The cast and creator of Netflix’s comedy series “Nobody Wants This” have engaged in a public debate over the Israel-Palestine conflict through media appearances, drawing attention to the show’s conspicuous silence on the subject.
Actor Adam Brody, who plays rabbi Noah Roklov, stated to GQ that he views Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and supports Palestinian independence. Creator Erin Foster responded on a podcast by disagreeing with Brody while characterizing the series as “a love letter to Judaism.” Actor Tovah Feldshuh, who portrays Noah’s mother, condemned Brody’s remarks to the New York Post. The disagreements have surfaced just as the show’s third season was released.
“Nobody Wants This” functions as a lightweight romantic comedy centered on the relationship between Brody’s character and Kristen Bell’s podcaster, with their differing religious backgrounds presented as an easily resolvable tension. Critics have noted that the series treats Judaism as a minor point of difference rather than exploring the faith’s complexities, internal divisions, or contemporary relevance to its characters’ lives. Earlier seasons drew criticism for stereotypical portrayals of Jewish women as obstacles to the protagonists’ happiness, though subsequent seasons have made some adjustments.
The show premiered nearly a year after the October 2023 Hamas attacks and has notably omitted any discussion of Israel or the Middle East conflict from its narratives, despite these issues being prominent sources of debate within American Jewish communities. Foster acknowledged during the podcast appearance that “our set is very similar to dinner tables around the world where people are having debate and discussion and disagreeing,” implicitly recognizing the omission. Other Jewish-focused television programs, including Netflix’s animated series “Long Story Short,” have similarly avoided addressing the conflict, with creators citing concerns about dampening the tone of their shows.
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