A Scaredy-Cat’s Guide to The Rehearsal Season-Two Premiere

In the second season of Nathan Fielder’s innovative series, “The Rehearsal,” which premiered on April 20 and consists of six episodes, we find a shift from his personal struggles with social interactions and potential parenthood to a more pressing fear: airplane crashes. The opening episode unveils that Fielder has delved into the study of airline accidents as a pastime, and he has formulated an intriguing hypothesis concerning aviation safety: the main cause of plane crashes is first officers who are hesitant to voice their concerns about the captain’s errors in the cockpit.

For those who, like myself, are prone to fear or anxiety during flights, reading terms such as “airline disasters” and “plane crashes” in close proximity can be distressing. If watching the second season of The Rehearsal has left you uneasy due to its potential flight-related content, let me guide you through what awaits, provide tips on how to bypass uncomfortable scenes, and explain why it’s worth pushing past your apprehensions. (Naturally, there will be spoilers ahead.)

The Opening Minutes

The beginning scene takes place inside a fated cockpit. For those who’d rather avoid aviation troubles but still see an intriguing image of Fielder amidst flames, jump ahead to at least the 2-minute mark.

A Few Minutes After the Opening Minutes

Following the initial sequence, the show transitions to a portion where Fielder guides John J. Goglia through various disastrous flights he’s studied, building his hypothesis. One of these accidents is Corporate Airlines Flight 5966, which gives the premiere its name “Gotta Have Fun.” The NTSB determined that the 2004 crash was due to pilot error resulting from a lack of professionalism and fatigue. Fielder has actors recreate the pilots’ final moments in a flight simulator, with the first officer attempting to reason with a pilot who persistently talks about wanting to “enjoy himself” during a crucial phase of the plane’s descent. The actors convincingly portray the fear and panic that sets in when they realize their fatal mistake, even going as far as to play dead as digital fires engulf the cockpit. This pattern is repeated in five additional reenacted crashes based on real accident reports Fielder examined, all of which support his theory. If you prefer not to watch depictions of aircraft disasters, please fast-forward from 4:30 to 9:53.

A Few Minutes After That

Coming up, a short sequence follows where Fielder navigates through a realistic recreation of an accident site, filled with mannequins, serving primarily to emphasize the gravity of the situation. An injured woman, still buckled in her seat, gazes at Fielder and barely utters “help”. If you prefer to avoid this part, feel free to fast-forward from 11 minutes and 25 seconds to 12 minutes and 5 seconds.

Clown Alert

This article is specifically tailored as a guide for those dealing with fear of flying (flight anxiety), but it also addresses the fear some people have of clowns. If you prefer not to watch the part featuring clowns, please feel free to jump ahead from 12 minutes and 16 seconds to 13 minutes and 17 seconds.

The Rest of the Episode

In the majority of “Gotta Have Fun,” Fielder assists a novice first officer in navigating a personal dilemma while constructing a scaled version of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. This narrative won’t require further plane accident viewings, but it does provide insight into the dedication required to become a pilot, which might indirectly boost your confidence in air travel if you choose to consider it.

Final Thoughts

1. In case you unintentionally watched reenactments of plane crashes, remember that not everyone on those flights perished. For instance, American Airlines Flight 965 had four survivors, including a dog, Corporate Airlines Flight 5966 had two survivors, and both pilots from Empire Airlines Flight 8284 survived.

2. It’s worth noting that the second season of The Rehearsal offers more than just plane crashes. So, don’t dismiss the rest of it based on the premiere giving you a scare at home.

3. Additionally, understanding the commonplace nature of air travel can help alleviate fear. For example, instead of visualizing disaster movie scenes before flying, I recommend using an app like FlightRadar24 to see that countless planes are in the sky at any given moment, and none of them are actually crashing. The media doesn’t usually report this because it’s not newsworthy.

2025-04-21 18:54