Credits: Created by Erin Foster – Starring Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Jackie Tohn, and Steven Weber
Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) adjust to living together, while Sasha (Timothy Simons) deals with the breakdown of his marriage and Morgan (Justine Lupe) looks for opportunities to find success beyond the podcast.
Nobody Wants This fills that half-hour comedy space pretty nicely. It’s a cute, charming love story with some funny moments and an interesting perspective on Judaism that I don’t think I’ve seen explored quite this way before. It’s not particularly groundbreaking, but it’s an enjoyable way to spend twenty-five or so minutes.
The main problem is that the central relationship doesn’t have much dramatic tension. From the beginning, the premise of the show has been that Joanne and Noah were basically endgame. Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are still likable together, but there’s only so much uncertainty you can squeeze out of a couple whose eventual pairing was never really in doubt.
Thankfully, Sasha’s storyline gives the season something it was missing. With his marriage falling apart and his romantic life taking an unexpected direction, there’s a genuine will-they-or-won’t-they element with Morgan that adds some welcome tension.
Timothy Simons and Justine Lupe have great comedic timing together, and their entire storyline gives the show a real shot in the arm. Lupe has been a real standout this season, giving Morgan a lot more depth and turning her into a character to root for.
The supporting cast is responsible for many of the show’s biggest laughs. Stephanie Faracy and Michael Hitchcock are particularly hilarious as Joanne and Morgan’s parents. Jackie Tohn gets a lot more to do as Esther, and it’s always fun when Sarah Silverman pops up in a show.
It’s a pleasant, occasionally very funny romantic comedy with a likable cast and a few interesting storylines. I wouldn’t call it essential viewing, but comedies like this are worth having around.
TV Verdict: Worth Watching