming. (Sandy Cohen would be beaming right about now.)
Did anyone mention Chrismukkah during Season 1 or 2? No. 😫
Am I still holding out hope for the upcoming Season 3? Absolutely. Afterall, Joanne hasn’t converted which means the probability is substantially high. 🙏
Why Nobody Wants This Works So Well
The relationship between Noah and Joanne is what keeps the show moving.
Their romance isn’t perfect. Their lives don’t naturally fit together. The religious differences create real challenges. Joanne’s uncertainty about converting to Judaism becomes a major crossroads in the relationship, and Noah finds himself balancing his personal happiness with the expectations that come with being a rabbi.
That’s all I’m going to say.
No spoilers.
This is one of those rare Netflix shows that’s better when you discover the twists, conversations, and emotional moments for yourself.
If you loved Seth Cohen, you’ll most definitely love Rabbi Noah Roklov. And once you meet his family, you’ll understand why so many viewers immediately binged the entire season.
The Easter Eggs That Made Me Scream At My TV
Now let’s talk about the real fun.
If you’re an Adam Brody fan, an O.C. fan, or someone who grew up watching 90s movies, Nobody Wants This delivers some unexpected gifts.
First, the music.
Like The O.C., the soundtrack choices are fantastic. Every episode seems to find the right song for the right moment. It brought back memories of why so many people discovered new artists through Seth Cohen’s generation of television.
Will Phantom Planet’s “California” be played?! 🙏‼️
Then there’s Leighton Meester.
Yes, THAT Leighton Meester.
As in Blair Waldorf.
As in Adam Brody’s real-life wife.
She appears later in Season 2 as Joanne’s childhood nemesis, and I nearly launched my remote across the room when she showed up on screen. It felt like the television gods decided to reward longtime fans of the married couple.
And then came my favorite Easter egg of the entire season.
Stephanie Faracy, who played Jenny Dennison in Hocus Pocus, stars as Kristen Bell’s mother, Lynn Williams. During the Season 1 finale, she arrives at the Bat Mitzvah dressed as Madonna.
Madonna.
Just like the Madonna costume she wore in Hocus Pocus!
Back dat ass up, Stephanie. I appreciate you, girl!
Final Thoughts On Nobody Wants This
Nobody Wants This ended up being one of the easiest Netflix binges I’ve watched all year.
It has romance, comedy, family drama, great music, sharp writing, and enough nostalgia to keep longtime Adam Brody fans, like myself, fully invested. What started as a show I almost skipped became a series I couldn’t stop watching.
And now that I’m all caught up, I’m sending up the prayer hand emoji, 🙏, for Season 3 to somehow sneak a Chrismukkah reference into the script. 🙏🙏🙏
