The Rehearsal
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When weleft off last week, Nathan Fielder had decided to join Angelas rehearsal as a co-parent.
Hows his foray into fatherhood going?
Okay, Fielder replies in a voice of naive astonishment.
I had no idea.
I thought it was just trick-or-treating, he says.
Nathan, where have you been?
Angela asks, incredulous.
Not everything is make-believe.
Some things are real.
After the title, the portrait of Nathans domestic life continues.
Fielder doesnt seem too happy with this arrangement when he enters the kitchen and Angela asks Adam Whos this?
the kid just shrugs but what can he do?
Its still technically her scenario, built around her specific desires.
Plus he still has a job to do.
Outside the house, hes got more rehearsals to run.
Shes pretty much a Jew about [money].
You know how the Jews are, he says before helpfully clarifying, She penny-pinches.
To me, thats an antisemitic stereotype, he explains, index finger to top lip, thinking hard.
But itisa personal conversation … and I do want you to be yourself.
They decide to keep it in for authenticitys sake.
Fielder introduces the child actor as his son to all the other actors in the fake restaurant.
Hey, Adam, they reply, almost in chorus.
The show gives us no clue as to whether they know Nathan is in his own simulation.
Fielders current domestic simulation has made him only more aware of this flaw.
[Imagine me taking a deep breath here.]
Fielder lurks behind a tree and watches everything play out.
The catch is that, in a week, Nathan will tell Patrickthisgrandpa has died of a heart attack.
But this time, the feeling is stranger, stronger, deeper.
Is there a name for this?
Have you ever seen anything like it before?
Im not sure I have.
Whatever it is, it works.
Im tired of living like its the day after he died, Patrick says through tears.
Its incredibly powerful to watch.
Maybe for some, the rehearsal itself is enough, Fielder says in wistful voice-over.
Not for him, though.
The episodes final shot encapsulates Fielders problem so perfectly it feels almost heavy-handed.
A truly vintage conspiracy theory!
Also, my algorithm is probably fucked forever now, so I hope you appreciate my journalistic rigor.
The frog-in-boiling-water quality of this whole project continues to amaze me.
The grandpa actor was truly so good.
When he screamed, FUCK ME TO TEARS!
The moment when Patrick (maybe?)
Also, we never see what actually happens back there, so I guess who knows?
Two men in the woods, building trust as only men do.
When Nathan is on the couch with Adam in his Roots shirt (CanCon!
And shes right their kidiskids, actually.
This show is nuts.
