The Rehearsal Season 3: Nathan Fielder’s New Playground of Discomfort

Social Media Buzz and Fan Community Reactions

While we await concrete news, fans on social media are anything but quiet about The Rehearsal Season 3. The show has sparked a fervent online community across Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, and beyond. Here’s a look at how the fandom is stoking the fires of anticipation (and cracking jokes) about Season 3:

Reddit Discussions: On Reddit, communities like r/television and r/NathanForYou (and a dedicated r/TheRehearsal) are constantly churning out threads after each Season 2 episode – and inevitably, speculation about the next season creeps in. Fans analyze every minute detail of the show for hidden meanings or possible setups for future episodes. For instance, after the Season 2 premiere, Redditors noted how Nathan’s new focus on plane crashes was so unexpected that basically anything could come in Season 3. Meme threads pop up with titles like “Predict The Rehearsal Season 3 in one sentence,” yielding comedic answers such as “Nathan helps an introvert rehearse going to Burning Man” or “Season 3: Nathan builds a time machine to rehearse preventing World War III” – clearly tongue-in-cheek, reflecting the community’s view that Nathan has god-like powers to meddle with reality. Amid the humor, you’ll also find earnest posts from fans simply pleading HBO for renewal because they “need more awkward Fielder in their lives.” The vibe is a mix of impatience, creativity, and unwavering fandom.

Twitter Chatter: On Twitter (now rebranded as X, but old habits die hard), The Rehearsal often trends on Sunday nights when new episodes drop. Fans live-tweet their shock (“Did Nathan Fielder really just do THAT?!”) and by the next day, many are tweeting direct appeals to HBO like “Hey @HBO, go ahead and renew The Rehearsal for Season 3 right now, thanks.” The fan tweets range from analytical (“The Rehearsal is the only show that can make me laugh, cringe, and existentially dread the human condition all at once – we deserve a Season 3”) to playful. A great example of the latter: one fan joked, “If The Rehearsal doesn’t get a Season 3, I’m going to start rehearsing a protest outside HBO HQ.” Another popular tweet format has been images of Nathan’s bewildered face with captions like “Me waiting for The Rehearsal S3 announcement…” that get shared widely. The social media consensus seems to be that the world Nathan created is addictive, and viewers are using every platform available to express how badly they want it to continue.

TikTok & Video Reactions: On TikTok, fans and creators have made viral videos dissecting the show’s most outrageous moments – and speculating on what could come next. Short video essays about The Rehearsal’s concept often end with questions to the audience like, “What scenario would you want to see Nathan tackle in Season 3?” prompting thousands of comments. Some TikTokers even role-play as if they’re in The Rehearsal, jokingly staging their own mini-rehearsals for mundane daily tasks (with the hashtag #TheRehearsal). It’s become a bit of a meme to say “Nathan Fielder probably engineered this” whenever something weird happens in real life. Case in point: one TikTok comment with tens of thousands of likes reads, “My job performance review felt so awkward, I half-expected to see Nathan Fielder walk in and tell me it was all a simulation.” This kind of cultural penetration and meme-ification shows how the fanbase is keeping the show alive in conversation, which can only help its chances of continuation.

Fan Art and Memes: The Rehearsal fandom also churns out fan art and memes at a steady clip. There are cartoonish drawings of Nathan in various absurd scenarios fans dream up for Season 3 (like Nathan dressed as an astronaut on the moon, with the caption “next season??”). Memes from Season 1 and 2 moments are repurposed with Season 3 jokes: the elaborate flowchart Nathan drew in S1E1 has been edited by fans to include “Path to Season 3 Renewal” boxes; the famous line “You have to have a little fun!” (Nathan’s mantra from Season 1) is being tweeted with “HBO, you have to have a little fun – and by fun I mean give us Season 3.” Even the Nazi parody scene from Season 2 (where Nathan satirically portrayed Paramount+ execs as Nazis) spawned reaction memes on Twitter – some fans posted stills of “Nazi Nathan” with jesting captions like “Negotiating Season 3 with HBO like…”. It’s edgy humor, but exactly the kind of ironic meme that circulates in these circles​vanityfair.com.

Overall, the social media buzz is a mix of earnest enthusiasm and witty fandom culture. The noise hasn’t reached Game of Thrones-level mainstream chatter (the show is still a bit of a cult hit), but within comedy and TV fandom communities, The Rehearsal is the hot topic. If HBO execs peek at social media, they’ll see a passionate audience that’s effectively doing free marketing – a good sign for Season 3 prospects.

