Queue romantic snogging scene. Let’s start as we mean to end! The ending of Season 1 of Nobody Wants This is primarily set on answering two big questions: Will they end up together? Should they end up together? In this digestible recap, I’ve broken down the key moments of Episode 10.
TO SAVE THE COFFEE? TO SACRIFICE THE COFFEE?
As you can expect, the final episode of Season 1 alternates between teasing and toying with the viewers about how the story will conclude.
The opening scene starts with the typical modern-day woman’s response to all things when faced with real commitment in a relationship: She pretends to be sick because she’s afraid of spending time with Noah’s family and the sacredness of the event. Joanne chooses fear over faith in her relationship.
The fun part: Noah sees straight through Joanne and brings a hilarious (and deserved) response: “The hardest test to all women.” He throws away her coffee and replies, “You probably shouldn’t have coffee with a sore throat.”
To Be, Or Not To Be Jewish
Immediately, the episode jumps to Joanne with her friends drinking coffee, and she confirms that she is not sick, but the finale does not remain in an avoidant state. One of Joanne’s friends says, “Just be Jewish? I don’t see what the problem is.” Joanne says she’s open to the idea: a profoundly beautiful expression of her love for Noah.
As the bartender finishes pouring her additional cup of coffee, he exclaims, “Fun fact: I’m Jewish!” Joanne sees this as a sign, and at that moment, she and her friends toast her intention to become Jewish.
Instead of “John and Jeremy’s Wedding Crashers,” we get “Joanne and Morgan’s Bat Mitzvah Crashers.” Following the end of the sibling dispute, Morgan convinces Joanne to show up to the Bat Mitzvah—choosing faith. After arriving and finding Noah, Joanne typically jokes about how Noah owes her another coffee—because, you know, coffee is one of the most important things in a woman’s life. I get it, sis.
Anyway, more importantly… Joanne chooses faith over fear! She brings vulnerability out of the WAZZOO! Not only does Joanne admit that she is afraid of the family’s disapproval of their relationship, but how she also wants to convert to Judaism and declares, “Noah, I would do anything for you!” And to me, this is the most beautiful and romantic scene in the entire series.
We’ve experienced this in real life with Love Is Blind Season 3, when Husband Brennon Lemieux stated he would happily convert to Judaism for his wife, Alexa Lemieux (probably one of the most boring yet safest relationships to come out of LIB). Again, I digress.
(Now queue the Bat Mitzvah song and let the montage begin).
But let’s not be deceived… here’s the drama… as with all rom-coms, there is a heartbroken ex in the background; in this case, it’s Rebecca. Rebecca decides to leave Miriam’s Bat Mitzvah because it’s too much for her to see Joanne and Noah living in this moment of pure joy and love.
Joanne has a big decision to make in ‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 1, Episode 10 (Credit – Netflix)
Do Noah and Joanne End Up Together?
Now, if you ask me, Joanne makes a mistake in chasing after Rebecca. Women are subconsciously manipulative; they slither and sneak their way into the minds of everyone around them, and that’s nothing short of Rebecca’s intentions. She explains Joanne’s fears by illuminating what it would mean to be with Noah. But also, Joanne is stealing her dreams, which would be a HUGE burden to carry.
SO JOANNE CHOOSES FEAR AGAIN—queue the break-up scene. Joanne backtracks on her thoughts of converting to Judaism because of the fear that she couldn’t represent effectively as a Jewish woman. She tells Noah he can’t be Head Rabbi and be with her and that she does not want him to make a choice.
It’s the classic “I love you, but I have to leave you, and I need you not to follow me” conversation. This is the result of female manipulation and control, which is, of course, emotional turmoil for everyone involved. Joanne walks away from Noah, gets on a shuttle, and leaves.
But as all my romance fans will know, it’s not over until it’s over.
Of course, Noah is by the car and tells her he knows he can’t have both. He implies that he chooses her by kissing her passionately.
What this will ultimately mean will depend on whether or not there is a Season 2 of Nobody Wants This. Does Noah turn away from his faith? Does Noah turn down his promotion as head Rabbi for her? Does Joanne not want to consider conversion?
Nonetheless, by the end of the series, we will undoubtedly want them to be together, but I question whether we agree on how they are together.
My two cents: Joannes’ love for Noah felt more natural for me in this series—a love that meant she would convert to be with him. Is there a bigger gesture and declaration of love?
Throughout the series, Joanne is fighting a battle between her masculine and feminine sides. Does she want to be feminine and submit to the man she loves, or does she want to choose the masculine who controls and leads the relationship?
I perceive that her natural energy is gravitating toward her to be feminine and to make this step for the man she loves, but her modern feminist mindset is telling her she can’t be that woman.
Though love prevails, I can only hope that, as the series progresses, Joanne finds her way back to being naturally feminine and traditional, which means following in her man’s footsteps.
Plenty happened in Nobody Wants This Season 1, Episode 10 – what are your thoughts on the ending? Comment below. I’ve also reviewed the series if you fancy my overall thoughts.
