The Most Uncomfortable Show on Television is Actually Really Good

[@CriticalCrackpot]

If the video didn’t make it clear, Co-Creator Nathan Fielder is an INSTRUMENTAL part of the The Curse, and the show wouldn’t exist without his involvement. Between writing with Benny, and directing 7 mind-bending episodes himself, Nathan is the perfect wildcard, and his inherently awkward, but comedic style of realism greatly influences The Curse as a whole. (he’s also one of my favorite comedians)

[@TUBOSCHIFOSO]

Shoutout to all the 14 people who watched this show

[@MeatCatCheesyBlaster]

We see you

[@charitystar444]

we stand united

[@melisverycool888]

we stand together

[@sean.anthony6044]

we are united

[@joepiemonte9850]

I’m one🙋

[@TronLennonMusic]

I think youre giving safdie too much of all the credit, calling it his new show. This show is just as much, if not more of Nathan's. Bennie is just much more comfortable talking about it to crowds and answering interview questions. But Nathan directed 7 of the 10 episodes.

[@drewwheeler5045]

I think the magic spice between the two of them is what makes this show so perfect. Nathan is a MASTER at comedy and cringe and Safdie is a mastermind of cinematography and magical realism

[@TronLennonMusic]

@@drewwheeler5045 100%. It just kind of irked me hearing "Bennie Safdie's new show" it's a dream collaboration and very much both of their genius's at work. And both of them will tell you it wasn't possible without Emma. But Nathan really stepped up and out of his comfort zone, not only directing most of the series, but the emotional scenes he does in 2, 9, and 10 are Nathan-evolved.

[@CriticalCrackpot]

You’re totally right. Nathan is instrumental to a lot of stuff that I didn’t point to specifically in the video, but I only led with calling it “Benny Safdie’s new show” cuz I didn’t think a lot of people would know who Nathan was or what he did.

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

Christopher Nolan apparently loves this series. He’s talked about it in several interviews and on Late Night.

[@rebeccagibbs4128]

i watched the last 40 minutes with my mouth hanging open

[@queenserena99]

when he was screaming on the tree and then flying through the air... I was dead on the floor

[@Lucky_Daguenet]

ME TOO

[@zovutnik]

I guess for many people, 'The Curse' was an entry point to Fielder-type content, so it easily explains the ratings. It's hard to grasp what it is all about without being familiar with his previous works and meta-narrative. I hope that future minds will rediscover this uncut gem once again some day.

[@LogsMaggot]

"My goal is to hang around with Emma Stone. The plan? Make a 10 episodes genre-bending show with Emma as a co-protagonist"

[@anasalbarazii]

This show is gonna be a future classic i can feel it, It's absolutely incredible.

[@CriticalCrackpot]

I wholeheartedly agree.

[@user-yl4lf9mh1w]

it already is a classic lol

[@asdfmosin]

Shows like these are so rare.

[@Progressunlikely]

Asher is the scapegoat, no one is less flawed than the other in the series, but Asher is made to carry the sins of everyone else because of his social vulnerabilty (likely neurodivergence).

[@chickensoup02]

that ending gave me a panic attack that was well needed

[@BebeDaull]

The whole show had me on the verge of a panic attack.

[@scottweber8348]

Can't recommend this show to absolutely anyone, felt so uncomfortable the entire time, but so glad I watched it. It's the most accurate depiction of what it feels like to exist in 2024.

[@josephhernandez6137]

I never watched Nathan in anything else, seen anything from the director, started watching this cause of Emma stone and I loved this show. Usually shows get boring but I guess due to the music it always kept my attention and I wanted to see where this show would go. 10/10 crazy show

[@williambell6611]

Check out the rehearsal, some true mind fuckery going on in that one. Love everything Nathan does.

[@RedLuigi235]

You really have to watch Nathan for You and The Rehearsal, immaculate television. Nathan also directed the show, but I assume you mean Safdie, if you did, Uncut Gems and Good Time are masterpieces

[@markstephenpelfrey]

I’ve been a fan of Nathan forever. Seeing him in this show made me so proud! My man’s got range! Thanks for making this high quality video - this is by far the best video I’ve seen about The Curse!

[@CriticalCrackpot]

Ayeee glad you enjoyed! And thank you for the kind words!

[@LogsMaggot]

The scenes where he's REALLY upset and screaming in anger REALLY caught me off guard, knowing him from his previous shows. I was definitely not ready for that.

