The Rehearsal Season 1, Episode 3 Review: Nathan's New Project and Adam's Character Development

In episode 3 of The Rehearsal season 1, titled "Gold Digger," Nathan delves deeper into the fictional family he has created with Angela and Adam. He also takes time to rehearse with a grandson in need. The Rehearsal is Nathan Fielder's highly anticipated follow-up to his previous show, Nathan for You, known for its unbelievable and hilarious content. Similar to Nathan for You, The Rehearsal blurs the lines between reality and fiction, making viewers question if they are part of an experiment.

With the third episode, the true narrative of The Rehearsal unfolds. While the first episode hinted at standalone stories, episode 2 introduced Nathan's idea of a season-long "rehearsal" with Angela, who is contemplating motherhood. By the end of episode 2, Nathan immerses himself in the simulated family dynamic with Angela and the child actor(s) playing Adam. Episode 3 delves into the repercussions of this setup and also provides viewers with a side story reminiscent of episode 1.

Angela And Nathan Fight Over Halloween

Angela Has Some Interesting Thoughts About The Holiday

Angela talking to someone off-camera in The Rehearsal. - Angela Has Some Interesting Thoughts About The Holiday - Angela And Nathan Fight Over Halloween

Nathan and Angela are playing pretend as a couple, raising their pretend son Adam together. As they get ready for Halloween, Nathan dresses up as Batman while Adam is Robin. When Adam hands Angela a Catwoman costume, a disagreement arises. Angela does not believe in celebrating Halloween, as she sees it as a holiday with Satanic roots. This is not the first time she has expressed her strong religious beliefs. Nathan's confusion over her stance creates an awkward moment in The Rehearsal.

Things start to get weirder when Angela scolds Nathan for not knowing basic facts about the world. Nathan admits he's never heard of the things Angela talks about on Google, and Angela casually mentions her belief that the search engine is controlled by the Devil. The dynamic between them has always been odd. Nathan is both an observer and a participant in the experiment, while Angela just seems content to be present.

Angela mostly ignores Nathan, unsure of her role, while Nathan awkwardly tries to engage with her. Their interactions only seem to resemble real conversations when Angela disagrees with Nathan. The clash between Angela's unconventional worldview and Nathan's literal understanding leads to cringe-worthy but also hilarious moments, like their discussion about Halloween.

Nathan Begins A Secondary Rehearsal Project

Patrick Wants To Confront His Brother About His Inheritance

Patrick looking emotional while talking to another man in The Rehearsal - Patrick Wants To Confront His Brother About His Inheritance - Nathan Begins A Secondary Rehearsal Project

In episode 2, the focus is on Angela, but episode 3 of The Rehearsal season 1 takes us back to episode 1. This time, Nathan has a new task: helping Patrick. Patrick is caught in a dispute with his brother over their late grandfather's inheritance. According to the will, Patrick cannot inherit the money if he is dating a "gold digger", a term his brother has used for all of Patrick's partners.

In a peculiar twist of events, Patrick, who is known for his quirky nature, carries his grandfather's ashes in a vial around his neck along with a Punisher charm as a keepsake. Nathan, always one for elaborate setups, creates a mock Raising Caine's Chicken restaurant and enlists an actor to play the role of Patrick's brother. This is all part of a plan to help Patrick practice confronting his brother about his girlfriend.

But Nathan takes it a step further by having the actor break character in front of Patrick, asking for help with his "grandfather" (who is also an actor) and some chores. The goal is to deepen the bond between Patrick and the actor playing his grandfather, in hopes of eliciting more authentic emotions during the rehearsal. Despite some awkward and humorous moments, including scatological humor, Patrick does bond with the actor playing his grandfather and is even promised buried treasure for his assistance.

