I recently got into a new TV shows that I think many OMAAT readers would enjoy. I first wrote about this a couple of weeks ago while the show was still airing, but want to provide an update, as the entire season is now out, and I’ve just seen the finale.
This show is so utterly bizarre, while being captivating and thought provoking. My mind is blown, and if you haven’t seen it, you must…
In this post:
Basics of The Rehearsal Season 2, with Nathan Fielder
Let me start by acknowledging that up until several weeks, I hadn’t heard of The Rehearsal or of Nathan Fielder (I know many people also liked his “Nathan For You” series). Instead, I came across the below trailer for the new season of this show. It’s so strange, no?
I didn’t see the first season of the show, but here’s how the premise is described:
Nathan Fielder returns to television to explore the lengths one person will go to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. Fielder stars as the director of rehearsals, which are elaborately staged scenarios re-creating parts of ordinary people’s lives that are meant to help them prepare for a big moment in their lives. A construction crew, a legion of actors and seemingly unlimited resources all come together to allow ordinary people to rehearse for these moments by giving them the opportunity to play them out in carefully crafted simulations of Fielder’s own design.
Okay, that sounds sort of intriguing, but I think it’s the topic of the six-episode Season 2 that makes this relevant to OMAAT readers. The second season is focused exclusively on aviation accidents, and specifically, on issues with pilot communication.
Fielder seems to be a bit of an aviation geek (or at least an aircraft accident investigation geek), and noticed a trend whereby so many aviation accidents over time happened because first officers were unwilling to speak up to captains to express their concerns.
How could that be the case, when their lives depended on it? The show investigates that in the most bizarre, surreal, comedic way imaginable. Fielder’s personality can be described as sort of awkward and uncomfortable, and the more you watch the show, the more you realize that’s a feature rather than a bug.
This show is indescribably unusual, yet captivating
I’ve never seen a show quite like this, because it’s a comedy series, and it kind of blurs the lines between fiction and reality. So the premise of so many setups is absurd, yet then there are insights where you can’t help but think that he has actually uncovered something brilliant.
Like, Fielder goes great lengths to investigate pilot communication and mental health, by doing everything from setting up a fake pilot break room at an airport, to creating a fake bar where pilots can talk to one another, to creating a fake flight deck to observe pilot communications, TO FLYING A BOEING 737 FULL OF PASSENGERS HIMSELF (sorry for the caps, but they’re appropriate).
By the way, for those who have seen the show, that one pilot who has been banned from all the dating sites is a piece of work, and I feel bad for anyone who is stuck in the flight deck with him.
But Fielder doesn’t stop there. His investigation into pilot behavior includes everything from holding a fake singing competition to see how first officers judge performers, to examining the behavior of cloned dogs.
He’s fascinated by the life of Captain Sully, who landed US Airways 1549, with the “Miracle of the Hudson” flight. So he tries to recreate every part of his life, down to Fielder becoming an infant, and sucking on a ***, so that milk is spewing all over his face. YES I KNOW IT’S REALLY WEIRD.
This also gets into the lines being blurred between comedy and actual investigative work. For example, Fielder claims that Captain Sully’s life changed because of the iPod, and that music became his way of coping with stress and the realities of life.
For example, after US Airways 1549 hits a flock of birds, there’s 23 seconds where Captain Sully doesn’t say anything, according to the black box. Fielder theorizes that it’s because the chorus of Evanescence’s “Bright Me To Life” was going through his head. Is this serious, comedy, or what?
But the last episode… I’m speechless. It’s possibly the best hour of TV I’ve ever seen, and I just can’t believe what happens, despite the ending and conclusion as such being anti-climactic, in some ways. Also, how cool to see Nomadic Aviation Group involved as well, as their Cockpit Casual series is probably my favorite YouTube viewing (Steve and Bob are absolute legends!).
One line in the last episode really summed up so many things perfectly, not just with pilot communication, but with how so many of us live our lives — “we’re all just people in the back of an Uber, looking to avoid an awkward conversation.”
Bottom line
If you’re into aviation and like really weird shows, The Rehearsal Season 2 is for you. It examines the topic of pilot communication, in the strangest way possible. Try to stick with the show for the entire season. I get the show seems strange at first and it can be hard to get into it, but stay with it.
It’s so refreshing to see something that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. For me, it’s a nice change of pace from Love After Lockup and 90 Day Fiance. I also can’t imagine how much money was spent on this show…
Anyone else watching this show, and if so, what do you make of it?
What an epic watch. Really loved the unexpected last episode, and the sheer commitment it must have taken.
Nomadic cameo at end was something special, as have been following their series too (have watched every episode of that too on YT).
On that note, any recommendations similar to Cockpit Casual series that Ben and others here might have?
I've been a fan of Nathan's work for years, and this season simply blew me away. From a TV standpoint, I have no idea how he was able to get approvals, but that's a separate topic.
If you are interested in the show, I would recommend not reading any comments or reviews...and just start with episode one. There are only 6 eps, and what he does (and how he does it) is truly fascinating.
"we’re all just people"
The biggest cause of catastrophic accidents, humans.
There’s a credible poster on Reddit who tracked the flight path, time and date, and the exact plane that was used for Nathan’s 737 experience, along with the tracker plane that flew alongside him to shoot video for HBO. The show edited out the registration numbers but the flight tracker shows the original Avelo livery.
Would you have a link?
The cabin was pretty clearly an old SW plane, no?
I’m surprised you’re not commenting on the process of acquiring a 737 and the “no paying passengers” loophole (if that’s even a real thing and not just for TV) he used to make the flight happen. I thought the boneyard scene in particular was pretty fascinating from an “av geek” perspective. Not to mention the fact that the leasing airline didn’t want to be named but was almost definitely Avelo based on the parts of the livery they didn’t edit out.
Agreed. Not sure if it’s Ben, but I’d love for someone to do the math on what it takes to get a 737 rating via private pay.
“I became the least experienced person licensed to fly a 737 in North America.” Legend.
@ JJ -- Yes that made me laugh out loud. Also how much he struggled before his first solo.
My husband and I watched the finale last night and were stunned. The lengths Nathan went to (and seemingly the amount of money HBO was willing to spend) were quite impressive.
Although CRM has come a long way since first introduced, you do still hear that there’s a breakdown in communication or loss of situational awareness in almost every accident.
I do wonder if anything else will come of the show, but it was a fascinating experiment either way.
Didn’t you post this exact post or a very similar one to this just a week or two ago?
@ Eve -- Yep, as I explained in the intro, "I first wrote about this a couple of weeks ago while the show was still airing, but want to provide an update, as the entire season is now out, and I’ve just seen the finale."
Reading is essential!
Love it when people complain about an article without actually reading it.
Lucas, perhaps some of us are so senile that we forget what we are reading after about ten words …. :-)