In the midst of controversial casting choices, cancelations, and an overall skepticism about the streaming giant’s impact on modern media, Netflix sensation Nobody Wants This is shaping up to be the series that changes current perceptions.

When Joanne (Kristin Bell), an agnostic sex and dating podcast host, meets Noah (Adam Brody), a free-spirited, Jewish rabbi at a dinner party, the two attempt to navigate their growing attraction in spite of their different worlds. What ensues is an amusing yet romantic look at modern dating, ambition, and interfaith partnerships.

Since its release, it has become a major phenomenon, earning praise from viewers and critics alike. And with the announcement of a second season, what better way to remain busy before its premiere than to explore shows with similarly unforgettable comedic moments and heartwarming displays of love? You don’t even have to leave Netflix. Here are 10 other shows like Nobody Wants This on the popular streaming platform.

Heartstopper (2022)

Heartstopper remains one of the most popular teen romances in syndication. Adapted from the Alice Oseman graphic novels of the same name, the coming-of-age romance follows a group of students at Truham Grammar School, namely popular Year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Year 10 history buff Charlie Spring (Joe Locke).

From the moment they are sat next to each other, the two feel a spark. But with Charlie’s sexuality being forcibly revealed and Nick’s own understanding of his sexuality, the two come to realize that their growing attraction, in addition to their cohort of friends, may be the necessary connection to make their adolescence a lot more bearable.

Introspective Romances for Multiple Generations

While there is a stark age difference between the protagonists of Heartstopper and Nobody Wants This, the two series share connective tissue in their exploration of romance and its impact on self-esteem, character development, and their respective understanding of the world around them. Furthermore, both series also offer audiences a sweet mélange of romance, comedy and drama. Anyone who appreciates the heartfelt depictions of romance and self-exploration in Nobody Wants This, might find just what they need in Heartstopper, especially adult viewers who may want to heal their inner child with an expertly penned young adult series.

The Mindy Project (2012)

The Mindy Project sees the titular actress reimagine her life as an obstetrician who hopes to strike a perfect balance between her personal and professional life. Opening with the dissolution of her relationship with Dr. Tom McDougall (Bill Hader), Dr. Mindy Lahri strives to move forward in both lanes, leading to hilarious yet poignantly real moments of clarity and humility. Her colorful friend group also includes love interests like her main frenemy Danny Castellano (Chris Messina) and the charismatic Ben (Bryan Greenberg), and much of the series follows Mindy’s various relationships and her concept of love.

An Amusing Look At Life With a Charismatic Lead

In many ways, The Mindy Project is essential to understanding the format, storylines, and character development seen in modern romance-comedy television. Much like Nobody Wants This, The Mindy Project also looks at interfaith romances, global phenomena, and 21st-century femininity.

With its fair share of criticism surrounding the depiction of love interests, the show also made great strides in offering nuanced characters of color that both acknowledge the universality of human displays of love, aspirations, and insecurities, while also inspiring discussions about the depiction of the various lives of Americans of color. After finishing the first season of Nobody Wants This, viewers might want to look into the fascinating and hilarious stories found in The Mindy Project.

Survival of the Thickest (2023)

Survival of the Thickest sees actress, author, and showrunner Michelle Buteau transform her memoir into a riveting rom-com drama that follows a woman’s ambition to bounce back even higher after a breakup. Mavis (Buteau) juggles her romantic prospects, professional life, and close friendships all on her shoulders, but not without great friends and even greater moments of relief. Nevertheless, her expedition for a life of bliss is nothing short of entertaining.

A Gleaming, Relatable Story of Self-Exploration

Critics from publications The Age and The Atlantic have celebrated Survival Of The Thickest for its inclusive, genuinely hilarious, and ultimately touching look at the ways everyday people attempt to recollect themselves after terrible situations and move forward. As Soraya Nadia McDonald of Androscape professes, Mavis is a character who doesn’t wish to just survive, but to thrive. While it may seem miniscule to the untrained eye, there is a general expectation for those who don’t benefit from the politics of desirability to simply surrender any hopes they may have of having joy in their life.

