Critics agree Nobody Wants This season 3 is a big step up from season 2

If you gave up on Nobody Wants This after its dreary second run, you might want to look again, because the critics seem convinced Season 3 is (against expectation) a notable step up. Yes, it's still a Netflix romantic comedy and it hasn't shed every nagging flaw, but there's a consensus: it's found some of the spark it lost last year. At the heart of this apparent comeback? Kristen Bell and Adam Brody's chemistry, plus a series that's finally moving its central couple somewhere interesting.

Back from the Doldrums

The general feeling is that Season 3 is picking up momentum after a listless sophomore stretch. One Collider writer put it bluntly—while last season was, frankly, just spinning its wheels, these new episodes actually get on with it. The relationship between Joanne and Noah gets a real shake-up, with proper challenges and progress instead of the narrative treading water. Here's how Meredith Loftus from Collider described her reaction:

Where Season 2 felt like it was spinning its wheels, Season 3 wastes no time. Noah and Joanne, and, by extension, the show, are taking this commitment seriously, embracing new chapters and facing the hurdles of their relationship head-on.

Loftus also seemed genuinely pleased that the show was advancing not just the love story, but the characters themselves, saying the arc this year gives everyone something substantial to do—an improvement, to put it kindly, on last time out.

• Alex Bear at Riot admitted she doubted a follow-up to Season 2 was worth the risk, but reckons the show has managed to claw back its voice, calling the second season a mere "sophomore slump".
• She also singled out Bell and Brody's onscreen dynamic, saying their chemistry is still basically the lifeblood of the whole thing.
• Kelly Woo over at Tom's Guide picked up on the same selling point, writing the leads are still immensely likeable—one of the big reasons the series was a hit in the first place.
• Woo did point out, though, that the pacing remains a problem, even if the overall charm hasn't worn off.
• Meanwhile, Angie Han at The Hollywood Reporter noted the show is creating a gentler, more balanced vibe, though she says it can't fully ditch those (sometimes maddening) habits it picked up in earlier series.
• Liz Hersey at ScreenRant summed up the change as a "return to form", with Noah and Joanne back to their almost sickeningly sweet—but, fair's fair, genuinely adorable—ways.

Bell and Brody’s wonderful chemistry continues to shine, maintaining the beating heart of the series.

If you want character development, a plot that (finally) ticks along, and leads with actual chemistry, Season 3 seems to be the consensus pick for when the show got back on track.