The Comedy Central seriesNathan for You , which debut in 2013 and is currentlyavailable to rain buckets in its entirety on Hulu , is like a pyramid scheme , but for human emotion . You adorn quickly , because the show ’s odd assumption , and host , Nathan Fielder , are so curious . But if you check too many episode in a row , you wind up feeling hollow out and confused . Nathan for Youwill belly-up you .
But in a good way . That ’s because Fielder ’s show seems so real . Is it a realism show ? A cleverShark Tankparody ? A dark , experiential narrative about an challenging anti - hero who will do anything to get rich and find love ? It ’s all of the above and more – and we bed it . Here ’s why you should makeNathan for Youyour next weekend bout .
So, wait, who is Nathan Fielder?
Like many of Comedy Central ’s stars , Fielder has an telling comedic pedigree . Not only did the genteel Canadian doimprov with Seth Rogenin high school , but he got his outset as a newspaperman onThis 60 minutes Has 22 Minutes , aDaily Show - like satirical news curriculum in Canada . Later , he land writing and acting gig on abruptly - lived Comedy Central shows likeImportant thing with Demetri MartinandJon Benjamin Has a Van , where he play a put - upon windfall operator .
But he also has something else : a unmarried man of commerce from the University of Victoria . Or , as he says in his signature deadpan delivery during the show ’s opening course credit , " I graduated from one of Canada ’s top byplay school day with really good ground level . "
amazingly , his early piece of work is n’t that dissimilar from what he does now at age 32 . This charmingly lo - fi earlysketch from 2009shows that Fielder has always been interested in mocking the societal cues involved with business proceedings . His drollery comes from exploring the silly art of the trade .
Comedy Central
What’s an an average episode like?
If you wanted to be crude , you could call it a prank show , but it ’s a lot more like the cringe - clowning ofAli GthanPunk’dorCandid Camera . Most installment are about Fielder converge a modest - byplay proprietor around Los Angeles who is struggling to get by . He make them a pitch : follow my proposed plan and I ’ll improve your job . He ’s here to make dreams come true .
The only problem ? The proposals are often too luxuriant and borderline insane . A recent episode catch Fielder " help " an antiques shop class possessor by instituting a strict " you break it you grease one’s palms it " policy , while also transforming the memory board into a 24 - 60 minutes establishment in the hopes of luring drunk patron from a nearby bar . The episode ends with a inebriated man , enroll by Fielder , assume a sumo - wrestler suit as he wiggles through the store in pursuit of a free part of pizza pie , breaking $ 280 in old geezer along the way . It makes sense when you catch it . Sort of .
Fielder ’s proposal often contain a kernel of logical system or truth– there ’s a reason he ’s capable to win over business owner to go along with him – but they quickly escalate into eccentric stunt , nice encounters , and performance art hold up awry . It can get jolly dark . And , yet , the show retains a wonder and sweetness to it that something nihilistic likeBoratlacks .
Fielder is n’t trying to expose small business concern proprietor as hayseed . He ’s exposing himself –sometimes literally .
He might look familiar
Fielder has an interest in virility as a construct , particularly the way nonsensical bits of ephemeral can become full - blown media result . He ’s staged a few net stunts that you ’ve probably seen if you hang around online enough . perchance you saw a video with the rubric " Heroic Pig Saves Baby Goat From Drowning At Petting Zoo " ? That was part of one of his schemes . Laughed at an article about"Dumb Starbucks " ? Pure Fielder .
While these viral hoaxes are by no means the bread and butter of the show , they have helped him get some attention . likewise , Fielder has used his Twitter account for hilarious bits like when he had his followers text " got 2 Gram for $ 40 " to their parents , then say " Sorry ignore that txt . Not for you . " Then people sent himthe screenshots . Obviously , the stunt is a little evil , but it ’s also a joke where it ’s hard to recognize precisely who the punchline is on . The parents who fell for the lie or his follower who were willing to keep abreast his ridiculous commands ? The ambiguity is what stool it work .
But you’re probably not watching yet
Despite all the critical extolment heaped upon it , Nathan for Youis just a huge hit . In its most late season , the show never cracked .5 million looker for a single sequence . Many of the show ’s YouTube videos have hundreds of thousands of view , but the show lack the instant viral appeal of sketches from canal - mate likeKey and PeeleorInside Amy Schumer . UnlikeBroad City , Hillary Clinton probably wo n’t stop by for a cameo .
The difficulty of describing the show ’s premise probably accounts for its lack of mainstream appeal . Make no fault : this is an odd , often uncomfortable show . The show ’s participant are not " in " on the joke and that can go to moments of uttermost social awkwardness .
" Usually if someone gives you a social pool stick that he feel uncomfortable with something you ’ve said , you ’ll stick out in with a caution and move on , " Fielder explained to theNew York Times Magazineback in 2014 . " Everyone ’s default option DoS is this pleasantry province . My finish in the show is to undercut that as quickly as possible . If you really do have it ride , it ’s sometimes awful what comes out of the great unwashed . ”
Comedy Central
It’s worth the binge!
It may sound strange , butNathan For Youis deserving investing time in . Season one episodes like " The Claw of Shame " simply have to be seen for their absurdity , while the recent stunts , like time of year three ’s finale " The Hero , " which saw Nathan assume the identity operator of another military personnel and take the air a tightrope for charity , have a surprising poignance to them . We distinguish it one ofTV ’s best showslast year , and there ’s really no singing where the show could go when it returns for time of year four later this year .
Also , it ’s just really , really singular .
Along with Adult Swim’sThe Eric Andre Show , TruTV’sBilly on the Street , andLate Nightwriter Conner O’Malley ’s sublimely out - thereonline TV , Nathan for Youis part of a Modern wave of mistily punk - ish , always hilarious anti - comedy . But Fielder ’s vision is the most biting and the most vulnerable . It ’s uncompromising . It ’s cockeyed . And , like adorn in any pocket-size clientele , it ’s worth getting in early .
Comedy Central/YouTube
Sign up herefor our daily Thrillist electronic mail , and get your kettle of fish of the best in food / drink / play .
Dan Jacksonis a stave author at Thrillist Entertainment , and will watch any show with a Johnny Depp imitator . He ’s on Twitter:@danielvjackson .
Comedy Central/YouTube
Comedy Central
Comedy Central