[@betbinch]

I felt sick to my stomach watching the finale. One of the best episodes of TV I’ve ever watched

[@jt8572]

I legit watched the first couple of episodes and was like, "This is not my cup of tea." I stuck around because I could watch Nathan Fielder watch paint dry to be totally honest. I don't regret it. I could not stop thinking about this show after that ending and will probably even rewatch it now to see if I missed anything.

[@FLUFFYCAT_PNW]

Emma Stone is so impressive in this. It's the first time I have seen her play a character that is so unlikable, and she plays it so well.

[@amandaking9527]

I didn’t really like her until watching poor things and now this and like NO ONE else could play those roles like her. Phenomenal performer and perfect casting for this show

[@cdl8637]

I love shows where you can kind of interpret things on your own and you aren't necessarily supposed to be thinking the same thoughts as the rest of the audience. It kind of makes the show a more personal experience. It was a roller coaster of feelings because one moment you'll be laughing and the next you will be concerned or even unsure of how to feel but it keeps you wanting to see more. If you are looking for an experience on top of the entertainment this show is perfect.

[@l.p.5703]

I hated this show but I was determined to see how the story ends, which kept me going through the awkward misery that is this show. Also the performances were incredible, despite everyone being so hatable. Worth it. The ending made it all come together and only works if you watch the previous episodes. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen an ending that is both abstract yet satisfying.

[@noahgray9451]

Nathan Fielder (Asher) wrote the show along with Benny and directed most of it, he deserves at least equal credit here

[@sethender443]

Okay the first 2 seconds of this video were incredibly uncalled for and detrimental to my poor heart

[@flavorwise]

Nathan Fielding was born to play Richard Mahew in a cinematic adaptation of Neverwhere and I will repeat that statement in any court of law in which I am currently on trial.

[@jigglebiggle2799]

I also want to add, that this show may have one of the best soundtracks to ever grace television. I cannot stop thinking about it every. Single. Day.

[@BebeDaull]

It affected me on a physical level, raised my anxiety and put me on edge. It's genius.

[@Vanirvis]

Damn you know how to put videos together bro.. That audience “voyeuristic perspective” transition Legend

[@legendary.super.shannon9699]

It's honestly tragic that this show isn't more of a hit. It's absolutely brilliant, hilarious, dark & truely unlike anything else on television. I think the biggest issue is it probably hit too close to home for a lot of mellenial, mid-30s, early 40s parents, who, probably aren't aware of Nathan nor the Safdie bros in the 1st place, but more importantly, portray this idea of perfection, posting their smiles & beautiful, successful, perfect lives across social-media, who came in expecting an endearing Emma Stone dramady, & instead got this commentary on what is the reality of the majority of their actual lives: a dark, broken facade filled w/debt, depression, boredom, & regret, where no-one is genuine, nor who they say they are & everyone is secretly struggling to maintain their thinly-veiled, bull-sh1t, inconsequential existence filled w/back-stabbing infedility, crushing disappointment & resentment they feel they're trapped in & desperately wish weren't where they ended up in life. I think a-lot of folks would benefit from seeing the dissection of these characters' personas, that probly mirrors their own personalities, suffocating their egos & peeling off their masks to reveal who they really are at heart. Btw, the beuatiful & extraordinarily talented Emma stone is *crushing-it* this year. Between this & _Poor Things_ (which I think was the best film of last year, as iirc came out literally days before 2023 concluded) she has truly put on career-defining performances that by any metric, she didn't need nor have to do (as she was already at the top of the a-list) but took the risk anyway & has proceeded to straight-up kill it in every regard. I've always loved her since _Superbad_ & _Easy A,_ but i have gained a new level of respect & admiration for her after these 2 performances that I will carry into any & every future project she's a part of.🤘🏻🧔🏼‍♂️

[@EggCakes27]

this shows going to be a classic, im so lucky to have bee able to watch it as it came out

[@lilyrubyify]

I feel like The Curse is almost like an inside joke of modern reality television. You kind of have to know how things are normally handled during production to really appreciate what they're doing with this, so I get why most people just find it weird and stopped watching early on. Personally I love weird stuff so I ate it up. lol

[@N8R_Quizzie]

I was expecting to cancel paramount plus as soon as episode 10 finished, but afterwards I've veen so compelled to come back to certain scenes all throughout the series. This show was certainly unlike anything I've seen before.

[@choggerboom]

I got like two days left of my free trial, I know what you mean

[@TheTrueGoldenGod]

Always with the quality content 👍🏻

[@zeilahobson2050]

Love it and most of Nathan’s work. Can’t wait to see what he comes up with next

[@Jones-d8q]

This show has all the anxiety of an old Hitchcock film but without all the interesting plot, characters, good actors, craft etc.

