HBO’s The Rehearsal Examines Pilot Communication: SO WEIRD & GOOD

I recently got into a new TV shows that I think many OMAAT readers would enjoy (thanks to Henry for messaging me about this, because I had intended to write about it). Honestly, I’m not even sure what to make of this show, and I’m more confused than anything, as I can’t help but be utterly fascinated.

Basics of The Rehearsal Season 2, with Nathan Fielder

Let me start by acknowledging that up until a few weeks, I hadn’t heard of The Rehearsal or of Nathan Fielder. 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 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 has a dry sense of humor and an awkward persona, which really makes this show one-of-a-kind.

Season 2 has a total of six episodes. So far four have aired, and the season will conclude on May 25, 2025.

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 line 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. 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, OMG, 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?

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. I’m not otherwise familiar with Fielder’s work, so I’m very curious to see how the show ends, as there are two episodes to go.

Anyone else watching this show, and if so, what do you make of it?