Rehearsed Manipulation: The World of Nathan Fielder 

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“It’s days like these I curse the Chinese for inventing gunpowder” - best line of the show

This show was such a weird beautiful blend of social experiment and actual breakthroughs

The genius of The Rehearsal is the way it slowly tricks you into accepting the insane moves he pulls by doing the escalations step by step until you wonder how the hell you got here

I think Nathan Fielder IS the most manipulative person in any of his shows, but that is the entire premise and gimmick behind them. The Rehearsal changes the gimmick a little bit by having the "victim" be in on the manipulation whereas in Nathan For You the "victim" takes the brunt of the joke.

I found that as the show went on, it became more and more clear that he was inviting the audience to grapple with these ideas explicitly. Especially in the finale, it's apparent that he's making some kind of statement on reality TV and its inherent manipulative nature.

Side note: I hate when people say "reality tv is more scripted than real tv" wtf no it's not! How you think regular shows get made? The actors come up with lines by themselves in the moment and plots just come in place? Magical elves???

after binging the whole show last night my immediate thought was just that nathan fielder is a literal genius. I read some critic reviews last night and the one star reviews are just people that didn't get it because they think his persona is the real him. They're mostly saying he's arrogant for thinking he can tell how someone is feeling just by pretending to be them. That's how you know it's good I guess

I disagree that Kor painted his friend to be a bad person. I think having a certain amount of anxiety makes you automatically assume that people will think the worst of you no matter what. I think he was deeply insecure and ashamed which led him to create the worst case scenario and replay it over and over in his head, which is why this show is incredible. It brings these scenarios that we internally get so obsessed by that we lose sight of reality into the real world, which ends up making them look as silly as they actually are, even though they seem debilitating in the moment.

ANTM has thousands of issues, Jessica Kobeissi has covered a lot of episodes so if ever you want to watch someone discuss it I'd recommend her. She's covered everything from their endangerment of the models, to the SA that happened ON CAMERA, to how they purposefully set them up for failure, their endless body shaming and just overall endangerment of these poor young innocent girls :( Every time you think it can't get worse it does. Edit: I mean even the few things I've mentioned here does not even begin to describe how awful they were treated. Edit 2: Someone in the comments also recommends Willie Muse, idk who that is personally but just incase someone else might like them.

This show has personally has changed how I interact with my own social anxiety and overthinking issues. There are so many moments that almost point the camera directly at you, it may be uncomfortable but most definitely cathartic in a way I haven’t seen in a TV show.

i think this show is very fucking good at portraying autism OCD and anxiety over everything else. is it rational to have a rehearsal? no. but is it what many of us NDs secretly dream of? yes! living out our worst nightmares without the consequences! absolutely!

informed consent is such a tricky topic in acting "reality." as someone working in film i am constantly struggling to grapple with portraying and capturing "reality" without crossing ethical barriers. i think thats what makes this show so interesting. the ethics and the optics are controversial and that's the fucking point. people are trying to make some grand statement and moralize an industry standard.that nathan is more intentional about than any other filmmaker i have seen.

As a psychology major, this show was absolutely incredible and I am really intrigued by it from an ethics standpoint. The last episode is insane I would love to hear your take.

as someone who’s only seen Nathan For You and doesn’t know anything about him im not sure what to expect from this

I Absolutely want to hear what you have to say about the rest of the season and what you think it says about performance versus reality, because, as with Nathan For You, it feels like this is one of Nathan’s most major themes in his work.

I literally was watching this show yesterday and it brings so much discomfort and but also highly intrigues me sometimes b/c it feels like he-nor the participants realize what’s happening until it already happens… it’s sometimes creepy and (mildly) intrusive at times, but it’s also v introspective and I feel strange watching it-mostly b/c of how put together the show is. I’m so unused to such a well-crafted reality show that it seems uncanny by default, but that’s part of the fun of the immersion. I think there are def some days watching it where I need to take breaks b/c I get overstimulated by the perceived morals qualms presented by the show, but overall it’s enjoyable and v v interesting.

just one correction: The Rehearsal is already renewed for season 2 - and it’s HBO Max shows getting the axe, not HBO Originals (like Succession, Euphoria and The Rehearsal). besides that, probably the best video on the show so far, kudos.

