The Rehearsal: Season 1

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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The Rehearsal

Now Playing: The Rehearsal

Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: July 15, 2022

Summary: Nathan Fielder helps people "rehearse" major decisions and/or discussions with the aide of actors and realistic sets in this comedy series written and directed by Fielder.

Genre(s): Comedy, Documentary

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E6. Pretend Daddy
Air Date: August 19, 2022
tbd
S1:E5. Apocalypto
Air Date: August 12, 2022
tbd
S1:E4. The Fielder Method
Air Date: August 5, 2022

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Josh Sorokach

Jul 12, 2022

The result is a defiantly unpredictable mix of cringe and pathos that delivers a distinct blend of genuine emotion and laugh-out-loud humor. In a streaming world that thrives on conformity, The Rehearsal is the audacious outlier that delivers a wholly unique viewing experience. Read full review

100

Darren Franich

Jul 15, 2022

The result is something that can resemble a real-life Charlie Kaufman movie, or a less obviously malicious (but not un-scary) version of David Fincher's The Game. Sound weird? Trust me: Nathan's for you. Read full review

100

Kathryn VanArendonk

Jul 19, 2022

It is meant to disorient the viewer, and it works. ... Most important, it feels true. It is true enough that as the rehearsals play out, as more and more twists and M.C. Escher–esque turns are introduced into the rehearsal process, your body registers them as true and responds accordingly. You cannot help but want to cringe because it’s so byzantine and so simultaneously emotionally naked. Like it or not, that sensation of bodily distress is the feeling of Fielder’s rehearsals succeeding. Read full review

Dave Nemetz

Jul 11, 2022

There were times I wanted The Rehearsal to be more conventionally structured or even more conventionally funny; it gets weirdly poignant at times — or poignantly weird, I’m not sure which — as it walks a fine line between inspired and demented. (One participant’s comparison of Fielder to Willy Wonka isn’t all that far off.) But I can honestly say I’ve seen nothing like it on television before. Read full review

Joy Press

Jul 18, 2022

Although there are some uncomfortable laughs in the series, I wouldn’t classify it as a comedy so much as a genre-bending experience. I never quite knew what was real, how I was supposed to respond, or even what I felt. ... The Rehearsal is a metastasizing metafiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat—even though the show’s premise is to completely eradicate all suspense and contingency from life. Read full review

Reuben Baron

Jul 13, 2022

Perhaps the best analysis of the experience is given by one of the actors working for Nathan in the show itself: “It’s weird, but fascinating.” Read full review

Richard Brody

Aug 9, 2022

In voice-over, Nathan expresses an odd bewilderment about his power to “create feelings for other people’s rehearsals” but not for himself. It’s a bewilderment that reflects the intellectual and emotional blankness at the center of “The Rehearsal.” ... His cleverness masks the hollowness of his schemes. No digression, no incidentals, no loose ends can intrude on Fielder’s taut, compact, self-contained sketches. He looks the Look at the people he films, but doesn’t seem to see them. Read full review

SEE ALL 23 REVIEWS

User Score

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7.5

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User Reviews

EdwardGant

Jul 16, 2022

I actually signed up here after just seeing episode 1 of THE REHEARSAL, simply because I want to get the word out. I already loved NATHAN FOR YOU but this is next-level. This episode was funny, profound, heart-breaking and, most importantly in current times, deeply humane. It may also beI actually signed up here after just seeing episode 1 of THE REHEARSAL, simply because I want to get the word out. I already loved NATHAN FOR YOU but this is next-level. This episode was funny, profound, heart-breaking and, most importantly in current times, deeply humane. It may also be groundbreaking. It's not at all necessary to have seen NATHAN FOR YOU to appreciate this but I recommend it, if only to get accustomed to Fielder's fictional on-screen persona. I always thought Fielder was a major talent but now I think he may be a genius and it's great to see HBO giving him the resources he needs to realise his vision on a suitably absurd scale. I can't wait to see where this series goes next.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

werecar2

Jul 19, 2022

I was doubtful as the trailer was a bit confusing, but my family watched this last night and it was just incredible. Unique plot, sympathetic characters and unlike anything you have seen on TV before. After watching it I immediately set the DVR to record every episode. Highly recommend.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

anotheropinion1

Jul 19, 2022

This is it folks, peak cringe. It's glorious

First episode was good, concept is amazing.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

drunksh1t

Jul 17, 2022

this first episode starts kinda slow but beside that 9.9. THIS is post-modern comedy. It is time to transcend chappelle and john stewart humor.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

samoan62

Dec 15, 2022

Episode one of this show is hands down the funniest thing I've seen on TV in years. I was dying laughing the whole time. The other episodes are still good, but some aren't great. The first episode just sets the bar a bit too high for the rest. Still enjoyed the whole thing and highly recommend!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jzathajenius

Jul 19, 2022

(Review based on the first episode)

Nathan For You never really grabbed me, and I suspect if you loved that show you're going to love The Rehearsal too. Conversely, if you didn't click with NFY, this is going to be pretty underwhelming, as it was for me. Interestingly, I ADORE 'How to(Review based on the first episode)

Nathan For You never really grabbed me, and I suspect if you loved that show you're going to love The Rehearsal too. Conversely, if you didn't click with NFY, this is going to be pretty underwhelming, as it was for me. Interestingly, I ADORE 'How to with John Wilson'... I think that's such a clever and sincere study of the awkwardness and weirdness of humanity, and you can definitely feel Nathan's fingerprints all over that show.

The premise is ok, like its a very Reality TV style gimmick. The execution is just.....eh. Didnt laugh. Didnt cry. Kinda wished it was shorter. It all felt far too staged too, like very little of it felt authentic or organic.

If its your thing, cool. Just wasnt for me.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

MickVV

Aug 23, 2022

Starts well enough in the first few episodes but by the end the pointless waste of the whole enterprise is evident. As satire it's blandly repetitive and too often humorless. As introspection it's ultimately vacuous and never moving. At its core, it's a work of almost pure bad faith.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

87

Series Overview
Season 2

88
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: April 20, 2025
Season 1

86
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 15, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E6. Pretend Daddy
  Air Date: August 19, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E5. Apocalypto
  Air Date: August 12, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Fielder Method
  Air Date: August 5, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E3. Gold Digger
  Air Date: July 29, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E2. Scion
  Air Date: July 22, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E1. Orange Juice, No Pulp
  Air Date: July 15, 2022