Controversies and Challenges: Will They Affect Season 3?

Every groundbreaking show comes with a bit of baggage, and The Rehearsal is no exception. Nathan Fielder’s methods have occasionally stirred controversy and debate – both in the media and among viewers. It’s worth examining these issues, as they could influence the direction or reception of Season 3 (though thankfully, none seem fatal to the show’s continuation).

The Child Actor Debate: The biggest controversy from Season 1 centered on Remy, the child who participated in Nathan’s child-rearing experiment. In the finale, it became apparent that Remy (around 6 years old) might have been genuinely confused or upset, having grown attached to “Daddy Nathan.” The ethical question – was this experiment harming a child emotionally? – loomed large. Even Nathan himself acknowledged the unease: in the final episode, he effectively rehearsed a do-over of his goodbye to Remy and, in doing so, expressed regret, saying through an actor, “Maybe we shouldn’t have done that show…it’s a weird thing for a little kid to be a part of.”​cracked.com This meta-comment was Fielder’s way of confronting the controversy head-on. After the episode aired, some viewers were indeed uncomfortable, and discussion about the ethics of using a child spread online.

However, this story took a relieving turn after the season: A Reddit user claiming to be Remy’s grandmother shared updates and photos, insisting the kid was “doing just fine” and “was not harmed or traumatized during the filming”​cracked.com. She noted that Nathan genuinely cared about Remy’s wellbeing off-camera and that not all their positive interactions made it into the final cut​cracked.com. While this was an unverified account, it gave many fans comfort to believe Remy ended up okay. By the time Season 2 rolled around, the furor had died down. Nathan also seemed to take the lesson to heart – Season 2 did not involve young children in any major way, perhaps a conscious choice to avoid a repeat of that ethical gray area.

The Paramount+ Nazi Parody: Season 2 courted a fresh controversy, but one of a very different kind – a corporate scandal rather than a personal one. In Episode 2, Nathan made waves by depicting Paramount+ executives as Nazis in a rehearsal scenario​vanityfair.com​vanityfair.com. This outrageous sequence was Nathan’s response to learning that Paramount+ (the streaming service) had removed an old episode of Nathan For You over misguided concerns about antisemitism. Instead of just ranting, Nathan did what Nathan does: he built a fake Nazi-esque boardroom, hired actors with German accents, and “rehearsed” a conversation with Paramount as if they were the Third Reich – swastika-like Paramount banners and all​vanityfair.com​vanityfair.com. It was a searing satirical attack on censorship and corporate cowardice, and it definitely got media attention. Variety reported that Paramount+ was not informed ahead of time about this stunt – they found out when everyone else did, on air​vanityfair.com. (Awkward!) The article also noted the episode in question remains off Paramount+ but is available on HBO’s streaming service, Max​vanityfair.com.

This incident showed Fielder’s willingness to ruffle industry feathers. It could have caused behind-the-scenes tension – HBO essentially aired a segment dunking on another media company in an extreme fashion. But notably, HBO did air it uncensored, indicating they back Fielder’s vision. The fallout seemed minimal publicly; Paramount+ did not comment (likely not wanting to engage in a PR battle they’d lose). Instead, it became a talking point about Nathan’s boldness. Vanity Fair and others wrote about how only Nathan Fielder would go this far for a joke​vanityfair.com. For Season 3, this raises the stakes: what other entities might Nathan take aim at? It also shows HBO’s trust in him – which is a good sign for renewal, as long as he’s not offending his own network. So far, he’s been equal-opportunity in poking fun at others (and himself), not HBO.

Critical Reception – Praise and Caution: The critical response to The Rehearsal has been largely glowing (many consider it genius-level innovative television), but a few critics have raised concerns that parallel the controversies above. For example, a New Yorker piece titled “The Cruel and Arrogant Gaze of Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal” argued that sometimes the show edges into exploiting its subjects or that Nathan’s desire for control overrides human empathy​newyorker.com. Similarly, The New Republic asked pointedly, “Is Nathan Fielder Sorry?” examining whether his on-screen self-awareness is sufficient penance for the manipulation involved​newrepublic.com. These criticisms haven’t derailed the show – if anything, they fuel more conversation about its depth – but they remind us that The Rehearsal walks a fine line between comedy and ethical discomfort.

