Season SummaryEpisode RatingsEpisode 1 – 3.5 / 5Episode 2 – 3/5Episode 3 – 2.5/5Episode 4 – 3 out of 5Episode 5 – 2.5/5Episode 6 – 3/5
Following the huge success of Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd returns with another emotionally charged drama, Half Man, a six-part miniseries from the BBC and HBO that tackles masculinity, trauma, identity and emotional suppression in detail. The series has some thematic DNA with Gadd’s previous work, but tells a very different story. A darker, colder, much more uncomfortable story to sit through.
The series was co-created by Richard Gadd and stars alongside Jamie Bell, Stuart Campbell, Mitchell Robertson, Neve McIntosh, Marianne McIvor and Charlie de Melo.
The story opens with a shocking confrontation between Ruben Pallister and his estranged stepbrother Niall Kennedy, who is getting married. The meeting quickly turns violent, setting the tone for the emotionally unstable relationship at the centre of the series. The story oscillates between the present day and the 80s, slowly revealing the childhood experiences that molded each man into the people they are.
Ruben and Niall are two teenagers who are forced to live together when their mothers get into a relationship. As love, anger, fear and dependence all become intertwined, their relationship becomes more and more complicated. Ruben is often Niall’s protector, but he’s also the cause of a lot of his pain. Niall looks up to Ruben, but he’s also afraid of him, and that’s a deeply toxic dynamic that powers the entire series.
Half Man deals with issues of toxic masculinity, internalized homophobia, questions of identity and emotional loneliness. Both characters are shown as flawed individuals, affected by the absence of fathers, peer pressure and confusion in their own identities. What society expects of men and how those expectations can destroy people emotionally, is asked repeatedly in the series.
The performances are one of the show’s biggest strengths. Jamie Bell’s layered performance as the older Niall strikes a careful balance of insecurity and aggression beneath a facade which is carefully constructed. It’s a nice way to set up the anxiety and vulnerability that Bell later builds on with Mitchell Robertson’s younger take on the character.
Ruben’s younger and older selves – Richard Gadd and Stuart Campbell – also work well together. Campbell in particular brings a magnetic energy to the role, nailing Ruben’s confidence and instability with intensity. Gadd’s performance feels more contained, emotionally drained, portraying a man who’s spent years keeping his own vulnerability contained.
Visually the series remains grim and uneasy throughout. A persistent sense of unease is generated by the muted color palette, sharp editing, and tense camerawork. Even in quieter moments, the show feels emotionally dangerous, mirroring the unstable nature of its central relationship.
One of the biggest strengths is the writing of Half Man. The show develops the psychology of its two protagonists very carefully, making even their worst actions understandable from an emotional point of view. The nonlinear storytelling also keeps viewers’ attention as the mystery of their broken relationship slowly unfolds.
But the series is not without its flaws. Supporting characters aren’t well developed and tend to be there to impact Ruben and Niall’s emotional journeys. The focus on the two leads is intentional, but much of the surrounding cast is underdeveloped.
The show’s relentless bleakness may also be a challenge for some viewers. Violence, emotional abuse and disturbing intimate moments are presented in a deliberately uncomfortable way. The scenes highlight the show’s themes, but the relentless emotional heft becomes exhausting over six episodes.
Nevertheless, Half Man is likely to prove riveting for lovers of dark psychological dramas. It’s depiction of a destructive and emotionally dependent relationship is disturbing, heartbreaking and impossible to ignore. The series works because it refuses to provide easy answers or clean redemption arcs, instead giving us deeply damaged characters who are stuck with their own fears and insecurities.
Final word
Half Man Season 1 is a powerful, emotionally draining drama with strong performances and sharp commentary on masculinity and identity. The series’ dark tone and absence of a supporting cast might not appeal to everybody, but its raw character study and unsettling atmosphere make it gripping nonetheless.
Rating: 3 out of 5