I’m scared I’m watching the rehearsal right now as I got this notification

My biggest issue with the show was the use of child actors. It's one thing for adults to agree to do the show but the stage moms who signed their kids up, was the most fucked up thing. By the last episode we see two moms have to deal with their kids being confused due to acting in the house and to me it's really fucked up to force your kid into this situation without thinking of the consequences. I loathe parents that get their kids in front of a camera and make them work without thinking about how it might cause them harm.

before watching i gotta say that i love nathan fielder and really enjoyed The Rehearsal. i think he’s very self aware in what he does and never intends himself to look like the good guy but let’s see how this video goes

I love The Rehearsal, it is unique and beautiful and thought provoking. So glad it's getting a second season.

The Rehearsal is really a show about pulling back the curtain on reality tv and unscripted content. The show may be unscripted but the producer is still heavily driving the storyline of the show.

The guy who was fighting his inheritance might have been too far, but the woman with the child…genius/insane/meta/bizarre. I don’t even know if it was wrong or right, it was just so crazy I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen

This makes me so happy! I loved Nathan For You and was absolutely thrilled that Nathan Fielder had a new show. And honestly, it didn’t really disappointed. It’s incredibly creative and leaves you with so many emotions. So glad one of my favorite RU-vidrs covered this!

I think Nathan Fielder should be more manipulative I think he should be a politician

I know a guy who was on a cooking competition, and he was eliminated because he couldn't cook the shellfish they gave him because he was allergic. They kept telling him they were going to bring him a respirator and some gloves, but they never did so he never cooked it. Then they tried to convince him to eat some shellfish and have an allergic reaction because it would make good tv and they would let him stay and keep competing. They even kept him there for three more days trying to convince him to do that.

as a big fan of nathan for you and the rehearsal, i think your commentary is spot on. i would LOVE to hear what you have to say about the acting class/fielder method and the entire back half of this season of the rehearsal. (love the laptop strap detail in this vid 😂)

I would love to hear you talk about every episode in The Rehearsal in the same way you analyzed the first episode! I need to know what the biggest lies were in each episode

The whole show was an interesting experience to watch, but nothing topped the first episode. They found the perfect specimens

When I watched The Rehearsal, I saw it as a direct reflection to my own experience with anxiety. When I saw Kor's struggles and the way he talked about his fears and needs for the rehearsal, it seemed like an exaggerated form of the self-talk and practices that i might do before I have to talk to a store clerk. The scene in episode 1 where the whole bar mocks Kor for his confession was a nightmare situation i can imagine I would fear and imagine prior to making the confession. Knowing that Nathan also struggles with social awkwardness and anxiety I can see exactly where this idea for the show comes from.

i just finished it rn and it was soo good but nathan fielder NEEDS therapy cause no way wanting to have moments rehearsed and going back on moments to see what you couldve done better is rooted in nothing

So the bar that Kor confessed in was actually full of actors. That table was a plant, as were everyone else in the bar, accept for Kor and Trisha. It's the reason Nathan planned for it in the rehearsal, then place the familiar obstacles for Kor to overcome.

i love how chaotic, unhinged, and intelligent he is. i never know his endgame and the morals are debatable but thats what makes all things good...better call saul, bo burnham, etc...

The rehearsal has been picked up for a second season. And I’m stoked for it.

The Fielder method worked! That's an entire video right there. Every one that took his class learned to be a better actor. The boy changed his entire performance once he got some directors notes.

imagine having beef with nathan fielder. just a funny jokester. a silly little guy. you're really gonna have beef with a silly little guy?

Nathan Fielder has always been a favorite of mine. He had many good short videos back in the early days of youtube. My favorite is his "Thin Watermelon", which is a great watch if you have an extra 32 seconds to spare. "Once A Year" is good, and the song "Morning Walk" by Side of Smooth is too.

I love Nathan Fielder’s shows. His manipulation and over the top preparation to solve whatever issue the customer is having is what makes it so funny, not to mention Nathan’s general awkward vibes. He’s doing what he does out of care imo.

This show is something else. It’s hard to put into words what I feel when I watch it. An odd sensation of being on both sides of a microscope; at once the viewer and view-ee. Anyways, I’d love to see you tackle more of the season. I could see you continuing the bit and you falling as deep into the rabbit hole as Nathan does lol

I really liked the transition art style. It was crude but lively with the boxes not yet being finished. It gave it a very raw but unique way of giving information about who worked on the video and what section we were at.

