Nathan Fielder’s second season of his wildly unconventional series, The Rehearsal, has returned on HBO. This go-round, he dives immediately into the craziness, largely eschewing the scene-setting backstory that characterized the show’s first episode. With its new season, the show plunges into the emotional depths of human connection and the fragility of security measures, breaking ground on reality television. Given total creative freedom from HBO, Fielder throws himself into a string of dangerous feats. These storytelling adventures are bound to enlighten, entertain and challenge his audiences like never before.
In this season, Fielder and his crew meticulously recreate a full-scale version of Houston’s airport, setting the stage for a unique exploration of aviation safety. This adventurous project heads in an exciting new direction from its acclaimed first season. It takes, for instance, Fielder’s brilliant practice of rehearsing life’s embarrassing eventualities. The extensive production helps Fielder get inside the minds of both pilots and passengers.
Fielder’s dedication to realism is on full display in season two. In the bold, counterintuitive, and ultimately wise move, he’s eliminated the kids from the rehearsals altogether. He insists that this decision is protecting his artistic integrity. This decision underscores Fielder’s real-life journey as he and we explore the increasingly complex dynamics between performer and consumer. This theme has been a mainstay since his previous series, Nathan for You, which debuted in 2013.
HBO’s support has, indeed, been critical to this season. To the uninitiated, Fielder has what some might call a “blank check.” He seems to use every other resource he has everywhere to create the experience he’s developed for his hard-core fan base. The production’s massive scale and ambition unequivocally demonstrate Fielder’s intentions. Most importantly, he hopes to entertain while making people think about big issues like aviation safety.
Over the course of the season, Fielder grapples with some deep existential questions about communication and connection. He states, “Talking to other people is never easy, no matter how close you get to them.” This feeling rings absolutely true inside the The Rehearsal bubble. Fielder exquisite renders the ways that people manage their fears in life-and-death scenarios.
Fielder takes a radical approach to get inside the head of Sully Sullenberger. Sullenberger, of course, is best known for his emergency landing on the Hudson River.… This ruling will probably rattle most audiences. It does bring out Fielder’s passion to go in-depth and portray the complexities surrounding aviation safety in its entirety.
The new season feels at times like a series of dog treats for Fielder’s true believers. It’s interspersed with those touches of humor as he goes off the rails to go on a lot of different tangents. In the show’s most fanciful segment, Fielder engages in a bizarre study. He fits his Fielder Method—his unique patented style of human-dog interaction—on the dog.
Perhaps the most surprising thing Fielder has found is just how hard the first season hit home with autistic representatives. As a result of this awakening, he’s more conscious now of the intent behind his comedy. He is highly conscious of his image as a comedian and as a trickster. He admits that this perception presents a serious, high barrier to enter when trying to talk about other serious topics like aviation safety.
To add layers to his journey, Fielder recruits an army of thespians schooled in the Fielder Method. These players watch and follow pilots as they experience complex situations. Next, he recruits real-life pilots to tell their unique, personal stories. As part of their journey, they compete in an invented musical competition that injects a whole new dimension into the story.
Ultimately, Fielder’s larger mission goes beyond fun. He hopes to one day be called to testify before Congress on aviation safety. His goal is to be a catalyst for making real change happen within the industry. He plans to use the platform of his new show to advocate for safety improvements.