The Rehearsal Season 2 Review: Absurdity Reaches New Heights

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Nathan Fielder undeniably shares comedic roots with pioneers like Andy Kaufman, Norm Macdonald, Johnny Knoxville, and contemporaries such as John Wilson, Joe Pera, and Tim Heidecker. Yet, there’s no one quite like him in the comedy world. In essence, his career has honed a unique style of “intentional humor,” which is evident from his early projects at the CBC to his time on Comedy Central with Nathan for You, and eventually HBO’s The Rehearsal. Fielder’s distinctive brand of comedy consistently serves a purpose.

Regardless of whether Fielder’s humor stems from the mission’s eventual unhelpfulness or its success, it is grounded in a sense of purpose – be it helping himself, others, a business, or the world at large. The second season of The Rehearsal arguably pushes Fielder’s purpose-driven humor to its limits, making for an exhilarating viewing experience. The various elements converge in ways that are unexpected, funny, and emotional. It remains incredibly awkward, but this only serves to further blur the boundaries between art and autism. Of course, this ambiguity is intentional – everything is significant in Fielder’s work.

A Very Different Season with a Much Bigger Purpose

In Season 1 of “The Rehearsal,” the show generated numerous chuckles by contrasting minor predicaments with the extraordinary measures taken by Fielder to resolve them. For instance, in the first episode, Fielder attempted to alleviate a man’s apprehension about disclosing his lack of a Master’s degree to his trivia team. To tackle this trivial unease, Fielder invested vast sums of money (HBO budget) to construct reproductions of an apartment and a bar, hire actors and extras, and reenact countless variations of conversations, all so one man could feel at ease. This led to a comically excessive outcome.

In the second season of The Rehearsal, Fielder serves a greater function and therefore higher risks are involved. Unlike before, real human lives are at stake in this installment. This season exhibits fewer standalone episodes, instead concentrating on a single central theme, which makes it more intense overall. Despite having less humor and variety than Season 1, it maintains an abundance of creativity, laughter, and intellectual stimulation. The rehearsal in this season is intentional and personal, whereas Season 1 steered clear of such depth. It’s not necessarily superior or inferior to the first season; rather, it offers a more profound and insightful experience while still being crucial TV viewing.

In the second season of the “comedy” show, the focus shifts to aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and accidents that could have been avoided. Initially, this might seem strange, but it cleverly aligns with Fielder’s unique brand of humor and purpose-driven chuckles. Fielder has a knack for finding amusement in the mysterious gap between people where conversation dries up before awkward pauses and furtive glances take over. This space can be either a silent arena for unexpected events or a chasm that threatens to destroy connections. It’s a rich territory for Fielder, who views it as both the cause of many plane crashes and the chance to prevent them. Contrary to popular belief, he is utterly sincere in his intentions.

Yes, ‘The Rehearsal’ Season 2 Is All About Planes & Pilots

In the initial scene, Nathan Fielder is enveloped by flames, a dramatic portrayal of a plane crash simulation. He meticulously replicates various air disasters using black box data and available information, all from outside the cockpit. His theory? Improved communication between the pilot in control and the co-pilot could potentially prevent many aviation mishaps. If you find it unusual to center an entire television series around plane crashes, then Fielder is already one step ahead. In truth, his opening lines in the show are, “When you aim to incorporate a serious individual into your comedic series, it’s wise to proceed gradually.” Approximately 10 minutes into the series, he humorously comments:

“When attempting to integrate a serious character into your comedy series, it’s advisable to move cautiously.

Despite having the capability to address a matter of life and death, which could have prevented real people from perishing, I found myself tasked with producing a comedy series instead. As we were more than 10 minutes into this episode without any laughter, I find myself in a predicament. In one sense, I am uniquely positioned to resolve the problem; yet, in another, I may be the least suitable person for it.

Season 2 will eventually uncover why Fielder is “both an ideal and a challenging figure in resolving this issue.” This exploration will link the aviation narrative of the season with recurring themes of ability and authenticity, delve into the intricacies of Fielder’s life, career, and neurology.

Each episode advances the overarching theme of aviation throughout the season, while introducing various offbeat storylines like a singing contest reminiscent of Canadian Idol, an endeavor to facilitate a romantic connection between two socially inept individuals, a study on teaching a cloned dog to emulate its forerunner, and a mission to address Congress. These elements blend effortlessly, with the silent, resonating pauses that Fielder often exploits serving as blank slates upon which these tales unfold.

Life as Rehearsal, Small Talk as Survival

In my critique of Season 1 of HBO’s “The Rehearsal,” I made it clear that Nathan Fielder’s unique blend of documentary and comedy has roots tracing back to Borges and Baudrillard. However, as we delve into Season 2, it becomes apparent that both the artist and his art are mere replicas themselves. As Borges once said, “Life itself is a quotation.” Interestingly enough, this quote is actually attributed to Baudrillard in one of his books, having heard it from Borges during a lecture in Paris. This very source supports the idea, doesn’t it? Fielder takes this concept a step further, transforming “life as quotation” into “life as rehearsal.

Season 2 of the show continues to carry the broad philosophical themes, but it’s significantly less intellectual in nature unless you choose to interpret it that way. This season, The Rehearsal becomes more delicate, intimate, and emotional. Fielder delves into his own character and past experiences while simultaneously constructing a very tangible and intense plotline. He aims to transform casual conversations into something profound by examining the void between a captain and first officer in the cockpit and seeking to fill it with meaningful interactions. During this exploration, he also navigates through his own internal emptiness and confronts some challenging truths.

This season of “The Rehearsal” continues to astound, enlighten, and captivate us as ever, though it may not be quite as humorous as Season 1 (with Episode 3 being an exception that will leave you laughing out loud). Yet, Season 2 stands tall in its own right. The credit largely goes to Fielder this time around, rather than any unusual human characters. In showing more of himself, Fielder emerges as the most intriguing aspect of Season 2, and by the finale, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat, eagerly waiting to see how he manages to steer the show to a conclusion. The second season of “The Rehearsal” premieres April 20, 2025, at 10:30 p.m. ET on Max, immediately following the broadcast of “The Righteous Gemstones” on HBO. You can watch it through the link below:

[Link to The Rehearsal Season 2]

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2025-04-15 17:02