Love the video and your commentary of the show! On a side note, I really love that the Connect-A-Desk Laptop Harness has gotten so much attention from the show! I work in TV Production myself and used the Connect-A-Desk everyday during filming to take notes. We came up with the nickname "Nerd Harness" and it felt quite fitting.

I can't tell you how excited I was to see this video come up. I had no idea you were a Nathan Fielder fan! This was such a good review of the show and I would absolutely love a series discussing the rest of The Rehearsal episodes. I'd love one on your favorite Nathan For You episode too. P.S. Bambi is darling as usual. Loved his little toe beans poking into frame for a lot of this video.

Loving Nick just trying to keep going while his cat walks all over the place and cleans itself on his lap. I would have had to stop and give some pats

I've only briefly experienced Nathan Fielder's content in the past, so this is the first I'm hearing of "The Rehearsal", and wow. Definitely going to have to check it out. P.S Shoutouts to your cat, such a good co-host.

this was such a good video! really enjoying this style of content + the editing and additional skits you added was so great and added a lot to the overall video! :)

PLEASE talk about the rest of the season omg. I’ve been waiting for a good commentary vid on the show as a whole since I watched the finale. the last episode had me speechless

This was brilliant, Nick! Loved this breakdown style

Ngl I really loved this whole thing - and I've gotta shout out the format you used. It added something of a different charm compared to some of your other lovely, more commonly used formats.

i love this video! everything about the writing and the way it was filmed. nick and syd are a great duo! and shoutout the editor owen!! great topic

A couple things: Im not sure how much you looked into the bachelor in paradise situation but I do think it’s important to note that there was not a sexual assault. That story was updated years ago with both parties dismissing claims of sexual assault after NDAs were lifted. Because that issue was also slightly racialized in the media i think it’s important to be accurate in how you’re talking about that. Also I don’t think Kor’s fears about intellectual inadequacy were “absurd” or ridiculous. He didn’t want to have a masters for “trivia purposes”, it was to not feel inferior in a group of other peers who were all well past receiving their bachelors.

That opening bit just made my day better 😭

I loved this format of video! Very down to hear you talk about the rest of the season

nicks been pumping out content like crazy omg,, kudos to u man!! keep up the good work

I’d love to hear commentary on the last three episodes of the show.

oh this was perfect⭐️ I’ve been curious, & have heard almost nothing about this show, what a treat. :)) (wow-this was the most stylish video you’ve made yet, so many fits + Bambi🌷)

Let's go!! I love these case study-type videos. And honestly all the videos.

Man, I haven't been watching a lot of your videos lately, but this was a bop. Your reeled me back in.

"Nathan for you" is SUPER underrated

the show is pure genius, and I'm thrilled it was just picked up for a second season! 🙏

I loved the rehearsal!! I’d love to hear your opinions on the rest of the season nick!!

honestly i'd love for you guys to do one of these for every episode, it was thoroughly entertaining

i loved this video!!! i would love to see you talk more about the rehearsal! i really liked the show thought it went in an interesting direction i didn’t expect

As a newer follower of this channel I love these types of videos. Different to what I normally watch and it has its own flare. Great Job Nick 🙂👍🏻

nick this is such a good video !!! so interesting, i love how you approached this topic. i'd love love love to see even more videos like this

PLEASE talk about the rest of the season I love your perspective

literally been waiting for a vid like this bless

Such a well made video, props to you and your editor

My favourite part of this video is that you can partially see Bambi cuddling with you 😂❤ he’s so cuteeee

Wonderful video essay Nick! Its really interesting to see something new in style from you but still have it be as nicely researched as usual! Amazing

First the Amandla Stenberg/film critic drama..now this. These critics are going down left and right and I for one love it. I don’t even know why being a film critic is a career.

As the season went on I started to question more and more how real the people on it were, the whole show really could be loosely scripted but still capture the feeling of reality tv. Throughout the show nathan saw how his actions effected more and more people but what I found interesting was how the situations he rehearses for effect him. There have been a fee rehearsals he sets up for himself where you can see the emotions he’s going though, he’s brought to tears when he rehearses a fight with angela and cries over a scenario he set up to go through with his fake son. he does multiple rehearsals of the same day to understand how his students perceive him and how to become a better acting coach. Every time he goes deeper and deeper trying to experience as many points of view as he can. The show quickly became less about helping others and more about exploring nathan’s need to have a plan along with his lack of self. He removes himself from everything to a point where he no longer experiences things as him and when he’s brought back to reality he has to deal with the things that brought him to where he is now, the things he didn’t rehearse for.

this was a great video nick!! i really enjoy these super researched critical videos about popular media!!

