After decades of watching Conan O'Brien, you'd think you'd have him figured out. But the 63-year-old comedian still finds ways to surprise, and that unpredictability is the beating heart of Conan O'Brien Must Go Season 3, now streaming on HBO.
The new season, consisting of four episodes, takes Conan to India, the Netherlands, Morocco, and the Philippines. It's a whirlwind of cultural mishaps, fan meet-ups from his podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, and plenty of self-inflicted awkwardness. While not every bit lands, few can make being profoundly out of place look so entertaining.
Conan's Global Misadventures
In India, Conan tries to learn cricket from a child, only to have a crowd gather to explain it in increasingly simplified terms. He also attempts to become a Bollywood star with help from actors Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha, resulting in an elaborate musical number that would make Shah Rukh Khan proud. However, the India episode feels a bit surface-level, missing the depth of food, nightlife, or historical sites like the Taj Mahal.
The Netherlands episode is a riot of orange, as Conan dives into King's Day celebrations, navigates Amsterdam's bike chaos, and refuses to drop a bizarre Vincent van Gogh impression even when security gets involved. He also tries his hand at high-fashion modeling with model Mika, who hilariously asks about his insecurities—leading to a list that includes his beady eyes and a prominent vein.
Morocco is visually stunning, taking Conan from the Sahara Desert to Marrakech. He learns to pour traditional tea, visits an Amazigh community, and helps his assistant Sona Movsesian find the argan oil she's been craving. The episode plays out like a sibling road trip, with Sona expertly deflating Conan's ego at every turn.
In the Philippines, Conan explores the iconic jeepneys, dons a traditional barong, and geek out over General Douglas MacArthur's suite—only to speculate whether the general preferred Boo Berry cereal.
The Real Stars: The People
What makes Conan O'Brien Must Go memorable isn't the locations but the people who match Conan's weirdness. In India, fan Rusty, who has spinal muscular atrophy, and his family effortlessly banter with Conan, turning a potentially awkward visit into a heartwarming highlight. In the Netherlands, Mika's deadpan humor keeps Conan on his toes.
But the true MVP is Sona Movsesian, whose long-suffering dynamic with Conan provides some of the season's best moments. Their Morocco trip is a masterclass in comedic chemistry, as Sona refuses to let Conan win any argument.
While Season 3 has a few missteps, it's a delightful reminder that Conan O'Brien remains one of TV's most unpredictable and endearing personalities. For fans of his unique brand of chaos, this is a must-watch. And if you're looking for more streaming gems, check out our list of iZombie's return on Pluto TV or the upcoming Rivals Season 2 Part 2.
