Nathan Fielder's Biggest Stunt Ever: Flying a Boeing 737

In the Season 2 finale of The Rehearsal, Nathan Fielder took his experiment to its limits. After planning for decades, he flew a Boeing 737 with actors as passengers onboard. It was a cinematic effect that blurred reality and performance.

How It All Began: Fielder's Interest in Aviation

Nathan Fielder began his foray into aviation after discovering how difficult it is for pilots and co-pilots to talk during high-stress situations. He learned that in most accidents, co-pilots never speak up when they should, with possible disastrous effects.

Here's what Nathan did:

• Trained to be a pilot

• Obtained his flying license

• Finally flew a genuine Boeing 737 with actors on board

It was a dangerous but exhilarating ride that tested the limits of reality TV.

What Nathan Learned About Pilots and Communication

Fielder wasn't just passionate about flying an airplane. He was passionate about looking at the idea of communication in pilots and co-pilots. Nathan ran full-scale simulations, creating precise replicas of environments, including airport waiting rooms and cockpits. It enabled him to look deeply at how pilots collaborate under pressure.

Personal Reflection: What About Nathan's Own Brain?

Apart from learning about aviation, Nathan also decided to learn about his own mental health. He spoke with experts to research autism and how it affects him. Nathan even got an fMRI scan to determine if he had any symptoms of autism but did not disclose the results.

This was an extension of his story, illustrating how mental health plays a role in high-stakes professions like that of a pilot.

The Season Finale: Nathan Soars High and Deep

In the season finale, Nathan doesn't just fly a plane; he offers the viewer a personal experience. His flight is also life, a metaphor for performance and identity pushed to the extreme of what we can somehow see. It's half real test and half staging, so there's much for the fans to consider.

What made the finale stand out:

• Nathan flies in a real Boeing 737.

• He takes on serious topics like vulnerability and identity.

• The series challenges our assumptions of reality vs. performance.

The Big Picture: A Bold New Era of TV

Nathan Fielder has taken experimental TV further than it has ever gone before. By combining a real flight with personal self-reflection and dramatic storytelling, he's made the Season 2 finale of The Rehearsal a show no one will ever forget. It's a powerful reminder that performance is not just for the theater – sometimes life is the best play.

What's Next?

With season two of The Rehearsal now over, fans are all waiting to see what Fielder does next. Can he top a Boeing 737 stunt? We shall see, but what is certain — he'll keep stretching what we think TV can do.