Half Man Review: Richard Gadd Has Done It Again.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery.
After releasing the critically acclaimed Baby Reindeer in 2024, Richard Gadd undoubtedly faced immense pressure when it came to following up one of the most talked-about television series of the decade. Two years later, he returns with Half Man, another deeply unsettling drama, this time for HBO Max.
Given the success of Baby Reindeer, expectations were understandably sky-high. The question was no longer whether Gadd could tell a dark and uncomfortable story. It was whether he could capture lightning in a bottle twice. While Half Man didn't resonate with me quite as deeply as Baby Reindeer, that's hardly a criticism. Richard Gadd and his team have delivered another compelling, uncomfortable, and emotionally charged series that proves the success of Baby Reindeer was no fluke.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Half Man is a six-part drama that follows the lives of two men, Niall and Ruben, over the course of three decades. Although they aren't related by blood, they are raised as brothers after their mothers begin a relationship. From an early age, the two couldn't be more different. Niall is quiet, thoughtful, and reserved, often keeping to himself, while Ruben is loud, impulsive, and fiercely protective of the people he cares about. Their contrasting personalities form the emotional backbone of the series and drive much of the conflict that unfolds throughout their lives.
From the very beginning of the series, it's clear that Nial is struggling to find his place in the world. Growing up during a time when homophobia was far more commonplace than it is today, many people are quick to point fingers at his mother's relationship and assume that's the source of his troubles. What they fail to consider is everything else happening around him. He's being relentlessly bullied, constantly feels like an outsider, and is growing up alongside Ruben, whose anger and aggression often go unchecked. Of course, the irony is that the people making those assumptions are missing a much bigger piece of the puzzle. Nial is wrestling with his own sexuality and a level of internalized homophobia that makes his journey far more complicated than the simplistic explanations others are eager to give.
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery.
It's through struggles like these that Half Man reveals what it's really interested in exploring. Rather than settling for easy answers, the series examines how young men are shaped by their environments and the expectations placed upon them. Beneath the family drama is a thoughtful exploration of toxic masculinity, emotional repression, and the damage that can be caused when anger is allowed to fester unchecked. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Nial and Ruben are not just products of their choices, but also of the world that helped shape them.
I'd love to dive deeper into the story, but with only six episodes, it's best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. What I will say is that the performances are exceptional across the board. Since the series follows Niall and Ruben over a thirty-year period, multiple actors are tasked with bringing these characters to life at different stages of their lives. Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell are excellent as the younger versions of Niall and Ruben, while Jamie Bell and Richard Gadd seamlessly carry those performances into adulthood.
What impressed me most about the younger performances is how much nuance Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell bring to their roles. The relationship between Nial and Ruben is often intense, uncomfortable, and at times heartbreaking to watch. There are moments of violence, neglect, and emotional turmoil, particularly when it comes to Ruben's unchecked anger. Yet what makes these performances so effective is that they never allow the characters to become one-dimensional.
For all the darkness surrounding them, there are brief moments where hope shines through. Moments where you can see the boys they could have become under different circumstances. The series never excuses their actions, but it does invite us to consider how different their lives might have been with the right support system, healthier role models, or simply an environment that encouraged them to process their emotions rather than suppress them. Those glimpses of possibility make the tragedy of their story all the more powerful.
Half Man is not always an easy watch, nor is it trying to be. It's a thoughtful, emotionally charged drama that explores masculinity, identity, family, and the lasting impact of the environments we grow up in. At times it's uncomfortable, at times heartbreaking, but it's consistently compelling from beginning to end.
If you're looking for a series that will challenge you, frustrate you, break your heart, and leave you thinking long after the credits roll, Half Man is absolutely worth your time. Just make sure you set aside all six episodes, because once it gets its hooks into you, you're going to want to see it through to the very end.