The following day, the actor delivers the news that his "grandfather" has passed away, but refuses to hand over the promised gold, claiming that Patrick's girlfriend is only interested in his wealth. Shockingly, this mirrors the exact scenario Patrick had come in to rehearse, leaving him believing in the authenticity of the situation. Nathan's intricate plan has successfully recreated the scenario, leading to a mix of emotions and reactions from Patrick.

In a surprisingly powerful moment, Patrick opens up to the actor, speaking to him as if he were his brother. He emotionally discusses how he has been struggling to grieve their grandfather through their ongoing fight, expressing his desire for it all to come to an end.

Nathan and the audience initially assume that Patrick is referring to the fight he is having with his brother. However, when Patrick fails to show up for the next rehearsal and disappears without a trace, suspicions arise that perhaps Patrick actually wanted the rehearsal itself to end.

This unexpected twist transforms what seemed like a breakthrough moment into something much more peculiar. Did Nathan manage to help Patrick solve his problems? Or did he unknowingly contribute to the confusion of a troubled man?

Adam Is Aged Up From A 3-Year-Old To A 6-Year-Old

Nathan Skips Years In The Strangest Way Possible

Nathan looking at himself in his digital mirror in The Rehearsal - Nathan Skips Years In The Strangest Way Possible - Adam Is Aged Up From A 3-Year-Old To A 6-Year-Old

In the first half of the episode, a three-year-old actor portrays Adam. However, Nathan decides to fast forward time by manually aging everything. He instructs his crew to secretly replace the garden they planted with fully grown vegetables from the store. As a result, the original three-year-old Adam is replaced by a six-year-old. Surprisingly, viewers feel a genuine sense of sadness and emotion when the new Adam is introduced, realizing that the young Adam will never return. This showcases Nathan's talent in engaging viewers even in the most peculiar situations.

"The Rehearsal Season 1, Episode 3, "Gold Digger" Becomes More Surreal

Nathan still doesn't feel like he's aged enough, so he decides to make a change in his home. He sets up digital screens on his mirrors that show him aging every time he looks into them. As the episode progresses, it becomes unclear who the whole production is really for. Initially meant for Angela, it seems like Nathan is now the main focus, with even the camera crew joining in the surreal activities like planting vegetables at midnight as if they were toys for him to play with."

This Episode Begins Nathan's Descent Into A Bizarre Game

Nathan reads a book to Adam in The Rehearsal. - This Episode Begins Nathan's Descent Into A Bizarre Game - The Rehearsal Season 1, Episode 3, "Gold Digger" Becomes More Surreal

The third episode of The Rehearsal takes the show to a whole new level, surprising viewers with its unpredictable twists. The storyline involving Patrick is both strange and surprisingly effective in achieving Nathan's goals. However, as the arc unfolds, Nathan begins to lose interest in the role he initially set out to play – that of a father figure. Instead, he becomes fixated on the "rehearsal" of pretending to be a father, a character he was not meant to portray originally.

The comedic element of switching vegetables and rapidly changing sons adds a touch of absurdity to the show. Yet, it is Nathan's introduction of de-aging effects to his mirrors that raises questions about the psychological impact of his actions. Initially, The Rehearsal revolved around the idea of rehearsing awkward situations to be better prepared in real life. However, in season 1, episode 3, the show delves into deeper themes, exploring the blurred lines between reality and fiction, and questioning the ethics of deceiving someone who willingly participates in the deception.

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Editor's P/S:

The third episode of "The Rehearsal" presents a fascinating blend of humor, absurdity, and thought-provoking themes. Nathan Fielder's intricate setups and unexpected twists keep viewers on the edge of their seats, while the exploration of reality and fiction blurs the lines between entertainment and experimentation. The episode raises questions about the ethics of manipulation and the psychological impact of prolonged deception, leaving viewers to ponder the consequences of Nathan's actions.

Overall, "Gold Digger" is a compelling installment that showcases Fielder's unique brand of comedy and his willingness to push the boundaries of storytelling. The episode's blend of absurdity and philosophical depth makes it a must-watch for fans of unconventional and thought-provoking television.