[@pressrepeat2000]

I’m looking forward to watching this. I think it’s great that quirky shows get made the other ones that become classics eventually.

[@chava4809]

Loved watching this, maybe because I love Nathan and Emma as actors, but I was genuinely excited to watch every new episode every week!

[@saraisett6743]

i’m obsessed with this show. also are you from philly

[@brianlee2270]

Also obsessed with this show, and also from philly!

[@LogsMaggot]

Also obsessed with this show, but from somewhere near Bologna 🍝

[@amandaking9527]

My interpretation of the ending was that the curses were real and that was what Benny’s character cursed him with after the battery replacement scene. And that’s why he was so upset, because now he felt responsible for another loss of life. Absolutely wild ending. I also think the wife will surrender the baby to the fire department because she hated the idea of having a tiny Asher (at least I can remember one name lmao). I don’t think she wanted a baby because she had gotten abortions without telling him and every time he’s excited about it she looks miserable

[@coffin7904]

Holy shit I hadn't thought about the significance of the fire department thing. Could be.

[@amandaking9527]

@@coffin7904 I got the vibe that she never wanted kids, especially with him. But I don’t see many people with that interpretation! I was totally expecting that to be the ending haha. Otherwise I didn’t really understand the significance of that scene and highlighting all the features of the box, explaining the law, etc

[@LogsMaggot]

I also thought him flying away was due to the curse from Benny's character, but I hadn't even thought back about that fire department thing and Emma leaving her son in that box until now. Great call!

[@amandaking9527]

@@LogsMaggot I’m surprised more people don’t talk about that! I was anticipating it and was surprised when it didn’t happen

[@ValyrianPrince]

Lost me at episode 1. I don’t know why they are together when she feels so superior to him and emasculates him. I thought it would be about a bunch of bad people pretending to be good which is what he is but damm the humiliation stuff from the get go was, as you said UNCOMFORTABLE.

[@Ivanselectsongs]

5:55 Good Taste, Yakuza fan

[@zaneberry]

whyd ya make the thumbnail like that when it has a 94% on RT

[@uncle_podcast5332]

It’s sad to think it won’t be a S2. The Rehearsal was one season only.

[@kev_whatev]

Wrong but ok

[@RedheadDevito]

I could see the ending coming from a mile away. Literally, I was a mile away and I saw it happen.

[@babybingg]

i'm not sure i'd describe an oscar winner as an acting "dark horse" but yeh Stone was brilliant in this

[@matics2808]

Mike David of Redbar Radio loves the show and talks about it all the time!

[@NoochieBones]

Seems like a good watch I’ll definitely check this out

[@amyk6319]

I love how people think The Curse is new and groundbreaking. Does no one remember The Comeback on HBO? It was the original cringe reality spoof and aired almost 20 years ago. Everyone is praising Nathan Fielder but Lisa Kudrow created the cringe reality spoof genre. The Comeback was more comedic than the Curse, but it was a great show. Many people didn't get it at the time, but it had a cult following. So they did a second season 10 years later in 2014 that was just as good.

[@jensheekey5641]

Loved this show & the Ending 💪❤️💪

[@markygrom124]

im the "only experienced this show through video essays because I only have netflix" button

[@aloracarner8948]

I love love loooooove the curse but i am obsessed with emma stone so im biased

[@phaedrus4931]

Hard agree. This video was incredible, but to hear Emma Stone referred to as a dark horse threw me. She's the once and future goat, a known entity

[@BebeDaull]

She's a gem, for sure.

[@Arkain89]

i never want to hear anything about necks ever again

[@college54114]

I love Benny Safdie. He’s a genius

[@zovutnik]

Can someone please advice how to find early footage of The Curse? (sound like an HTWJW episode)

[@nelsonpeterson2565]

One of the best shows ever made

[@obeseninja93]

This reminds me of a Lars Von Trier film

[@college54114]

I’ve NEVER heard of this and it has two hella famous actors!

[@jameseden9380]

Nathan fielder is so good.

[@aroccoification]

Surprisingly I didnt think it was funny. I absolutely loved nathan for your and everything ive ever seen nathan fielder in bit this didnt at all work for me I think its because there was no joke here. Usually he is pulling a gag on someone so it was like watching a con artist in a movie rather than seeing his new scheme at work

[@LogsMaggot]

Yeah well, no offence but if you're dissatisfied for watching this show expecting to be watching Nathan for you that's on you.

[@DunkerDocs]

He’s back

[@seoz774]

I am instantly suspicious of people who don't like this show. I think it reflects how uncomfortable they are with themselves.

