Your Friend, Nate Bargatze

Is this the slowest, most unaware man to ever live or is this an act? Judging by all of his specials I've seen, it's his stage persona. But it's wearing thin. We get it, your wife knows & does everything for you & you mumble & stumble your way through life. This man is my age, 45. This whole aloof act might have been funny as a newly married man in his 20's or even 30's, but you can't expect me to believe he has made it to the ripe old age of 45 not knowing anything. I guess I might choose Nate Bargatze if I was unaware of what comedy was and didn't know of any other comedians. But, he's shot to the top of the charts, though, so what do I really know? I guess a lot of people find this schtick hilarious. But, Joe Rogan has a lot of fans too. So, go figure.

A few repeated jokes and some new material. But he just seemed off in this special. Far too long of pauses. He needs to speed it up. And many lines were delivered lazily. He is much funnier, typically. Maybe he's getting worn out? He's really not that funny of a person actually, but his humor and jokes have been hilarious in the past. This special just doesn't deliver like I thought it would. I've seen him live and laughed hysterically throughout the whole show. Much more energy. This is a massive audience. They all seemed kinda bored too. I hope Nate keeps up the comedy and continues to deliver in the future.

Nate Bargatze's new comedy special is kind of funny, but it doesn't quite measure up to his usual greatness. The jokes feel a bit half-baked, and they're pretty safe and predictable-not the clever stuff fans are used to. He's still got that deadpan style and charm, but the pacing is slow and the laughs barely get beyond a mild chuckle. There are some relatable moments, but they're few and far between. All in all, it's a letdown compared to his better past specials.

Also, who told him to put a whole section on animal cruelty in his set? Who are the people who laugh at this and find it funny? All of us who were watching agreed that he lost us at that point.

Sometimes stand-up comedy can be a scary thing to turn on with family with so many comedians using crude and uncomfortable humor lately, but this one is a winner. Nate's style of delivering dry and often self-deprecating jokes create contagious laughter that grows and grows as he elaborates on parts or our day to day life so that we can see the hilarity for ourselves, almost as if we are discovering the comedy right along with him. His delivery is great, the venue is great, the crowd is great, and the special is great. I would have rated this higher, but the jokes aren't really my personal style. However, this is one of my most highly rated specials that don't have jokes that would be uncomfortable to watch with family. It is funny even though I'm clearly not the target audience.

Having followed his every move since the standup sets of 2017, I've always appreciated shorter sets. This latest special feels like a step back, lacking the depth and originality that initially made him stand out. While his earlier performances often showcased brilliance, his material now seems stretched thin, struggling to hold interest beyond 20 to 30 minutes.

This show, in particular, feels shallower than any of his prior work. Bits wrap up within two minutes, leaving little room for meaningful comedic arcs or the kind of commentary that sticks with you. The rare callbacks to earlier jokes are met with over-the-top reactions from the seemingly satisfied crowd.

What stands out most is the recycling of old material, including bits from previous shows and what I believe might even be SNL sketches. While reusing material might slide in a smaller setting, it feels lazy and underwhelming for a Netflix special, where fresh, compelling storytelling is expected.

The show's packaging, from the glossy poster to his transformation into a polished Hollywood persona, suggests a deliberate pivot toward commercial appeal. While understandable, this shift seems to come at the cost of authenticity, which was a key part of his charm.

Overall, watching this was an awkward experience. It felt less like a showcase of a rising star and more like someone going through the motions, prioritizing appearances over substance. Perhaps this is a calculated direction, but for me, it dampens the excitement I once had for his work.