Much like Nobody Wants This, Survival Of The Thickest offers audiences with endearing protagonists, unforgettable moments of funny mishaps, as well as earnest conversations about societal expectations and how they stand as an ever-looming barrier between any given person and their pursuit of genuine happiness and stability.

The Good Place (2016)

The Good Place boasts an ensemble cast including Kristin Bell, Manny Jacinto, Ted Danson, and William Jackson Harper in an existential comedy that follows souls in the afterlife as they attempt to understand the meaning of morality, the worth of existence, and the testament of self-improvement through a variety of human-mandated philosophies and religions.

In the truly gripping premiere, viewers meet Eleanor (Bell), a cynical, morally gray character who remains prideful in her independence and selfishness, even after her oddly comical death. Joined by socialite Tahani (Jameela Green), professor Chidi (Harper), and the misguided Jason (Jacinrto), the quartet attempts to make sense of the titular dimension after a series of discrepancies are brought to their attention.

An Inquisitive Comedy About Existence

While the series does not have romance as the main focus, it still remains a major focus, especially in the latter half of the show’s tenure. With The Good Place’s examination of various belief systems, it is simply consequential that the romantic pairings, namely Chidi and Eleanor, would also have to confront their differing worldviews while also trying to make sense of the purpose behind their existence.

Through illustrating a wondrous depiction of self-improvement, The Good Place concludes with a vision of peace and love that everyone, even characters from Nobody Wants This, hopes to experience, even if it takes place after their time on Earth is complete. Anyone in the heaps of boredom while waiting for Nobody Wants This to return may find solace in a viewing of The Good Place.

Love (2016)

One of the older additions, Love, is a Netflix original that focuses on relatable dating experiences from the perspective of two lovers with a heap of personal baggage coupled with a determination to improve, not only in spite of, but because of their shortcomings. Mickey and Gus, portrayed by Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust respectively, are introduced as two untrustworthy individuals who leave their prior relationships with the intention of working on themselves, which sees them coming face-to-face with their worst traits.

An Exploration of the Complexities of Intimacy

Love is one of the many shows that continue to highlight the appeal of the messy, complicated protagonist. Both Mickey and Gus are admirable, but not in the traditional sense. Their clumsy signals of affection and their relatable yet worrisome pitfalls in their personality coalesce into an authentic and amusing romance that shies away from the mythical depictions of love seen in fairytales and period romances.

It also helps that Jacobs and Rust, alongside castmates like Claudia O’Doherty, Mike Mitchell, and Chris Witaske, clearly have just enough chemistry to make the funniest of moments, as well as the painfully genuine moments, all the more enjoyable to watch, mirroring Bell and Brody’s own chemistry in Nobody Wants This.

Dash & Lilly (2020)

Dash & Lily is another young adult romance that focuses on the titular adolescents attempting to carve out a connection in the sea of lights and dreams that is New York City. Set during the holiday season, audiences meet Lily (Midori Francis), a hopeless romantic, and Dash (Austin Abrams), who proudly detests Christmas. After connecting via message, the two send each other on a seemingly fun chase around the city, dictated by dares they pen into the notebook.

Aside from the warmth radiating from their mutual attraction, as well as the impending holiday glee, the series also looks at the respective social circles, past relationships, and familial bonds of both Dash and Lily.

A Sweet Holiday Romance

Another teenage love story, Dash & Lily, provides audiences with a similar charm and intrigue to Nobody Wants This. Both series understand the sweet and wholesome possibilities that can arise from a romance between people with opposing personalities. Bringing the best out of one another whilst acknowledging the personhood of said partner may seem idealized from a glance, but real-life experiences and shows like Nobody Wants This and Dash & Lily both display the beautiful results that can arise from earnestly understanding someone from various vantage points, even if the latter is a bit more saccharine.

Insecure (2016)

One of the more prolific HBO series from the 2010s, Insecure sees Issa Rae’s Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl endure a metamorphosis not quite like any other. Retaining the quirkiness of the original YouTube series, Insecure sees LA-based millennial Issa Dee (Rae) yearning and ultimately taking steps towards creating a better life for herself, making life-changing decisions in the process, for better or worse.

