I didn’t get to catch The Rehearsal when it first appeared on the 2025 TV schedule earlier this yr. However, once I was getting back from my grandfather’s funeral and wanted one thing to observe on the practice, I made a decision to obtain all six episodes of Nathan Fielder’s cringeworthy TV present with my Max subscription and binge it right through. Little did I do know, however this excruciatingly awkward but endearingly honest HBO present would forestall me from having a full-on meltdown on what would develop into a 15-hour practice trip from Hell.
Between a damaged air conditioner, a gaggle of youngsters in entrance of me that wouldn’t sit down, a three-hour cease in the course of nowhere throughout an enormous thunderstorm, and a woman who was screaming on her telephone at 3 a.m., I wanted a distraction, and The Rehearsal was there in a really unusual and admittedly on-brand approach. Permit me to elucidate…
The Rehearsal Season 2, And It is Outrageous Focus On The Airline Business, Was A Good Distraction
In case you haven’t watched but, The Rehearsal Season 2 follows Nathan Fielder as he tries to get a greater understanding of the interpersonal relationships shared by captains and first officers on airplanes and the way bettering that line of communication might make air journey safer for all. Identical to with the present’s first season, and just about every part else the comic has carried out through the years, Fielder takes what may very well be a severe subject and turns it into one thing that’s not fairly heavy but additionally not absolutely comedy both.
Actually, after burying my grandfather, having my journey residence delayed a number of occasions, and coping with all of the shenanigans that include journey by practice, Fielder’s deep dive into the aviation trade (and that random sidetrack the place he known as out Paramount+ for eradicating an episode of Nathan For You) served as a pleasant distraction. I laughed, I groaned, I pressed pause a few occasions to wrap my head round sure scenes…however for round six hours, I used to be in a position to tune out the world round me.
Nathan Fielder’s Reveals Often Put Me On Edge, However Not This Time
Going into Season 2, I had such an odd relationship with Fielder and his physique of labor. Although I loved The Curse, I didn’t prefer it as a lot as critics or Christopher Nolan, who known as it “an unbelievable present,” His exhibits often put me on edge, pressure me to consider some random reminiscence or dialog or fact that I’ve buried deep down within the recesses of my thoughts hoping by no means to be revisited once more, and go right into a little bit of an existential disaster.
Not this time.
I don’t know if it’s the absurdity of the present’s premise, the more and more awkward interactions (like a chat with a United States Congressman that made my pores and skin crawl), or the truth that The Rehearsal was serving to me overlook my very own troubles for some time that did it, however I wasn’t freaking out, I wasn’t unhappy, and I simply form of existed for a piece of my practice trip.
As Unusual As It Sounds, The Present Helped Me With Some A lot-Wanted Soul-Looking out
Just like how Friendship made me really feel very uncomfortable (each throughout and after my screening), The Rehearsal, oddly sufficient, helped me with some much-needed soul-searching as I skilled what was, certainly, the worst practice trip of my life. One of many main matters that comes up a number of occasions all through the six-episode season is find out how to correctly talk empathetically with these round us. As somebody who has lengthy struggled with empathy, conversations with strangers, or just speaking his emotions, this exploration of the human situation was each terrifying and fulfilling.
There’s a piece of the present the place Fielder arrange a pretend singing competitors – Wings of Voice, an elaborate play on his expertise as a producer on Canadian Idol – that feels prefer it was constructed for the only objective of permitting the comedic mastermind to determine find out how to speak to folks. It was outlandish, it was excessive, and it was undeniably absurd, however I’ll be damned if it wasn’t poignant.
Regardless of The Myriad Of Points With My Prepare, The Present Reminded Me That It May Be Worse
As I’ve talked about already, there have been a myriad of points with my practice coming again to the Midwest, a few of which I’m positive I’ll be telling folks about for years to return. Nonetheless, after blowing by way of the present’s second season, I used to be reminded that it might all the time be worse. A lot, a lot worse…
From all of the airplane crashes which can be examined and recreated in beautiful element to the varied uncomfortable conversations that performed out by way of every episode to the way in which tragedy was explored all through, I stored remembering that it may very well be worse. I imply, being caught on a practice for the higher a part of a day sucks, however within the grand scheme of issues, it’s not that dangerous. I made it residence, my day wasn’t fully ruined, and I didn’t must go on CNN to defend myself to the FAA for studying find out how to fly a industrial jet and taking a gaggle of actors on a brief journey over the Mojave Desert.
Nonetheless, I Really feel Dangerous For The Random Man Sitting Subsequent To Me Throughout The Sully Sullenberger Episode
Think about having an open seat subsequent to you and going to the restroom earlier than going to sleep for the night time, after which coming again to seek out somebody sitting subsequent to you. That didn’t occur to me, however the poor man subsequent to me on the practice trip from Hell. Now think about a few hours later, once you look over and that man that ruined your spacious journey is watching Nathan Fielder dressed up like a child model of Sully Sullenberger breastfeeding from an enormous puppet.
It’s been a couple of days, and I’m nonetheless questioning what will need to have been going by way of that man’s head when he regarded over and noticed me watching one of many strangest exhibits of the yr. I don’t know if he might hear the Evanescence music “Convey Me to Life” on my headphones all through the biopic episode concerning the “Miracle on the Hudson,” however he was most likely scarred sufficient at that time. I by no means bought the man’s title, however my honest apologies exit to the person who was six hours late getting again to Chicago.
I truthfully don’t know what I might have carried out if I hadn’t downloaded The Rehearsal earlier than hitting the practice station. Hopefully, Fielder and HBO workforce up once more for a 3rd season by the point I take my subsequent in a single day trip.