Nathan For You

I’m halfway through, and kinda squint-scrolling this thread so as not to spoil anything

This show gives me such anxiety, like Portlandia before it (I like this show better than Portlandia, so far, but it does feel like an extended sketch from that world). I described the show to my brother today as Nihilist Mon Oncle

Asher’s first visit to the comedy workshop reminded me of a game I invented years ago that I called Bob Saget, I just made it up at an afternoon picnic table party thing, you go round in a circle and plainly say a funny word, and then everybody votes out the loser (who doesn’t have to leave, but has to drink). The following round, the goal is to say an unfunny word, and the loser is who fails and inadvertently says something funny. As the loser drinks, everybody pounds the table and says “Bob Saget”

Anyway, the entire comedy workshop sequence reminded me of that game, that Asher’s contribution was so extremely unfunny, and it felt like this was in fact the format for much of Fielder’s comedy language, to set up a joke, and then deliver the least-funny imaginable punchline

I think if we retroactively look for signs of something supernatural going on, the comedy class is a possible example. It's a scene that unsettles a lot of people, me included. Asher is unable to contribute anything at all when it's his turn; his outburst has nothing to do with the rules of the game, and comes after he fails to come up with anything at all. It seems he's physically incapable of being a likable person -- the only person who seems to have ever found him funny and charming is Whitney, for reasons unknown -- and his reaction betrays some intense inner struggle.

At least Charlie Kaufman makes his intentions perfectly clear from the get go and doesn’t let you get 9 and half hours into a series to get metaphysical on your ass

He constantly seems like he’s trying to not even be relevant, just keep himself tethered to this marriage, tv show, partial friendship with Dougie, but… his tethers all fail

your analysis is interesting mh -- i have struggled to figure out how Asher fits into this at all as he seems to fuck up everything he touches and we have no idea where he comes from. i'll buy it!

i do get a strong whiff of "i married a women whose family has money and i am not letting this go without a fight" only he's bad at fighting and also at everything else

oops WOMAN

I think the end of the season is just a set up for S2 in which grown Asher plays baby Asher

Still fucking fuming about this