In the beginning, a disgruntled Issa is dissatisfied with her relationship with her similarly stagnant boyfriend Lawrence (Jay Ellis), her job in the non-profit industry, and the looming disappointment in her progression as a person, a feeling that many can recognize in their lives. Joined by her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) and equally charismatic characters like Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) and Tiffany (Amanda Seales), Insecure is a must-see for those in search of a hilarious, heartbreaking, and ultimately defining television series that looks at millennials taking it day by day.

A Show Defined by Its Personalities

In many ways, Insecure is a capsule of life in the 2010s, even at its most surreal. Not unlike Nobody Wants This, the show is an expansive galaxy filled with luminous characters. While Issa, Joanne, and Noah are the suns of the respective series, both shows make great use of the greater community of characters that have their own plights worth exploring and their unique contributions to more lighthearted moments. Furthermore, both shows, at their core, highlight the importance, and the murkiness of developing a self-love that will nourish one’s life, platonic, and romantic relationships for the foreseeable future.

Business Proposal (2022)

Business Proposal is a South Korean romantic comedy that sees various people from different walks of life find each other through what was meant to be a quick, inoffensive scheme. Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) works at Go Food, a company led by Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop). When her friend Jin Young-seo (Seol In-ah), convinces Ha-ri to attend a blind date arranged by the latter’s father, Ha-ri thinks nothing of it until she’s sitting across from her boss Tae-moo.

What transpires is a series of secrets revealed, followed up by even more schemes in hopes of appeasing their respective elders, ultimately resulting in a cascade of new relationships that somehow manage to bloom in the midst of the discord.

A Wholesome Web of Connections

Business Proposal makes light of the myriad of ways people attempt to avoid their true feelings, be it because of familial expectations, personal setbacks, or a broader fear of the future and the consequences it may bring. Moreover, the series offers a refreshing set of platonic, professional, and romantic relationships. There is genuine care between the aforementioned Ha-ri and Tae-moo, but said consideration is also seen in friendships like Ha-ri and Young-seo’s. Similar to Nobody Wants This, Business Proposal is an addictive Korean drama that will make you laugh and believe in love, in all iterations.

Master of None (2015)

Master of None is an amalgamation of romance, comedy, and drama set largely in New York City. Dev (Aziz Ansari) is an aspiring actor who much of the series focuses on. His professional pursuits are explored in tandem with his romances, his relationship with his parents (portrayed by Ansari’s real-life parents) as well as his friendships. Denise (Lena Waithe) is one of the various perspectives connected to Dev that is highlighted in the third and final season.

A Look Into the Metamorphosis of Millennials in Love

Master Of None has received wide acclaim for its depiction of contemporary life. Examining modern methods of communication, conflict resolution, romance, and self-discovery, the series remains engaging and visually stunning, to say the least.

In terms of love, much of the series deals with Dev’s relationship with Rachel (Noël Wells), a music publicist who meets Dev during the filming of an in-universe film titled “The Sickening,” and Francesca (Alessandra Mastronardi), who meets Dev during his time at culinary school in Italy. The third season transitions to focusing on Denise, her wife Alicia (Naomi Acke), and their respective obstacles. If anyone craves the intimacy and honesty seen in Nobody Wants This, Master Of None may very well be the story audiences would like to engage with.

Never Have I Ever (2020)

Another Mindy Kaling creation, Never Have I Ever, is a comically chaotic series from the vantage point of Devi Vishwakumar (Matreiyi Ramakrishnan), a young Indian-American girl living in Sherman Oaks. After witnessing the death of her father (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and subsequent trauma-induced paralysis, Devi attempts to make up for her sorrowful freshman year by making her sophomore year memorable for all the right reasons. Nonetheless, her fraught relationship with her mother (Poorna Jagannathan), her reckless treatment of her friends, and an increasingly complicated love life make high school for Devi quite an unforgettable experience.