is somewhat unnerving. From the meta-corporate parody of “Dumb Starbucks,” a clever viral marketing ploy from his Comedy Central program in the mid-2010s, to the passive house symbolizing the soul in his initial narrative series, Showtime’s , Fielder possesses an uncanny ability to pinpoint the perfect absurd metaphor for each scenario. However, never has he foreshadowed the current climate as directly as in the second season of The Rehearsal, the docu-comedy whose solidified his eccentric brilliance. This continuation of that remarkable debut, which progressively expanded and became more intricate until it reimagined life as a series of interconnected performances, sees Fielder embark on a mission to enhance aviation safety.
He couldn’t have predicted, during its conception, that would emerge as a defining of the early Trump 47 era, exemplified by the of a near-miss between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter, preceding the of hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration employees. While not requiring clairvoyance, one can easily draw parallels between our precarious times and the harrowing ordeal of attempting to land a compromised aircraft with a questionable pilot. More practical and less philosophically expansive than its predecessor, yet consistently original, humorous, peculiar, and insightful, the second season of The Rehearsal, debuting April 20 on HBO, centers on the cockpit, where individuals are entrusted with the safety of many lives. By analyzing the dynamic between captain and first officer, Fielder subtly draws a parallel to another increasingly important issue: challenging authority.
Initially, before Season 1 became so captivatingly complex, The Rehearsal presented itself as an effort to adapt the social engineering techniques Fielder employed to execute the extraordinary manipulations of Nathan for You, to assist ordinary individuals in “rehearsing” for challenging situations in their own lives. One man sought to confess to friends he had been deceiving for years. A woman grappling with the decision of whether or not to have children practiced parenthood. If taken at face value—seldom the correct approach in Fielder’s universe—Season 2 is fueled by the creator’s personal preoccupation with what he perceives as a neglected issue in commercial aviation. After carefully studying cockpit transcripts from plane crashes, he has determined that improved communication between captain and first officer could have averted many of these disasters.
As Fielder explains, co-pilots often seem to yield to superiors making unsound decisions, neglecting to assume control of the aircraft even when doing so could prevent mass casualties. Therefore, it makes sense that first officers should be encouraged to voice their concerns, and captains should be receptive to feedback. This is where Fielder’s unique talent comes into play. Significant HBO resources are dedicated to this cause; the crew constructs a flight simulator, an airport set, and even a Congressional hearing room for intricate role-playing exercises. Actors trained in stealth shadow (some might say “stalk”) aviation professionals as they travel the world. Actual pilots are enlisted to share their frustrations and participate in simulations. Throughout, Fielder worries whether he, a comedian known for humiliating people since Nathan for You, can be taken seriously on a subject he genuinely cares about. A circus clown occasionally appears in the frame, silently mocking him, suggesting they are alike.
The show is most compelling when, seemingly responding to critics who deemed Nathan for You cruel, it delves into Fielder’s own psyche. This peculiar subjectivity remains largely opaque to viewers, despite numerous apparent revelations, due to our awareness that The Rehearsal is his creation—one where only he can fully comprehend the balance between authenticity and fabrication. A tangential exploration of the of The Rehearsal obscures the distinction between neurotypicality and neurodivergence. In an episode likely to spark discussion, Fielder organizes a ludicrous rehearsal to assist him in confronting Paramount+ regarding the removal of a Nathan for You episode deemed controversial, ideally without jeopardizing the renewal prospects of The Curse (whose network, Showtime, shares the same parent company). A recurring theme is his concern that the show cannot effectively promote positive change without sacrificing entertainment value, yet when he focuses the camera on himself, Fielder is consistently both amusing and captivating.
However, beyond the self-referential humor (references to Season 1 gags, such as the deeply uncomfortable , abound) and even the objective of enhancing aviation safety, the second season of The Rehearsal serves as a metaphor for a widespread issue. A first officer too intimidated to question a captain’s reckless decisions is not significantly different from an ordinary individual, or a nation of them, too fearful to challenge authority, leading to their downfall through silence. What Fielder and his pilots are truly practicing is responsible citizenship during a critical period. Near the season’s conclusion, he explains to a potential ally: “It’s challenging for us to embody our ideal selves in every situation.” However, practice is beneficial. As we encounter turbulence, with our best instincts faltering precisely when they should be taking control, perhaps pilots aren’t the only ones who could benefit from a rehearsal.
