As a longtime fan of Nate Bargatze, I went into his latest Netflix special, Your Friend, Nate Bargatze, with high hopes. Having thoroughly enjoyed his previous specials-The Tennessee Kid, Greatest Average American, and Hello, World - I was expecting another round of clever, laugh-out-loud comedy. Unfortunately, this special didn't quite deliver.
To start, it felt like the material wasn't as sharp or well-developed as in his past work. Nate has a lot on his plate these days - he's touring, hosting a podcast, working on corporate gigs, performing on SNL, and tackling other projects. It seems like this packed schedule might have left him without enough time to fully refine this set. The result is a special that feels rushed, with jokes that don't land as solidly as they should. Surprisingly, he even reused some material from earlier specials, which felt out of place in what should have been a fresh performance.
Another noticeable difference was Nate's demeanor. In his earlier specials, his dry delivery was balanced by an energy and looseness that made his performances feel warm and engaging. Here, the dryness was dialed up to a point where it came across as flat, almost as if he wasn't having fun on stage. He seemed less invested in the material, and that lack of enthusiasm translated to the audience, whose laughter seemed subdued compared to his earlier shows.
Watching this special left me nostalgic for The Tennessee Kid, which remains my favorite. That special was packed with brilliant observations and moments that had me genuinely laughing out loud. By contrast, Your Friend, Nate Bargatze had me smiling here and there, but it lacked the consistency and punch of his best work.
That said, everyone has an off night. With everything Nate is juggling, it's understandable that not every project can hit it out of the park. If this is your first time watching Nate Bargatze, I recommend starting with one of his earlier specials to get a true sense of his comedic talent.
While this special might not be one I revisit, I have no doubt Nate has it in him to bounce back with stronger material next time. For now, though, this one felt like a swing and a miss. Generously, I'd rate it a 6/10.
Here's hoping the next special brings back the Nate Bargatze we all know and love.
