‘The Rehearsal’ Finale Reveals What Season 2 Was Really About — and It’s Not Just Planes: TV Review

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Warning: Spoiler Ahead! As a devoted film enthusiast, I must share my thoughts about the gripping Season 2 finale of “The Rehearsal,” titled “My Controls.” In this captivating episode, the intricate web of storylines unraveled in a way that left me utterly amazed and yearning for more. The plot twists were so skillfully executed that they felt almost too real – a testament to the show’s exceptional writing and direction. I can’t wait to see what unfolds next season!

In contrast to Nathan Fielder’s previous works, “The Rehearsal” focuses squarely on himself. While the humor in “Nathan for You” may have been a playful pretense of helping small businesses, the series maintained a serious demeanor. However, in “The Rehearsal,” the initial premise was to help volunteers navigate personal relationships instead of professional issues through excessive preparation. As the first season unfolded, Fielder’s character transitioned from applying his methods to others, to using them self-referentially in a futile and tragic effort to validate his approach. This shift suggests that the entire premise of Season 2 is intended as a deceptive ploy.

Essentially, the second season of “The Rehearsal” appears to be Fielder’s genuine effort to employ rehearsals as a method to enhance communication among airline pilots, in an attempt to prevent tragic crashes. However, achieving this objective took an unconventional route, blending singing competitions, cloned dogs, and Fielder breastfeeding from a giant puppet, which seemed logical at the time. In the finale on Sunday, it was disclosed that Fielder had been withholding crucial information throughout the earlier episodes; this revelation changes the context of his entire project. It turns out that Fielder wasn’t coaching pilots; instead, he was learning to fly a plane himself and eventually earning a commercial pilot’s license. In essence, Fielder isn’t guiding pilots; he has become one. And in trying to assist them, he is essentially helping himself.

Previously on the show, Fielder’s unique perspective started taking center stage, exploring how his quirks resonated with autistic viewers who recognized themselves in his ongoing awkwardness. This indirect approach helped him attract the attention of Representative Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democratic congressman who is part of the aviation subcommittee and an advocate for neurodivergent individuals. However, it also prompted Fielder to ponder a more formal explanation for his lifelong struggle with social interactions, which is a key aspect of the character he portrays on the show.

In the intriguing realm of Fielder’s work, where the boundary between reality and performance is subjective to each observer, “The Rehearsal” subtly transgresses the fourth wall by incorporating audience reactions from Season 1. Notably, the autism storyline offers a rationale for what was previously unexplained in Season 2: why Fielder seems so fascinated with the captain-first officer dynamic. Previously hinted at – Fielder based one exercise to test pilots’ honesty on his own experience producing “Canadian Idol” – is now made explicit. Essentially, Fielder identifies with the difficulties aviation professionals face in expressing themselves freely, which he then personalizes by aligning himself with their experiences.

In this venture, “The Rehearsal” explores uncharted comic territories; in the last episode of the season, Fielder humorously acknowledges his struggles with effectively piloting an actual plane. Moreover, this project takes Fielder’s daring exploits to unprecedented heights (pun intended). When a somewhat excitable Fielder proposes a loophole in regulations enabling him to co-pilot a real jet as long as there are no paying passengers, it blends the strategic planning of “Nathan for You” – recall when he revived the smoking bar by staging a play? – with HBO’s resources. Despite lacking music to intensify the drama of an otherwise ordinary flight, seeing Fielder in the cockpit at cruising altitude is astonishing in a way that television seldom manages to achieve.

However, Fielder’s personal doubts about his possible autism collide with his flying aspirations as he encounters an FAA disclosure form. Ignoring Reddit’s warnings, Fielder seeks a formal diagnosis, including an fMRI, to allay any concerns about his suitability for handling others’ lives. Unfortunately, the test results aren’t available before his first flight, which takes place; instead, he receives a worrying message from the doctor’s office while hiding in the shadows, watching the final episode of the reality show “Wings of Voice.” In a poignant postscript that understates its dramatic impact, Fielder admits to using empty jets to travel between distant parts of the world as a means of dealing with his anxieties. “Only the smartest and most capable people fly planes of this size,” he says in a voiceover, as an image of the African desert appears on screen. “No one is allowed in the cockpit if there’s something wrong with them. So if you’re here, you must be okay.

These final scenes carry a powerful message, although the leisurely pace of the season’s narrative might have provided more build-up to make their impact stronger. At the start of Season 2, Fielder presented his endeavor as a selfless effort aimed at benefiting those involved in air travel (seemingly a group that could use such assistance). However, the finale reveals that this revised approach, like the initial one, primarily focuses on Fielder himself. This is not just about Fielder’s struggle with expressing his feelings, as everyone does. Instead, it’s one of the rare instances where “The Rehearsal” suggests that Fielder is deeply troubled by his own dysfunction and the attempts to categorize it by others. Might it be that Fielder is so disturbed by his own issues and the analysis of them that he feels compelled to engage in increasingly extreme acts of one-upmanship? Could an isolated individual, destined to a life of observation rather than participation, perform such actions?

At the conclusion of the series, Fielder appears both amazed and confident upon discovering that rehearsals are an essential aspect of pilot training. New trainees transition from advanced simulators, such as the one Fielder visits near Las Vegas, straight to transporting passengers. He’s not unique in his reliance on thorough, meticulous practice or his conviction that these routines truly equip him for real-world situations. In the end, only outcomes matter. When Fielder successfully lands the plane, he’s greeted by a joyful crowd of actors he’s collaborated with throughout the season. “The applause made me feel like I had accomplished something significant,” he reflects. These individuals are unaware of Fielder’s internal struggles or the efforts he’s exerted to conquer them: “As long as you ensure everyone disembarks safely, that’s all it takes to be a hero.

Fielder’s strategy of keeping his true work under wraps until the final episode in Season 2 of “The Rehearsal” may have resulted in a less coherent narrative and possibly diminished overall impact compared to the show’s initial season. However, this approach also allows Fielder to perform a type of magic trick that has intrigued him since his teenage years – a reference to Fielder’s early attempts at becoming a magician. This realization came when he recognized that his social awkwardness could be a significant obstacle in that pursuit. The risk and reward of this approach are balanced by a blend of form and function.

Fielder has essentially chosen to disguise his true intentions – something he claims he values emotional openness, but in reality, finds necessary for him to navigate daily life. The saying “If you stick the landing, no one cares how you did it” aptly describes this situation.

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2025-05-26 06:47