Nobody Wants This on Netflix

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read all the comments and no one has mentioned how Noah's parents are supposedly former Soviet Jews, yet seem more like L.A. Persians or Armenians. We don't call "banya" the shvitz (that's a Yiddish term used by Eastern Europeans), moms aren't as overbearing as Middle Eastern/Far Eastern Jewish (or otherwise) moms, and the accents are way wrong. Former Soviets don't tend to go into real estate, don't tend to be religious, etc. If you're going to stereotype, do it right, the parents should have been scientists or computer programmers.

Yes this bugged me too because there was no reason for it. Obviously their financial situation and the personality of the mom was important to the plot so why not have a backstory that made this make sense? It's incongruous the way it's written.

Also incongruous is the family actually doesn't come off as particularly religious so I had a hard time understanding why Noah became a rabbi. You don't get the sense his parents pressured him into it and his brother obviously doesn't care. So you'd think it had to do with Noah's own faith and interest. But then he's kind of blithely dating a you knowing it's problematic and seems generally annoyed by the realities if his job. When the board member sees him in the sex shop he only cares about his own career and is happy when it turns out the guy is cheating on his wife. It's just weird.

My take is Noah is a bad person and it would be great if he didn't stay a rabbi. He comes across as this sweet and cute caring guy, but it is all superficial: He misleads Rebecca, a woman of substance who actually IS a good person and wants to be a rabbi's wife (which is a very specific job in itself, not many are up for it!), dumps her after being such a coward she had to push the issue to finally get an answer. Then he falls for a total airhead actual BAD person. He says lashon hara is wrong but actually engages in gossip right away the minute he meets her friends. There is the gross incident you mention about the board member cheating and covert blackmail. He plays basketball on Shabbat, lights candles after sundown, is totally fine flaunting a brand new relationship at a religious camp, it takes him 10 minutes to throw away his career because the idiot he somehow loves says she probably can't convert...None of it aligned with him being a good person or a good rabbi at ALL.

Oh brother. Have you been dumped after a long relationship. I would have dumped someone who tried to force me into a proposal too. He didn’t owe her that just because she is a good person and up for a job. Also, if the two characters, Rebecca is the one who lies to get Noah back and continues to disrespect his boundaries. Joann is prettt consistently honest about everything.

I know several rabbis and their wives. It is not a normal relationship. It's a marriage but it's also very much a business partnership and a personal sacrifice for the woman if they are not absolutely into the job itself. You are on 100% of the time, constantly entertaining, helping. The rabbi's wife has a crucial role. He did owe her not wasting years in her 30s leading her on. Had she not done the ring thing, he would have kept misleading her so it's a good thing she did. Joanne is a shitty person and yes, she is honest about being shitty. Rebecca is more mature and realizes the scope of being Rabbi Noah's wife. Her mistake is thinking Noah is a good person and a good rabbi who wants to stay a rabbi, so everything devolves from that.

The scene where Rebecca explains the duties of a rabbi's wife to Joanne was really good. While Rebecca is not blameless, she IS interesting. I think there's lots of potential for Season 2.

[Anonymous]

I keep trying to finish this, and I just can't. This is such a bad show. Immature plot, writing, behavior, and just super cringey. It hurts to watch! I absolutely cannot understand how it got favorable ratings at all. Seriously the worst show ever.

BTW- who actually never heard the word "shalom?"
This is just an example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rabbi's mom actress was the Jewish mom in the show Crazy Ex Girlfriend.

That show has a very similar scene at a camp where the male crush is working. The hot male crush (who all the teen girls are crushing on, too) ends up ignoring his (ex) girlfriend. She then tries to be all hip older friend to the teen girls, like "hey grrrllfriend!" The teens totally find her cringe and tell it like it is.

Like the same plot! How weird, right?

Crazy Ex Girlfriend is the best. Man, I miss that show

Me, too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep trying to finish this, and I just can't. This is such a bad show. Immature plot, writing, behavior, and just super cringey. It hurts to watch! I absolutely cannot understand how it got favorable ratings at all. Seriously the worst show ever.

BTW- who actually never heard the word "shalom?"
This is just an example.

Probably not the worst show Ever, but the creators did make the critics' job too easy by naming the show "nobody wants this."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep trying to finish this, and I just can't. This is such a bad show. Immature plot, writing, behavior, and just super cringey. It hurts to watch! I absolutely cannot understand how it got favorable ratings at all. Seriously the worst show ever.

BTW- who actually never heard the word "shalom?"
This is just an example.

Probably not the worst show Ever, but the creators did make the critics' job too easy by naming the show "nobody wants this."

Yeah, I will agree with that, because literally no one wants this show. Lol.

