When a brand new present on Netflix shortly rises to the #1 spot on the most-watched record, I take be aware. And if it’s a rom-com with snackable episodes like No one Needs This, I’m hitting that play button instantly. The brand new Netflix sequence stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, and it’s completely going viral proper now for being the sensible romance that none of us knew we wanted.
In No one Needs This, Bell performs Joanne, a podcast host, and Brody performs Noah, a Rabbi. The 2 meet at a pal’s get together and instantly really feel a spark. Noah simply obtained out of a long-term relationship, whereas Joanne is chronically single. Her podcast, which she hosts together with her sister, is about relationship and intercourse and is getting extra consideration. On the identical time, Noah is on observe to turn into the pinnacle rabbi in his group. No one Needs This could also be a rom-com, nevertheless it doesn’t at all times match the mildew. Actually, there are numerous methods during which it challenges the basic romance style altogether. Right here’s what I considered the present that’s on everybody’s lips proper now:
In ‘No one Needs This,’ wholesome relationships are sizzling
We’ve all seen main stars paired collectively in a rom-com, and the chemistry falls flat on display. That was not the case with Bell and Brody in No one Needs This. Joanne and Noah had one thing particular, particularly throughout their first kiss and within the remaining episode. For a rom-com to work, that chemistry needs to be plausible, and it actually was with these two. Bell and Brody did a wonderful job portraying the form of sweetness that may typically are available in a brand new relationship. Typically, in rom-coms, poisonous relationship habits blends with electrical chemistry (assume Chuck and Blair), however not on this present. Joanne and Noah’s relationship is mature and balanced, they usually’re genuinely attempting to be good companions—and the chemistry nonetheless works on display.
Is No one Needs This on my high 5 exhibits with the perfect chemistry? Not precisely. Fleabag, One Day, and Bridgerton, which present difficult and sometimes unhealthy relationships, high that record. No one Needs This proved that wholesome relationships on display in rom-coms may also be sizzling—simply possibly not fairly as sizzling as Bridgerton.
The supporting characters are the perfect half
Even after they’re not on-screen, the supporting characters in No one Needs This upped the stakes of Joanne and Noah’s relationship. I particularly beloved Rebecca, Noah’s ex-girlfriend, performed by Emily Arlook. We see her character within the pilot and in later episodes, however as Noah’s ex, she is a continuing participant in his relationship with Joanne. It was enjoyable to root for Joanne and Noah as a pair, however I additionally discovered myself rooting for Rebecca to search out her personal footing.
I additionally actually beloved Noah’s brother Sasha, performed by Timothy Simons, Noah’s sister-in-law Esther, performed by Jackie Tohn, and the scenes of their dwelling with their cute child. I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out Joanne’s sister Morgan, performed by Succession’s Justine Lupe. All the facet characters made me extra invested within the well-being of the principle characters, including a depth that many basic rom-coms have missed. Seeing different relationships along with Joanne and Noah’s made the plotlines extra enjoyable and relatable—in spite of everything, your important different isn’t the one particular person in your life.
The present is tackling a wholesome relationship in battle
Normally, I spend my time shouting on the display when two characters I wish to get collectively will not be on the identical web page in a rom-com. Not with this present. There may be battle between Joanne, Noah, and every of their households in No one Needs This, however the relationship conflicts are talked out in a low-key, sensible manner. Noah and Joanne are listening to one another, speaking truthfully, and truly resolving their issues proper earlier than our eyes—which is extremely refreshing.
In her podcast, Joanne makes a number of feedback about her previous unhealthy relationships. We see her character genuinely attempting to do one thing completely different. As a substitute of the central plot being pushed by “Will they or received’t they,” the present revolves across the query “How will they make this work collectively?” Whereas their relationship isn’t good by any means, I do assume the character growth is a step in an ideal new course, proving that romance exhibits could be profitable even when the principle characters aren’t in near-breakup territory on a regular basis.
I used to be anticipating a dramatic twist on the finish
Earlier than I completed No one Needs This, I had a number of associates inform me that the ending was dramatic, they usually didn’t wish to spoil it for me. Due to this, I used to be anticipating an enormous twist on the finish. I had wild guesses as to what the ending is perhaps, and as a substitute, the ending felt fairly consistent with the standard rom-com plot. This isn’t a foul factor. The ending made me really feel like I watched a constant, cohesive sequence that wasn’t attempting to be flashy. It knew what it was, and it delivered an exquisite ending that left us not totally positive what would occur. It didn’t make me gasp, however I favored all of it the identical.
One of many current rom-coms I watched on Netflix, which was additionally very a lot a drama however had humorous moments, was One Day. I absolutely sobbed within the final episodes of that present on account of a stunning twist, and it moved me greater than every other present had in a very long time. That being stated, I don’t want a rom-com to make me sob for it to be relatable or to make me really feel one thing, and that’s what I like about No one Needs This. It’s a gradual burn in some ways, with relatable scenes that add as much as a really human second on the finish. The battle was sprinkled all through the season, nevertheless it all added as much as an enormous resolution for Joanne and Noah. For that motive, I’d like to see extra of this sequence and its characters.
‘No one Needs This’ sidesteps rom-com tropes
Right here’s what I’ll say concerning the rom-com style. I completely adore it, however I additionally get extremely aggravated watching rom-coms that I beloved rising up as a result of it’s typically obviously apparent how so lots of the plots and characters weren’t nice examples of relationships or life targets. However No one Needs This breaks out of that mildew and nonetheless retains us engaged. There’s no speak of discovering “the one.” There are additionally single characters who will not be even attempting to be in a relationship (love this a lot—extra of this, please).
Whereas marriage is talked about within the context of Noah desirous to marry a Jewish girl, marriage isn’t the tip purpose in No one Needs This. I discovered this to be a lot extra relatable in immediately’s world. It’s just like the creators weren’t even attempting to make a rom-com, which is the final word energy transfer. No one Needs This fully ignored each rom-com trope and was completely higher for it.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Michelle Lema, Contributing Leisure Author
Michelle is a Los Angeles-based author, performer, and on-camera host. She has labored in editorial and on-camera leisure protection with manufacturers like Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. She has been writing about new exhibits, books, and films on The Everygirl since 2022.
