The Rehearsal Season-Premiere Recap: Up in the Air

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In the middle of the initial episode from Season 2 of The Rehearsal, Nathan Fielder takes a crucial call. His theory, born from research, suggests that many airplane accidents stem from a lack of effective communication between the pilot and the co-pilot. He notices that co-pilots struggle to assert themselves when the captain’s decisions need questioning or overruling, based on data from black boxes recovered from crashed flights. To address this issue using his extensive resources, Fielder recruits Moody, a young first officer at United Airlines whom he found on LinkedIn. However, an immediate challenge arises as Fielder is unable to access the pilot’s private room at the airport or any areas beyond security. Consequently, he reaches out to United Airlines’ media relations department for assistance.

In simpler terms, he’s saying they are genuinely making an effort, though slightly exaggerated for television, to discover and enhance methods for better communication among pilots within the cockpit. He clarifies this as he anticipates a certain reaction, stating that ‘somewhat’ is used because it’s a show meant for entertainment. While some might call it a documentary, Fielder, the creator of Nathan for You, The Curse, and this show’s first season, prefers to use that term loosely. In essence, it appears to be a fruitful discussion, so Fielder heads to another room to inform the actress portraying the United Airlines media person that they are now ready to perform authentic scenes. She is sitting in an office resembling a United employee’s workspace.

If “The Rehearsal” this season follows the pattern of previous Fielder shows like last season, it may have enough episodes cancelled that you’ll start questioning whether there’s anything solid beneath all those stacked-up rugs.

Regardless of how familiar Fielder is with the workings of documentaries or reality shows, “The Rehearsal” presents an intriguing blend: On one hand, it resembles the combined narrative of Charlie Kaufman’s “Synecdoche, New York”, where a playwright (Philip Seymour Hoffman) uses MacArthur Fellowship funds for a theatrical project that perpetually expands within itself, adding more intricate layers and structures. On the other hand, it echoes Albert Brooks’ debut feature, “Real Life”, a satire of the groundbreaking PBS documentary “An American Family”, featuring Brooks as a film director attempting to transform an ordinary family from suburban Phoenix into a Hollywood movie, foreshadowing elements seen in “The Truman Show” and serving as a precursor to the themes explored in “Nathan for You”. Essentially, Fielder aims to exhibit the absurdity while simultaneously uncovering depth, a fascinating balancing act.

In the current stage of “The Rehearsal,” although it may have deviated significantly from its initial concept as portrayed in season one, the project under focus is the safety protocols in the aviation industry. An intriguing opening scene transports us into a cockpit where a co-pilot’s alerts about navigation system irregularities are ignored by the captain, leading to a simulated crash. Amidst the flames and looking worriedly out of the cockpit window is Fielder. This harrowing scenario serves as a prelude for Fielder to visit the Aviation Technology Complex, where John Goglia is delivering a lecture on his work at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). To clarify, Fielder has specifically asked Goglia to present this lecture to discuss the possibility of his participation in Fielder’s unusual HBO series. “When you aim to incorporate a serious individual into your comedic series,” Fielder explains, “it’s advisable to proceed with caution.

Surrounding Goglia to lend credibility to his venture, similar to the group of scientists gathered by Brooks’ character in “Real Life”, Fielder hires Moody and delves into an amusingly meticulous exploration of what drives this Houston-based regional co-pilot. In a hotel before takeoff, he observes Moody brushing his teeth, pressing his uniform, and wrestling with the ironing board’s release. He inquires about pre-flight habits such as his preferred food, which is typically grilled teriyaki chicken with white rice from Panda Express, a surprisingly healthy choice among airport meals. However, when they reach Houston airport, Fielder cannot enter the pilot’s exclusive lounge or any secured area beyond security. So, he does what anyone else would do: he builds an exact replica of Moody’s Houston terminal, complete with that specific Panda Express, in three connected warehouses in Los Angeles. It is hard to imagine a more productive use of Warner Bros. Discovery’s resources.

In the fourth episode from the previous season, “The Fielder Method” was presented, which is a humorous yet subtle inside joke, implying that it’s widely recognized without needing additional clarification. To put it plainly, the Fielder Method revolves around an actor following or “stalking” a real person, referred to as a “primary,” in order to study their behavior. This approach is similar to Method acting, but with Fielder’s unique touch of awkwardness and creepiness.

In this instance, Fielder gathered approximately 70 actors to Houston, where they stalked pilots, crew members, and airport personnel, aiming to replicate the daily life of a character named Moody as accurately as possible. It’s challenging to decide which performance is the funniest, but the punchline might just be an actor inquiring about special offers at a real Panda Express establishment and then later informing Moody that there were no specials available at the fictional Panda Express, may take the crown by a small margin.

In this episode, Fielder uncovers a significant observation – one that’s both humorous and thought-provoking, as his shows often are. This insight lies in the comparison between the co-pilot/captain dynamic and other relationships with varying levels of importance. Moody is in a long-distance relationship but frets about his girlfriend finding someone else, like a barista at her Starbucks job. However, he struggles to address this issue directly. Fielder capitalizes on this parallel: “It struck me that Moody felt the fate of their relationship was beyond his control, not realizing he was the co-pilot in this situation. But perhaps his communication style differs at work.

In my perspective as an admirer, The Rehearsal, reminiscent of Fielder’s unique style, is gradually unfolding into uncharted territories, much like the intricate sets in Synecdoche, New York. He places Moody and his girlfriend within the cockpit, enabling them to discuss their problems. Whether it provides Moody the answers he yearns for or not, it certainly motivates him to assert himself in a relationship where he currently holds little control. Pondering aloud, Fielder speculates, “Perhaps the FAA has never contemplated this; pilots’ emotional connections could potentially be utilized to prepare them for the cockpit.” At a time when people are apprehensive about air travel, maybe Fielder can make a difference by saving a few lives through this innovative approach.

Scene Work

In the mix of dramatized airplane accidents, the one that particularly sticks out is the captain from Missouri who expresses enthusiasm before discussing his craving for a Philly cheesesteak and iced tea. His co-pilot comments, “I can’t see anything,” to which he retorts, “That’s because you’re being difficult.

A subtly hinted proposal from Fielder to John Goflia: “Indeed, I’ve got a bit of expertise in crafting intricate role-playing situations. Moreover, I can provide the necessary funds for such an endeavor.

Up until now, things weren’t going well. We were more than ten minutes into the show without a single laugh. Yet, here’s my predicament: I was both the most suitable and least capable person to address this issue.

Cut to: A clown, trapped under a van, frantically honking for assistance.

As a cinephile, I found myself in an unexpectedly amusing moment when my subconscious insecurities as a creative leader surfaced during an exchange with an actor portraying a pilot. The dialogue was filled with awkward pleasantries, but when he mentioned his hometown was Nebraska, I couldn’t help but pull from my deep reservoir of Nebraska trivia: “Oh, Omaha… it’s indeed a city.

• “Maybe the answers I was seeking weren’t in Moody’s airport. They were in Moody’s heart.”

Any episode of Fielder’s shows holds immense potential for becoming a meme, but consider the intriguing image of him huddled up on Moody’s bed, attentively listening to his heartfelt relationship troubles. It seems ripe for creative exploration.

Reflecting on how initial endeavors at flying were ridiculed, Fielder concludes wisely: “Perhaps every novel concept seems amusing until it’s verified. It might be that jesters can indeed transform the world.

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2025-04-21 07:54