** reviews are rigged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dream for season two: the sister makes a pass at Sasha, gets rebuked. She lands a part on a big sitcom and becomes a star. Sasha and his wife have another baby. Rebecca meets a gorgeous, ultra rich Jewish surgeon and marries him. Hot rabbi and Joanne elope to Vegas, have a fun couple weeks, and then realize they have zero in common aside from getting way enthusiastic way too quickly about each other. She falls in love with an Elvis impersonator (played by her horrid dh Dax Sheppard) and moves to Joshua Tree with him, and becomes exactly her mother. Hot Rabbi ends up going to NYC as a distraction, meets a beautiful, hip, fun and smart NYU Jewish professor from Queens in a meet-cute at some little restaurant in Chinatown. She is played by Scarlett Johansson. Her mom is hilarious, warm and gorgeous like Fran Fine (she is played by Fran Dresher). They get married. He decides that he actually wants to be a pre-k teacher and not a rabbi after all. They live happily ever after. The end.

This is really good! I kind of want Morgan and Sasha together. They have great chemistry. But I love your thoughts overall.

I have mixed feelings about this. Yes, great chemistry, but we just started to get to know the wife a little and I like her.

We'll get to see if PP's predictions come through since the show was renewed already!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dream for season two: the sister makes a pass at Sasha, gets rebuked. She lands a part on a big sitcom and becomes a star. Sasha and his wife have another baby. Rebecca meets a gorgeous, ultra rich Jewish surgeon and marries him. Hot rabbi and Joanne elope to Vegas, have a fun couple weeks, and then realize they have zero in common aside from getting way enthusiastic way too quickly about each other. She falls in love with an Elvis impersonator (played by her horrid dh Dax Sheppard) and moves to Joshua Tree with him, and becomes exactly her mother. Hot Rabbi ends up going to NYC as a distraction, meets a beautiful, hip, fun and smart NYU Jewish professor from Queens in a meet-cute at some little restaurant in Chinatown. She is played by Scarlett Johansson. Her mom is hilarious, warm and gorgeous like Fran Fine (she is played by Fran Dresher). They get married. He decides that he actually wants to be a pre-k teacher and not a rabbi after all. They live happily ever after. The end.

This is really good! I kind of want Morgan and Sasha together. They have great chemistry. But I love your thoughts overall.

I have mixed feelings about this. Yes, great chemistry, but we just started to get to know the wife a little and I like her.

We'll get to see if PP's predictions come through since the show was renewed already!

Agree. There will be attraction and tension but nothing will come of it, and their marriage will end up in a better place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did not like it. At all. I mean- not one redeeming factor.
1. Every line and character is a cliche- everyone- his parents ( who acts like this, calling her a shiksa at the synagogue,
and later with the intervention), the over the top ladies at the shul trying to get their daughters married off. The main character and his brother, oh god the brother is the worst character, are just basically 8th graders with mommy wives. Old Jewish stereotypes, come on. Very cringey.
2. The juxtaposition with a "rabbi" and she's out there talking about sex, dildos, shopping for dildos, and running into members of the congregation, holding the product, and she , the shiksa is found in sexual gear, etc.
3. Seriously bad writing. Sooo bad.
And yeah, Kristen Bell looks weird. Everybody does a filter and thinks they look good. They do not. She always plays the same character.

Zero stars.

I've just started this but have a feeling I'm going to agree with many of your points. I can't believe how stereotypical they're making the Jewish family (and all the Jewish characters, except for the rabbi). The rabbi's father with his enormous Star of David necklace, just in case we didn't know he was Jewish?? COME ON.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read all the comments and no one has mentioned how Noah's parents are supposedly former Soviet Jews, yet seem more like L.A. Persians or Armenians. We don't call "banya" the shvitz (that's a Yiddish term used by Eastern Europeans), moms aren't as overbearing as Middle Eastern/Far Eastern Jewish (or otherwise) moms, and the accents are way wrong. Former Soviets don't tend to go into real estate, don't tend to be religious, etc. If you're going to stereotype, do it right, the parents should have been scientists or computer programmers.

Yes this bugged me too because there was no reason for it. Obviously their financial situation and the personality of the mom was important to the plot so why not have a backstory that made this make sense? It's incongruous the way it's written.

Also incongruous is the family actually doesn't come off as particularly religious so I had a hard time understanding why Noah became a rabbi. You don't get the sense his parents pressured him into it and his brother obviously doesn't care. So you'd think it had to do with Noah's own faith and interest. But then he's kind of blithely dating a you knowing it's problematic and seems generally annoyed by the realities if his job. When the board member sees him in the sex shop he only cares about his own career and is happy when it turns out the guy is cheating on his wife. It's just weird.

My take is Noah is a bad person and it would be great if he didn't stay a rabbi. He comes across as this sweet and cute caring guy, but it is all superficial: He misleads Rebecca, a woman of substance who actually IS a good person and wants to be a rabbi's wife (which is a very specific job in itself, not many are up for it!), dumps her after being such a coward she had to push the issue to finally get an answer. Then he falls for a total airhead actual BAD person. He says lashon hara is wrong but actually engages in gossip right away the minute he meets her friends. There is the gross incident you mention about the board member cheating and covert blackmail. He plays basketball on Shabbat, lights candles after sundown, is totally fine flaunting a brand new relationship at a religious camp, it takes him 10 minutes to throw away his career because the idiot he somehow loves says she probably can't convert...None of it aligned with him being a good person or a good rabbi at ALL.

