In the sixth episode of Season 1 of "The Rehearsal," Nathan finds himself embracing the role of a single parent with unexpected depth. Little did he foresee that one of the child actors, Remy, would become so engrossed in the fiction that Nathan was his actual father. The rehearsal took an unexpectedly profound turn for both Remy and Nathan. Now, Nathan struggles to form a genuine connection with the new Adam, whose real name is Liam. Remy, devoid of a father figure in his own life, has begun to perceive Nathan as his legitimate dad.
When Remy's mother, Amber, extends an invitation to Nathan for a visit, Remy persists in addressing him as "daddy." Nathan and Amber attempt to clarify the notion of acting to Remy, and he eventually comprehends the concept. Nevertheless, bidding farewell to his "pretend daddy" proves to be an emotionally challenging endeavor.
"I still love Nathan," Remy declares poignantly after his departure, revealing the depth of his attachment despite the artificial nature of their relationship.
Nathan shares dinner with Liam, but their assumed roles as "dad" and "Adam" are laced with tension and an uneasy air. Eventually, Nathan's restraint snaps. He tears through the veneer of the simulated reality. "You realize I'm not your actual father, don't you?" Nathan fears that Liam, like Remy before him, might fail to grasp the pretend nature of their dynamic. But Liam responds with a reassuring thumbs-up. Older and more perceptive than Remy, he understands; he's simply a consummate actor playing along.
When Nathan inquires if he passes muster as a father figure, Liam pauses thoughtfully. "You make a fantastic scene partner," he replies.
As Nathan inadvertently merges the images of Remy and Liam in his mind, it becomes evident once more that he's grappling to disentangle the roles from the real individuals beneath. Desperate to comprehend what went awry with Remy, Nathan turns to Liam as a sounding board.
He attempts to recreate his scenes with Remy, first using Liam, then an elderly actor, and ultimately a mannequin. He engages a fake Amber to reenact their initial meeting and heart-wrenching farewell. Yet, none of it feels authentic.
Perhaps the issue stemmed from Angela's departure. If Remy had had faux parents, maybe the confusion wouldn't have been so overwhelming. So, Nathan relives his bitter parting with Angela, experimenting with various scenarios in a bid to convince her to stay. Yet, in each iteration, Angela leaves without fail. "What more can one do when giving it one's all?" Nathan ponders, lost in contemplation.
Nathan makes the conscious decision to seek out the genuine Angela to offer his apologies. When they finally converge, he candidly confesses that he was wrong to imply she wasn't dedicated to the experiment. Angela, in her magnanimity, forgives him, drawing upon scriptural wisdom to emphasize the significance of self-forgiveness. "The notion of forgiving oneself seems so soothing and noble," Nathan ponders. "Yet, how does one actually embark on such a journey?"
Once more, Nathan finds himself at the doorstep of Remy and Amber, this time accompanied by Liam. Remy greets him not with the endearing "daddy," but formally as "Nathan." He expresses a longing to revert to calling Nathan "daddy," a sentiment that doesn't alarm Amber in the least. She reassures Nathan that Remy is on the mend.
"You might never be able to erase the past," Nathan reflects after this heartfelt exchange. "But perhaps, with a renewed perspective, one can strive to transform oneself." However, Nathan doesn't embrace this lesson in a conventional manner.
Nathan embarks on a quest for a fresh perspective, albeit through unconventional means. He assumes a novel guise—this instance, that of Amber, Remy's mother. Together with Liam, they reenact Remy's application process for the show. Nathan adopts the role of a mother fraught with anxiety about enrolling her child in such a bewildering endeavor, yet persists nonetheless, insisting that Remy will emerge unscathed.
As the dramatic recreation progresses to the poignant farewell between Remy and Nathan, Liam, embodying Remy, turns his gaze towards Nathan, now in character as Amber. "Why did you tell him he was my dad?" Remy inquires, his voice tinged with confusion.
"Amber" responds, elucidating that it was never her intention to perplex him, nor was it Nathan's. She portrays Nathan as a flawed human who stumbles and errs, just like anyone else. She contemplates aloud whether this experimental endeavor was befitting a child, but quickly qualifies, "Mommy makes mistakes too."
Subsequently, she validates Remy's sorrow, emphasizing that his hurt feelings are a testament to his possessing a heart capable of love and trust. This moment resonates profoundly, especially when recalling the harsh accusation hurled by fake Angela in the preceding episode—that Nathan is incapable of feeling anything at all.
"Life blossoms with the unexpected," Nathan declares, adopting the guise of Amber. "Certain situations merit preparation, yet you grasp my drift." He reassures Remy's bewilderment is understandable, for they have each other's back. "For I am your father," he asserts.
"Hold on," Liam hisses, breaking out of character. "I believed you were my mother." Nathan comes to an abrupt halt. His eyelids flutter rapidly. "No," he stands his ground firmly. "I am your father."
After an elongated silence, Liam concedes to the role reversal. He stretches out to embrace Nathan. One might interpret this conclusion charitably as Nathan still portraying Amber, insisting he can don the hats of both mother and father to Remy. However, I perceive this as Nathan—incapable of directly implementing the lessons he's garnered, unable to forgive or cherish himself unless assuming another's persona, like that of Remy's father.
