Why Joanne and Noah’s Romance Isn’t the Real Focus...

Nobody Wants This, Netflix’s popular romantic comedy show costarring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, is officially being renewed, and one relationship in particular needs to be explored further. Nobody Wants This season 2 was announced just a few weeks after the show debuted, reinforcing that season 1 was remarkably popular. Audiences and critics alike have largely had positive responses to the new show, although there were criticisms of Nobody Wants This due to its representation of Jewish women in particular.

There was nevertheless a massive push for the show to be picked up for a second season, and Netflix very quickly delivered. While many will be hoping to see what the future holds for protagonists Noah and Joanne, which season 2 will undoubtedly reveal, the outcome of another relationship from Nobody Wants This season 1 will be much more critical in the show’s upcoming season. Arguably, the success of season 2 may even hinge upon how the show handles what proved to be a very complex, at times troubling relationship in season 1.

Joanne & Noah’s Story Had A Good Ending Even Without Nobody Wants This Season 2

It’s all but guaranteed that Nobody Wants This season 2 will maintain a focus on Joanne and Noah as the show’s protagonists. Although there were a host of characters in Nobody Wants This, the show is really a story about how Noah and Joanne navigate their feelings for one another when their lives seem so different. The very name of the show is a reference to the fact that their relationship faces numerous obstacles because those closest to the couple have concerns about their relationship, after all.

It’s also true that Noah and Joanne’s relationship was complicated in season 1. The two had a nearly on-again-off-again dynamic, and at multiple points (including in the finale), it wasn’t clear whether they would be together by the end of the show. Even so, season 1 concluded in a satisfying way in terms of Noah and Joanne’s relationship, enough that it didn’t feel like a loose end if season 2 never came.

Season 1 concluded in a satisfying way in terms of Noah and Joanne’s relationship, enough that it didn’t feel like a loose end if season 2 never came.

That doesn’t mean there can’t be more to their story. There’s plenty Nobody Wants This season 2 could reveal about Joanne and Noah’s relationship, including the fallout from Noah seemingly choosing Joanne over his career as a rabbi. This presumably will have implications for Noah, who will be letting down his loved ones and dealing with the weight of this decision, and for Joanne, who will very likely feel guilty about so radically changing the direction of Noah’s life.

While season 1 therefore left the door open for season 2, it also ensured that season 1 could stand on its own two feet. In fact, the conclusion of Nobody Wants This season 1 felt like a true rom-com ending, complete with Noah running after Joanne and making it known that he was choosing her. Had this been the end of the show, their story would still have felt complete. That wasn’t true of every relationship in Nobody Wants This, though—far from it.

Morgan & Sasha’s Story Is The Real Reason Nobody Wants This Season 2 Must Happen

Morgan and Sasha, the siblings of Joanne and Noah, respectively, had one of the most confusing relationships in Nobody Wants This. From the moment they met, Morgan and Sasha seemed to have a romantic tension between them. Sasha, in particular, began pestering Morgan in a way that suggested he was flirting with her. This made it all the more shocking when Sasha’s wife, Esther, drove up next to the group and began yelling at Sasha.

Despite the appearance of Sasha’s wife, which Morgan clearly saw, over time, Morgan seemed to reciprocate Sasha’s playful affection more and more. By the end of the show, the two were at minimum friends. They had even had private conversations with one another, which Sasha explicitly kept hidden from Esther. That secrecy alone was a red flag in terms of the nature of Morgan and Sasha’s dynamic, but technically they never crossed the line of a physical affair, at least based on what was shown on screen.

That secrecy alone was a red flag in terms of the nature of Morgan and Sasha’s dynamic.

This relationship therefore must be revisited in Nobody Wants This season 2 for multiple reasons. For one, season 1 refrained from defining the nature of Morgan and Sasha’s dynamic. Even in the finale, it wasn’t clear whether the two had romantic feelings for one another or whether they were simply friends who were engaging in bad behavior by concealing their friendship from Esther. This, much more so than Joanne and Noah’s future, was left as a question mark following season 1.

The implications of Morgan and Sasha having an affair are even more reason season 2 must address this relationship. If Morgan and Sasha were romantically linked in some way, or perhaps even sleeping with one another, that would be a massive ding to the likability of both characters. Sasha already comes across as a bit of an uninvolved father and untrustworthy husband, and a true affair with Morgan would make this so much worse.

Morgan’s character also seems morally ambiguous at best. She was revealed to be telling the truth about hearing that Noah was having an affair (which was orchestrated by Noah’s ex, Rebecca), but she still seemed jealous and self-serving throughout the show, particularly in her disdain for Noah. Even more importantly, Esther discovered Sasha and Morgan had been secretly communicating, but she never followed up on that revelation. Surely, season 2 will explore what that discovery means for Sasha, Morgan, and Esther’s futures.

What Could Happen With Morgan & Sasha In Nobody Wants This Season 2?

In all likelihood, season 2 of Nobody Wants This will confirm that there was nothing romantic or sexual between Sasha and Morgan. It would make both characters seem like far worse people, Sasha especially, which would be an odd decision for the show to make. In season 1, Morgan seemed a bit rude at times, but even in those moments, it was clear audiences were meant to like both characters.

Nobody Wants This is also a creative, unique rom-com, and it would feel a bit too obvious or simplistic to have Sasha and Morgan engage in a full-fledged affair. It would be much more interesting for them to be navigating a friendship, particularly one that is driven by their respective siblings’ complex relationship, although that would still require a major explanation (and apology) to Esther. It remains possible Nobody Wants This season 2 will confirm a romantic link between Sasha and Morgan, but that would be a bit disappointing.

Why Netflix Renewed Nobody Wants This For Season 2 So Quickly

Nobody Wants This has a particularly ironic title, as many viewers were very hopeful season 2 would be announced and openly loved the show. This is no doubt due to the stellar cast and the solid writing, but the narrative also feels realistically nuanced and genuine, perhaps because Nobody Wants This is based on a true story. The show has also impressively held steady with an average of 93-95% on Rotten Tomatoes since its September release.

Given the extent of the show’s popularity, there’s little surprise it was renewed for a second season, although the speed with which Netflix made this decision and announcement is impressive. Clearly, Nobody Wants This has been viewed nearly universally as a success, which has shored up season 2. Hopefully, the brilliance of Nobody Wants This season 1 will carry over into the upcoming season 2, in particular by finally revealing the nature of Sasha and Morgan’s relationship and addressing the issues it may cause.