Oh brother. Have you been dumped after a long relationship. I would have dumped someone who tried to force me into a proposal too. He didn’t owe her that just because she is a good person and up for a job. Also, if the two characters, Rebecca is the one who lies to get Noah back and continues to disrespect his boundaries. Joann is prettt consistently honest about everything.

I know several rabbis and their wives. It is not a normal relationship. It's a marriage but it's also very much a business partnership and a personal sacrifice for the woman if they are not absolutely into the job itself. You are on 100% of the time, constantly entertaining, helping. The rabbi's wife has a crucial role. He did owe her not wasting years in her 30s leading her on. Had she not done the ring thing, he would have kept misleading her so it's a good thing she did. Joanne is a shitty person and yes, she is honest about being shitty. Rebecca is more mature and realizes the scope of being Rabbi Noah's wife. Her mistake is thinking Noah is a good person and a good rabbi who wants to stay a rabbi, so everything devolves from that.

The scene where Rebecca explains the duties of a rabbi's wife to Joanne was really good. While Rebecca is not blameless, she IS interesting. I think there's lots of potential for Season 2.

She didn’t really explain anything. What she did confess is it is her dream to be the wife of the Head Rabbi.

Our head rabbi is female and her husband is a very busy successful Head of School. Plus they have multiple children. So that rabbi spouse is hardly sponsoring dinners and entertaining the temple in his free time.

They both are, however, natural schmoozers and very down to earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is this show could have been made with any religious or cultural or racial groups.

I observed the following IRL:

-Chinese friend’s entire family didn’t attend her wedding because they were outraged that she was marrying a non-Chinese man. Same religion, same advanced level of education, and the guy is awesome on all levels. Didn’t matter. Pretty sure we’ve seen movies about how this plays out in Asian culture, right?

-A white friend’s family threatened to cut her off when she got engaged to a black man. His family wasn’t any better: his family was blatantly hostile to her the first time he brought her to a family party. She wasn’t deterred despite leaving in tears. She kept showing up and being kind, and they eventually came around. Ditto for her family.

-A Muslim friend’s family did cut her off (stopped paying her tuition) when she got engaged to a catholic white American. She was American too btw—despite her American-born parents considering themselves as “Insert other Muslim country here.” That marriage was a disaster thanks to the unwillingness of her family to accept him. She caved eventually and her parents rewarded her with a new life in another city: fancy new place, new wardrobe, new car, etc.

I could go on, but I’ll stop here. As a shiksa whose future MIL enlisted the help of relatives to try to dissuade us from marrying (I won’t say how, but it was heavily orchestrated and blatant), I chalk it up to loss of control and fear of the unknown that some rigid older women have. It’s a thing, which is why the evil MIL stereotypes exist in every culture, etc.

Wow. I gently offer to you another explanation: since her son has married someone non-Jewish she literally will not have Jewish grandchildren. I’m not saying that it’s right to put pressure on your kids; it certainly isn’t. But it’s not very mysterious why she felt this way. It’s actually a huge, huge cultural loss. Hopefully realizing that can lead you towards some compassion.

One could argue that any time people from two backgrounds procreate, there is always some “dilution.” Framing such unions as loss reflects a world view that we should continue to separate into tribes, vs move forward as one species (ie, humans).

Jews could also question the old notion that their religion can only be passed through the mother. This belief is not embraced by most religions. It probably stems from the fact that in the past, only maternity could be confirmed (not paternity). Or maybe it is based upon women traditionally raising children. Either way, a people can evolve with the times.

One could certainly argue those things. Or one could recognize that giving an ethnic group helpful hints on how to “evolve” and modernize their 4000 year old cultural traditions is a bit clueless and white-missionary-esque.

I was but telling another group of people what to do.

I was offering counterpoints to the poster who defended guilting kids into marrying within their religion, so as not to make their tribe go extinct.

Other faith traditions allow intermarriage, without disappearing.

[Anonymous]

Her eyes and hair don’t bother me, but she has the body of a prepubescent girl. How can men find that sexy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her eyes and hair don’t bother me, but she has the body of a prepubescent girl. How can men find that sexy?

She wears clothing very well and some men just like tiny women (her size was referred to several times).

[Anonymous]

Did Kristen Bell have blepharoplasty?

[Anonymous]

Isn’t Bell firstly a fantastic singer?

[Anonymous]

Regarding Sasha and Morgan, I think the reason their relationship is do delightful is specifically because they aren't attracted to each other. Morgan is definitely not into Sasha and even if Sasha finds Morgan attractive, I don't think he actually wants to be with her or leave Esther.

Rather I think they just bonded over having similar dynamics with their "main character" siblings and I think their personalities are complimentary. But not in a romantic way.

If Sasha left Esther or even expressed any interest in cheating on her o think Morgan would lose all respect for him. His marriage is the biggest indication that he is smarter and stronger than he comes off because Esther is clearly awesome and he obviously adores her and respects her.

I think Morgan and Sasha are just meant to be a sign that actually Joanne and Noah actually could work and that their families and lives are more compatible than at first glance.