commentary

Nathan Fielder's remarkable documentary contextualizes fact with fiction to reach sad, vital truths

Published October 17, 2026 12:00PM (EDT)

Elizabeth Holmes in "You Can See Everything" (A24)

In the first episode of his hit HBO series, “ The Rehearsal ” — a show about evaluating the outcomes of hypothetical real-life situations — comedian Nathan Fielder admits, “I’ve been told my personality can make some people uncomfortable, so I have to work to offset that.” For Fielder, who is equal parts lovably strange and dryly hilarious, offsetting other people’s discomfort can be a sizable task. It’s not easy to go through life in a double consciousness, hyperaware that one’s behavior might offend or unease. “Humor is my go-to instinct,” Fielder says about trying to reassure others.…