Conan O’Brien has spent three decades refining the art of being the most awkward person in any given room. But with Conan O'Brien Must Go, the Max travel series that first hit screens in April 2024, he’s taken that specific, pale-skinned brand of lunacy to a global scale. It isn’t just a travel show. Honestly, it’s more like a psychological experiment where the variable is how much a Norwegian rapper or a Thai kickboxer can endure before they wonder if this tall American man is actually okay.
The show was born from his podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan. For years, he’d been chatting with listeners via Zoom. Eventually, someone at Max—or maybe just Conan himself after a particularly strong cup of coffee—decided he should actually show up at their front doors. Unannounced. Usually with a camera crew and a look of mild desperation.
The Absolute Chaos of Season 1 and 2
When the first four episodes dropped, we saw him hit Norway, Argentina, Thailand, and Ireland. It was vintage Conan. In Norway, he basically harassed a rapper named Jarle and joined a knitting circle. He didn't just visit; he "defiled" the landscape, as narrator Werner Herzog put it in his trademark gravelly doom-voice. Herzog’s narration is easily one of the best parts of the series, lending a weird, cinematic gravity to a man rubbing blood pudding on his face in Ireland.
Season 2 arrived in May 2025 and took things to Spain, New Zealand, and Austria. This season felt a bit different, maybe a little more "celeb-heavy" than the first. We got Javier Bardem in Madrid and Taika Waititi in New Zealand.
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There was a moment in the Spain episode where Conan picks olives with Jordan Schlansky—his long-suffering associate producer and human foil—that reminds you why they are the best comedic duo on TV. It’s pure friction. Jordan explains the chemical composition of olive oil while Conan looks like he wants to jump into a vat of it just to end the conversation.
Why this isn't just "Conan Without Borders"
A lot of people compare this to his old TBS specials. They aren't wrong, but the vibe has shifted. In the old days, there were network constraints. Now? He’s on Max. He can lean into the "unhinged" factor.
- The Fan Hook: Instead of just "visiting a country," he’s visiting a person. It makes the stakes feel smaller and more intimate, which paradoxically makes the comedy broader.
- The Production Value: It looks gorgeous. The drone shots of the Norwegian fjords are breathtaking, right until the camera pans down to see Conan in a Viking helmet looking ridiculous.
- The Heart: The Ireland episode in Season 1 was genuinely moving. Seeing him trace his family roots to a small village where everyone looks exactly like him (but with more sensible haircuts) was a rare moment of actual sincerity.
What Really Happened with Season 2's Truncated Run
You might have noticed Season 2 was only three episodes long. That wasn't the original plan. It was supposed to be six. But life happened. Conan’s parents both passed away in late 2024, right in the middle of filming the Austria episode. He had to stop. He went home to be with his family.
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When production eventually resumed, they decided to release what they had. That’s why the Austria episode feels a little disjointed. You can tell he’s trying, but there’s a layer of exhaustion there that makes sense once you know the context. It’s a reminder that even the guy who makes a living being a "clown" is a real person with a real life.
The Verdict: Is It Actually Good?
Critics have been mostly obsessed with it. It holds a massive approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes—somewhere around 94% for the first season. It even snagged an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for the Ireland episode.
But if you’re a casual viewer, you might find some bits drag. Conan is a "more is more" comedian. If a joke is funny, he’ll do it for five minutes. If it’s not funny, he’ll do it for ten until it becomes funny through sheer attrition. It’s a polarizing style. You either love the "bully-persona" he adopts with his fans, or you find it slightly cringing.
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Conan O'Brien Must Go works because it rejects the polished, "look how beautiful this culture is" trope of most travel shows. It acknowledges that travel is often messy, confusing, and involves getting yelled at by a flight simulator for a bad landing in Spain.
What’s Next for Team Coco?
The good news for fans is that Max has already greenlit Season 3. They announced it back in March 2025, before the second season even aired. We don't know where he's going yet, but the rumor mill is spinning. Some fans are begging for a trip to Japan or even the Philippines.
If you want to get the most out of the show, here is how to dive in:
- Listen to the Podcast first: Specifically the "Needs a Fan" episodes. It makes the "reveal" in the show much more satisfying when you know the backstory of the person he’s surprising.
- Watch with Headphones: The sound design, especially the subtle jabs from the crew laughing in the background, adds a layer of "we’re all in on the joke" that you might miss otherwise.
- Don't skip the Ireland Episode: Even if you aren't a Conan die-hard, it’s one of the best pieces of travel television produced in the last decade.
The series is a testament to the fact that Conan doesn't need a desk. He doesn't need a monologue. He just needs a passport and a willingness to be the least cool person in any hemisphere.
To get the full experience, start with the Norway episode in Season 1 to see the "EDA" rap duo—it sets the tone for everything that follows. From there, move through the Ireland special before tackling the celebrity cameos of Season 2.