For Season 3, this might mean Fielder will continue to self-interrogate the ethics as part of the show’s narrative (as he did in Season 1’s finale). We might see him incorporate the public’s reactions into how he designs new experiments. It’s almost a feedback loop: controversy emerges, Nathan addresses it creatively, which creates new layers to the show. This reflexivity is part of The Rehearsal’s DNA now.

In the End – Impact on Season 3? So far, none of the controversies have led to any public calls for cancellation or any sponsor pull-outs or anything truly damaging. They’ve been the kind of thought-provoking debates that prestige TV often generates. HBO is no stranger to controversy (hello, Game of Thrones, Euphoria, etc.), and in the grand scheme, The Rehearsal’s issues have been relatively niche and handled within the text of the show. If anything, these challenges show that Fielder is pushing boundaries – which is likely a selling point for renewal rather than a detriment, as long as the audience remains on board.

One consideration: Nathan may need to tread carefully with real people’s feelings to avoid a scenario that could genuinely derail production (e.g., a participant having a severe adverse reaction or suing, etc.). But given his track record, he and HBO’s legal team have managed to keep things under control. The mention in Cosmo about an “airtight” legal team busy at work behind scenes​cosmopolitan.com attests to how much they proactively mitigate risks.

In summary, Season 3 doesn’t appear threatened by these controversies – if anything, fans and critics alike are even more curious to see where Nathan takes the social experiment next. The show’s blend of outrageousness and introspection means it will always spark discussion. As long as Nathan Fielder remains thoughtful about how he pushes people’s buttons (and perhaps avoids involving toddlers or unwitting corporations without a heads-up), the controversy will stay at the level of think-pieces and Twitter debates, rather than serious roadblocks. And let’s face it, a little controversy can even be good for viewership.

Merch, Memes, and Pop Culture Impact

Despite being a relatively new series, The Rehearsal has already seeped into pop culture in quirky ways – from merchandise (official and fan-made) to widespread memes. These show the growing impact of Nathan Fielder’s creation and keep the hype alive between seasons.

Official Merchandise: HBO hasn’t gone full-throttle on merchandising The Rehearsal the way a fantasy franchise might, but there is some. On the HBO online store you can find the occasional T-shirt with the show’s logo or a cheeky quote from Season 1. One popular item among die-hards features the phrase “You have to have a little fun!” in curly script – Nathan’s memorable line from the pilot – a subtle nod only fans get. There’s also a poster print of the Alligator Lounge blueprint (the meticulously recreated bar from episode 1) that certain TV art collectors snagged. That said, merchandise for this show is still niche; it’s the kind of series more likely to inspire DIY creations from fans than mass-market swag.

Summit Ice and Crossover Merch: Interestingly, one of the most notable pieces of “merch” connected to The Rehearsal actually comes from Nathan For You: the Summit Ice jacket. Summit Ice is the real-life outdoor apparel brand Nathan launched during an episode of Nathan For You, which donates profits to Holocaust awareness causes. In Season 2 of The Rehearsal, Nathan revisited Summit Ice during his Paramount+ rant, proudly noting it raised millions for charity​vanityfair.com​vanityfair.com. After that episode aired, Summit Ice jackets saw a spike in interest again – people were reminded that it’s a real thing they can buy to support a cause and a funny conversation piece. So indirectly, The Rehearsal boosted its predecessor’s merch. Don’t be surprised if you see fans at Comic-Con wearing Summit Ice jackets as a way to represent their Fielder fandom. It’s a cool bit of continuity in Nathan’s universe: a joke product that transcended the show and became tangible, blurring comedy and reality (very on brand for him).

Fan Merch and Cameos: Fans have gotten creative making their own Rehearsal-inspired goodies. Etsy has a few stickers and pins – one popular design is a cartoon of Nathan in his laptop harness with the text “Always Be Rehearsing.” There’s also a bootleg “The Fielder Method School of Acting – Class of 2022” mug floating around, referencing the bizarre acting class from Season 1. These aren’t official, but they show the affectionate enthusiasm people have. Additionally, as noted earlier, the participants themselves have become a sort of merch. By joining Cameo, they are monetizing their Rehearsal fame​avclub.com. It’s both humorous and endearing: you can actually pay a little money to get a video greeting from, say, “Asian Jonah Hill” (the nickname of one participant who resembled the actor), or from the gold-toothed guy who delivered the immortal line about “numbers” in the finale. It’s a win-win: fans get a personalized slice of the show’s history, and these once-average folks get to ride their 15 minutes of fame just a bit longer.

