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'As a millennial woman dating in her 30s, Nobody Wants This hit too close to home.'

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Say what you will about season two of Nobody Wants This (and we've said plenty), but it nails modern dating better than anything I've seen recently.

The Netflix rom-com series, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody as cynical podcaster Joanne and romantic Rabbi Noah, has just returned for another season of will-they-won't-they suspense.

The question of whether Joanne will convert to Judaism looms large over the season, but I found the smaller moments between the characters even more illuminating — especially how Nobody Wants This captures the minefields of millennial dating.

As a dating millennial myself, I can testify that I've never felt so seen.

In particular, the Valentine's Day episode stood out as being especially perceptive.

Season two masterfully chipped away at the 'perfect boyfriend' pedestal the first season put Brody's Noah on. Aside from a stray 'Prego' comment, Noah had been practically flawless in his relationship with Joanne up until Valentine's Day, when we see him from another side: the side of his ex-girlfriends.

Watch the hosts of Watch Party discuss the moment when Noah gave them the ick. Post continues after video.

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Video via Mamamia.

Joanne learns that before abruptly dumping his ex Melanie years ago, Noah invited her to a wedding, bought her flowers for her birthday and visited her mum in hospital.

But Noah said they 'were never that serious'. Hmm. Confusing.

Last season, Noah's more recent former partner Rebecca (Emily Arlook) was painted as his unhinged and obsessed Jewish ex. After Joanne forces Noah to meet with her, we learn that he very much led her on in their relationship, constantly love-bombing her and doing grand romantic gestures.

Noah's defence? He was just being a 'good boyfriend'. This hit the nail on the head for me when it comes to modern dating.

Women are constantly sorting through clues to prove whether the guy is as invested as they are in the relationship. If they've planned a holiday with us (committing to long-term plans), or spoken about having kids together (very long-term plans), this will give women a sense of security.

If the man doesn't actually see this relationship continuing, then these things are not someone being a 'good boyfriend' — it's thoughtless at best, and emotionally manipulative at worst.

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In the same Valentine's Day episode, Joanne discovers that Noah gifted her the same letter necklace he bought Rebecca. Again, Noah thinks this is ticking a 'good boyfriend' box, but he's treating all his girlfriends as if they're the same person with identical wants and needs.

In turn, Joanne is left feeling like she's just 'another girlfriend'.

Image: Netflix.

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Another red flag I noticed was that Noah had a rather rigid idea of romance, forcing Joanne to have a bubble bath in the California heat on Valentine's Day.

I had a partner do this exact same thing with me. He wanted to 'do something romantic' and have an indoor spa… it was during an Australian summer.

These grand gestures seem romantic at first glance, but they're more performative than anything. If the person you're romancing is not enjoying themselves, is it really romance?

Aside from Noah becoming increasingly overbearing, season two of Nobody Wants This also portrays Joanne spiraling out with insecurities — all very relatable.

She starts comparing the relationship stage she's in to her recently-engaged sister, Morgan, and freaks out when Noah asks for a 'night off' so he can focus on a job interview.

This all checks out. When dating, as much as we're told 'comparison is the thief of joy', it's inevitable that we will measure our relationships against others, and even watching at home, I was triggered by Noah's casual use of the term 'night off'.

Yes, a boyfriend has said this to me and yes, it sounds like dating me is a job.

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Sure, Noah didn't literally mean that, but the writers of Nobody Wants This knew exactly what they were doing when he used that turn of phrase — in the early stages of a relationship, throwaway terms can carry a much deeper meaning.

The final moment in the series that had me enthusiastically nodding along was a scene between Sasha and Esther, whose marriage is at a breaking point by the end of the season.

Image: Netflix.

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Standing in their wardrobe, Esther decides she no longer wants to 'mother' her husband.

"I'm just tired of picking your outfits every single day and telling you our bank account information and showing you literally how to use the dishwasher," she tells him.

"I'm not your mother."

DAMN STRAIGHT.

This moment perfectly captured the internal struggle Esther had been reckoning with all season: wanting to find herself again and decide whether Sasha makes her life better or worse.

I'm hopeful these two crazy kids can make it work, but Esther made an important point: men shouldn't need their girlfriends to show them how to act like adults. We're tired!

After years of being in the dating cycle — living through the birth of dating apps — millennials have adjusted our standards. And those don't include being anyone's mum.

Nobody Wants This might be an imperfect show, but it's a masterclass in what to do (and what not to do) in millennial dating.

For more thoughts and feelings on Nobody Wants This, catch up on our brutally honest review on The Spill.

Feature image: Netflix.

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