O Ensaio

This is where movie becomes reality, and vice versa. After helping with people's careers on Nathan For You, the wizard of loneliness returns to help with people's relationships.

It's self-help reality show satire. Idk how else to put it. If you don't get it, then sorry. His situational comedy hits a little too close to home for some. But for those who have the humility to appreciate the awkwardness of the human condition, then you appreciate just how absurd this show gets. It's comedic inception, I started the show chuckling, and by episode 4 I was in tears. Layers upon layers of absurdity. This show has the perfect guy (and apparently the budget) to do it.

A lot of reality shows do the same thing Nathan does in this show. But they polish it up to make it seem like interactions are flawless, use actors to stage nearly everything, and all works out perfectly in the end. This show just exploits that aspect of those reality tv shows. His mindset is (believe it or not) not too far from a regular reality television producer. Nathan just has a little more of a nihilistic approach. I love it.

This show has value as a cautionary tale. Nobody should live like this!

This is exactly the wrong way of engaging with life; trying to control and micro-manage every possibility is based on fear and a lack of developed connection with one's instinct. People have instincts, and they can tell that something isn't real.

I knew a guy who approached women in this way, hyper-studying the object of his obsession and planning flow charts of possible actions and reactions. It sort of worked for a while, but fairly soon, she reacted like a trapped animal. It was insanely frustrating for me to hear about this. "No, no, no! Don't DO that. That's NOT how you interact with people. (What the hell is wrong with you??)"

You have a soul. Souls are like surfboards. Trying to freeze everything to get it right is like trying to reduce yourself to a reaction machine. It's like trying to cheat god. It cannot last.

HOWEVER...

The point of this show is not to attempt success through the method of hyper-control.

The point is to demonstrate the futility of trying to control god, and through the exercise, stealth-grow the subject's confidence in dealing with random events.

This is the most creative, unique, and original show I have watched in many years.. Maybe ever! I loved Nathan For You (NFY) and I knew this show would be good as well. However, while NFY is a comedy show in essence, The Rehearsal is mostly a social experience that is so special and authentic.

I will not spoil anything, but I will comment on one scene in Episode 4. When Adam is taken by the ambulance after overdosing, the paramedics are listing his current symptoms, vital signs, and possible drugs he is on, and being a physician I was impressed by the accuracy and amount of work that went into a 5-second scene. This is a simple example of the attention to details and the amount of effort put into this amazing show.

Nathan Fielder is truly one of a kind. Yes every human in existence is one of a kind but this is a different kind of one of a kind. No show is a one man army and it obviously takes many individuals to make something like this happen. Nathan's crew went above and beyond with his requests in this show and deserve nothing but respect and applause for their work. Nathan in particular had the vision, but by the time you finish season 2... wow. He takes full control of everything... literally. You'll look back at season 1 wondering how you even got to that point, but the destination is completely worth it.

Season 1 had something special to it, partially because that was my introduction to Nathan. But I kept wanting more out of some of the one off episodes despite loving mostly everything. I became infatuated with the story of episode 1 and seeing the bar get brought back time and time again was a nice reminder. Then the story of the man at the raising canes rehearsing for a confrontation with his family member, and what transpired after really stuck with me. The ongoing story of raising a child and the shocking climax at the end of the season. All of it was unlike anything I'd ever seen, so going into season 2 I was ready for anything, but also just wanted to experience more like season 1.

And after watching season 2, I wouldn't want it any other way. Season 2 of The Rehearsal is one of the greatest seasons of television I've watched. Yes it's partly due to the fact I've never seen anything like it, but also because I doubt we'll ever see anything like it again.

It's an experience that really can't be put into words but it combines comedy with life and death issues that desperately need to be addressed, and watching it all slowly unfold is hooking, hilarious, but most importantly necessary to witness.

Watching The Rehearsal makes Nathan for You feel like a pleasantly hilarious fever dream. Going from fighting out of handcuffs to avoid flashing minors in 2013 to the end of season 2 of this series... I mean I wish I had something to compare that to but I've got nothing. But whether it's intentional, real, authentic or not, it's some of the best character development you'll ever see. I never say this but I hope this show continues. If not, the ending was a perfect landing to a damn near perfect comedy/documentary/whateverthisisseries. This show brings me to life and I hope it does the same for whoever else gives it a try.