Memes and Cultural References: The Rehearsal has spawned a plethora of memes that have permeated internet culture. Some favorites include: Nathan’s Flowchart – the ludicrously complex flowchart he made in S1E1 to map out conversation outcomes. That image circulates anytime someone online jokes about overthinking a situation. (It’s often captioned, “Me trying to prepare for every possible outcome of texting my crush back.”) Another is Actor James – the professional child actor who played 6-year-old Adam and cried when saying goodbye to “Daddy” Nathan; a screenshot of his tear-streaked face and Nathan’s guilty expression pops up with captions like “when you realize the experiment went too far.” It’s darkly funny, and very Rehearsal.

Perhaps the most far-reaching cultural impact is how people now use the term “rehearsal” in common speech with a nod to the show. For example, someone might tweet, “Job interview tomorrow – wish I had Nathan Fielder to set up a rehearsal for me.” Or, “Went on a first date tonight. Thanks to The Rehearsal, I was mentally rehearsing every line.” The show has turned the concept of over-preparation into a relatable joke. Even those who haven’t seen the show might encounter these references and feel the ripple of its influence.

Merchandise Wish List for Season 3: If Season 3 comes, expect both HBO and fans to expand the merch/meme catalog. Perhaps HBO will sell a replica Laptop Harness (there are definitely viewers who would buy that as a goofy cosplay piece). Or maybe a coffee table book of Nathan’s set blueprints and notes (for the hardcore behind-the-scenes nerds). And unquestionably, any particularly funny prop or concept from Season 3 will become a T-shirt or meme within days of airing. This show’s fandom is small but mighty – they turn content around quickly.

In short, The Rehearsal has achieved that coveted cult status where its influence extends beyond just watching the episodes. It’s in jokes, in online discourse, in the clothes people wear and the references comedians make. (There’s already been an SNL skit that lovingly parodied The Rehearsal’s style – another sign you’ve made it in the zeitgeist.) All this buzz and engagement is like a rising drumbeat, signaling to HBO that Season 3 isn’t just desired for the story, but for the entire ecosystem of fun it creates. Few shows generate this kind of cross-over between fiction and reality, and The Rehearsal is milking that in the most amusing ways – one awkward “rehearsal” at a time.

The State of The Rehearsal Season 3

To wrap it all up, here’s where we stand: Season 3 of The Rehearsal is not officially confirmed yet, but the foundation is laid for it to happen. The fans are loud, the critics are impressed (if occasionally perturbed), and Nathan Fielder is undoubtedly brimming with more ideas in that wonderfully twisted mind of his. HBO historically rewards originality and buzz, and The Rehearsal has both in spades.

We’ve covered the gamut – from factual updates (or lack thereof) to the most fanciful fan theories. We’ve seen that confirmed news is scarce (no renewal announcement as of April 2025​cosmopolitan.com), but reputable rumors lean positive (various outlets and industry whispers suggest a renewal is likely, it’s just a matter of when). We separated the solid info (e.g., Season 2’s timeline, Nathan’s involvement, production challenges) from pure speculation (wild plot ideas, casting fantasies).

One thing is crystal clear: there’s a passionate demand for Season 3. The creators and network surely feel that. As Cosmo put it, with a show of seemingly limitless possibilities, “a third season should be a no-brainer.”​cosmopolitan.com Nathan Fielder has proven that he can keep upping the ante and still keep us glued somewhere between laughter and existential dread – a unique space that few shows occupy.

All that remains is the official greenlight. If and when HBO gives it, expect an eruption of excitement across the internet. Until then, fans will continue to rehearse their patience (and keep the memes coming). Keep an eye on reputable sources like Variety, Deadline, and HBO’s press releases for the real news, and enjoy the speculative frenzy in the meantime.

Whether it’s confirmed tomorrow or months from now, we’ll be ready to update our mental flowcharts with every new detail of The Rehearsal Season 3. And knowing Nathan Fielder, whatever happens next will be as unpredictable and thought-provoking as ever – because in this show, life itself is the ultimate rehearsal.