With a whopping 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, documentary series How To with John Wilson, captures the inane, feverish, and often repulsive reality of New York City life while making personal discoveries about human nature. Premiering October 23, 2020 on HBO, the series consists of 3 impactful seasons. 

Life is Weird

This is made instantly obvious when stepping foot into the concrete jungle of New York City. Surrounded by mighty businessmen, odd-job employees, apartment dwellers, and especially strange strangers, human interaction defines the NYC experience. Filmmaker and “anxious New Yorker” John Wilson embraces these interactions and expertly uses them to craft moving narratives about society and humanity. Each half-hour episode is titled as a “How To” instructional video, covering a slew of topics from making small talk to splitting a check, or finding a parking spot. Often beginning with an observation or predicament, Wilson attempts to give advice on the subject matter, but quickly gets sucked down rabbit holes leading to unforeseeable interactions and situations. 

A Creative Approach to Filmmaking

Finding himself behind the camera 24/7, Wilson amasses an incredible amount of B-Roll to be used in his projects. This often covert footage consists of his wacky sightings on New York streets and is perfectly interwoven throughout each episode to compliment its unique narrative. The real juice of How To comes from his interviews with strangers on the sidewalk and his unlikely encounters with these quirky, eccentric individuals. John Wilson’s creative use of the second person point of view takes the viewer directly along on his absurd adventures. As Wilson stutters his way through awkward conversations, he somehow manages to land himself in incredibly niche situations that the average Joe would never expect to witness. Attending a referee association dinner party, sitting in a man’s bathroom as he completes unmentionable tasks, and hearing the details of a Soundcloud rapper’s friend’s suicide are a few examples. 

In Short

How To with John Wilson is a unique, entertaining, and perspective changing documentary series highly deserving of its 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating. The handheld, under-the-table filming, the awkward and intimate interactions, and the revealing lessons on human nature make this series unlike anything else on television. Every episode is a wild journey illuminating Wilson’s personal issues, culture, society, and human nature.