[@LogsMaggot]

I think the reason why I'm so obsessed with this show is exactly because I am super uncomfortable with myself and as weird and cringe as Nathan's characters irl

[@seoz774]

@@LogsMaggot yes that is fair. Maybe I should say they lack self awareness. It sounds wanky but it’s true

[@bradleyc543]

I think it was too long for it's own good, not a lot of development happens and we understand the social situations pretty early on, then the consequences of how they act beautifully mirror at the end.

[@DivaRoach]

It was torture watching it week by week. I envy those who can binge it. Because it feels like a movie. I did hate the ending though

[@husseinhamieh6357]

A great experience was watching this show

[@RobertMunro-wb6jb]

This was the best thing I saw on tv this year ! and probably the best thing I saw since twin peaks season three!

[@TheBookofrhymes]

This was a painfully brilliant watch.

[@melisverycool888]

IM SO EXCITED TO HEAR SOMEONE TALK ABOUT THIS WEIRD ASS SHIT

[@pinkkerbs]

Emma killed it in this

[@evevevevevev1987]

11:46 hahahahahahah thanks

[@Jamesadamiak]

I love this show. Some of the episodes are freaking brilliant!!

[@SuperFingas]

I loooved it what a great well done show

[@drake9453]

Hot take an hbo x a24 joint is good

[@FORRESTtheunoriginal]

As a diehard Fielderhead, I watched this fully expecting some of this to come back in the next Fielderverse project. Like Rehearsal 2 for sure has something to do with The Curse. Like he puts himself through the same shit that happens in the Curse to practice for the scenes. I both love and hate that Fielder is in that show, because I can't take any of it on face value because of his involvement, but also, it got me to watch the show, and he did a good job in it.

[@stavrosambizas9531]

Although I happened to agree with many of the points that you've raised and your video has helped me see things that I wasn't necessarily watching out for, I just can't help but to feel like that you can't polish a turd. Not to say, that the whole show is a turd or anything, but genuinely it's not the masterpiece as everyone makes it out to be. There were stuff so vitriolic, that were enjoyable, I loved the satire of reality tv, the gentrification issues, the making fun of Emma Stones' overly 'woke' character etc. But this brutal exposure of the above stuff, were highlights, sprinkled throughout the show, and cannot make the show worth it. I enjoy genre bending stuff as well, but the payoff was non-existent and most importantly nonsensical, genre-bending must serve a purpose, and the ending didn't. If the ending was supposed to make me frustrated and angry at myself for watching it, then by all means it achieved it, otherwise, it failed on a lot of levels, cause it wasnt' funny, nor could anyone sympathise with asher by the end of the show. Although the series wasn't to my liking, I just kept hanging on hoping that there would be a payoff but none came. To be absolutely honest, the ending, made me hate the series even more, it just pushed me over the edge. It was a vitriolic satire of modern life deeply rooted into everyday reality and this nonsense ending just destroyed the shows whole premise. I felt that powering through it, would've led somewhere and it didn't,

[@Ottrond]

Cool

[@Doppps]

Best show I’ve ever seen

[@Shtuhtefup]

This is nathans show

[@bradenmichael32]

best show ever

[@Jones-d8q]

Nathan For You is funny and entertaining but this show is just awful and boring and Emma Carmine is just honestly the worst.

[@danielundefined3361]

I really liked episodes 1-9, but I absolutely hated episode 10. The ending was stressful to watch, unnecessary, and a total tonal dissonance. It ruined the whole day for me when I saw it along with the whole show. They could have done the same message in a hundred other ways, and it left a lot of story threads that could have been pulled on but weren't. Just an absolute disaster in my opinion.

[@theandy4667]

i haven’t watched it yet, but him flying uncontrollably into outer space made me laugh

[@Jones-d8q]

It's just not good.

[@itslooigi]

I think its Emma Stone, shes too big of a star and it throws it all off.

[@BebeDaull]

I think she's perfect in the role.

[@Ivanselectsongs]

hard disagree. birkenstocks humble every woman

[@selftransforming5768]

\🤩🤩

[@Jones-d8q]

This show sucks.

[@billistics]

Good until the shitty ending.

[@dlwseattle]

I love Emma but I watched a series with Nathan a few years back and it was everything I hated about reality television disguised as supposed "comedy". He was decent in Jon Benjamin's van though. Obviously, I'm not the audience for such dreck!

[@aesirhog4811]

The curse was actually really bad. If you want really uncomfortable tv, watch brand new cherry flavor

[@LogsMaggot]

HACKCHUALLY ☝🤓

[@abundantlyarlyney]

God.. you started with Large Marge… and ended with Asher’s… thing! 🫣😩 🎤