Jackie Tohn has been promoted to a series regular on Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, where she plays Esther Roklov, the mother of Sasha, in the show’s first season.
As reported by TVLine, Tohn’s character, Esther, is the outspoken sister-in-law to Rabbi Noah (played by Adam Brody) and the wife of Sasha (Timothy Simons). Throughout Season 1, Esther made her strong feelings known, especially about Noah’s relationship with Joanne, a podcaster portrayed by Kristen Bell. Her concerns were mainly fueled by her close bond with Noah’s ex-girlfriend, Rebecca. While Esther eventually warmed up to Joanne, things took a dramatic turn in the season finale when Joanne’s sister, Morgan, became a little too friendly with Sasha.
In an earlier interview, Tohn shared that Esther’s worries stemmed from the unclear text messages exchanged between Sasha and Morgan. She explained that it wasn’t the content of the messages themselves that bothered Esther, but rather the fact that they were kept a secret. Esther was uncomfortable with the lack of transparency, especially since Sasha and Morgan’s relationship crossed into what she felt was a “gray area” emotionally.
Tohn explained, “From Esther’s perspective, I think she absolutely has the right to get some kind of explanation. This isn’t some guy she’s been dating for a couple of weeks—this is her husband. The texts are in that strange gray area… What’s OK? Can Sasha and Morgan just be friends?” She continued, “Should Esther be angry? Well, she is, and I think she has every right to be. It’s the lack of information that makes things feel off—finding out about something being hidden makes everything more complicated.”
The good news for fans of Nobody Wants This is that Netflix has picked up the series for a second season, which is set to release in 2025. The romantic comedy, which features the unlikely love story between a quirky American rabbi (Brody) and a blunt, godless podcaster (Bell), has already become a hit and promises more drama in the coming season.