Loved the rehearsal and would love some more video essays on it. Lots of thought provoking ideas to work with.

I'm still not convinced that the participants are not majority actors. Kor seemed the most real out of all of them. Maybe the concept changed from episodic to more storyline-focused with the last 5 episodes, because the first was filmed before covid so there was a huge gap in time before resuming production. And I'm guessing that poor kid wasn't an actor-I'm not sure a six year old can give such a convincing performance. But Angela, her potential boyfriend and his roommate, the acai bowl actor, and mayyybe inheritance man come off potentially as actors. The reason I think this is ultimately, that Nathan is the main character by the end. It's HIS rehearsal. It would mesh thematically that the "participants" are actors in a simulation made for him. Specifically a simulation for being a father, given the last lines. It would also be in line with how the show is constantly tricking the audience. The longer the show goes on, the less clear it becomes what is rehearsal and what is real. In addition, it definitely seemed that Nathan had a story structure he was building towards, with specific beats, that would be hard to leave up to chance. However I concede that reality tv crafts storylines in the editing room as well. But this show seemed SO thematically driven that it's hard for me to believe it all came down to post-production edits. Part of me just loves a good twist I think. And if the main subjects are actors, I'd guess they're actors insofar as light direction with improv to make sure the story beats are hit. And then the "rehearsal" actors have a more rigid script, which would give them and the "subjects" performances quite a different feel, maybe enough of a difference to seem real. ALL THAT SAID. Scripted or not, acted or real, I loved the ride this show took me on. Honestly ground-breaking, compelling, unsettling, and I love Nathans off-beat, disorienting humor. If the subjects are real, his deadpan style definitely legitimizes the "social experiments" the participants think they've been recruited for.

I'm pretty sure I can speak for everyone when I say we'd love to see you cover the rest of the series, especially the final two episodes. There's a lot to unpack in the finale and I'd love to see your take on it.

Bambi napping is so cute omg I love that

Nice analysis and I really believe your points at the end are particularly valid regarding the larger shows. We’ll done!

nick saw the new ep where Angela called him a liar and a manipulator and had the same thought we all did… “is he really?”

I have been a fan of yours for several months now, and it is SO good to know you are also a big Nathan Fielder fan. Xoxoxoxo

omfg please do the rest of the season

I got to watch a nickisnotgreen video on an actual Monday 😍😍hell yeah!!!

A video on the reality tv problems would be such a vibe I love that drama 😫

Anytime Nick starts a spreadsheet, you know it's gonna be a good vid.

So crazy to think the crazy tangent this show took with what you thought the series was with episode 1. Our expectations in and of themselves are manipulated. It's incredible.

MORE!!! 😆 Can u pweez do commentary about that friggin ending?

nick this video was so amazing!!!! i loved every second!!!

Love your analysis. Can't wait for more on the show.

I loved The Rehearsal, I loved Nathan for you and I would love for you to do more reviews on the rest of the show.

Would love to hear/see(?) your thoughts on the rest of the season. I personally enjoyed the uniqueness of the series, it really felt like a step up from “Nathan for you” which I also enjoy watching.

that opening was art. you're a natural entertainer nick

I think that Nathan grapples with this format, and honestly hearing the mom just know the kid’ll be fine made me miss my mom. They really do just have this universal intuition moments where in they know that everything will be just fine. 💗

This was a really good video. I rewatch it sometimes.

Hell yeah so happy you are doing a video on nathan

Thanks, happy Monday to you too nick!

Description needs an update for the title king. love ur stuff my dude

I was so happy when this show started since Nathan never really broke thru and I have seen him on credits for like writing for Sacha Baron Cohen so I tought he might do that, write for other people as his job. This series have gone far beyond what I tought even Nathan could do and have already been so unique rollercoaster. He have managed to build the whole complex thing to really explore feelings which is what so called these kinda experiments in shows usually lack. It's so unique that it's hard to compare to anything but for example meaning what Sacha Baron Cohen does (and I'm not undermining him in anyway by that).

It’s my birthday today and I’m very happy you posted today I just want you to know that you always make my day 10 times better so thank you I hope you have a good day

Please do more of this series i am going to binge it right now

you put me on i just finished the first episode and it was just amazing and threw me in for a loop but was also wholesome