An Unfiltered Journey Through Anger, Conflict, and Brotherhood

Nearly two years after the triumph of Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd is back with his latest venture, the HBO limited series Half Man. This gripping new show delves into the complex relationship between masculinity and violence.

Richard Gadd established himself as a rising star with the Netflix hit Baby Reindeer in 2024. While his earlier work occasionally got bogged down in Donny Dunn’s irony and evasiveness, Half Man tackles the challenging themes of masculinity head-on. The series, featuring Gadd as Ruben Pallister and Jamie Bell as Niall Kennedy, explores their intense brotherly bond. Scheduled to debut on Thursday, April 24 on HBO and HBO Max, this limited series promises a compelling narrative.

Set against the backdrop of 1980s and 1990s Scotland, Half Man chronicles the journey of two childhood friends who take divergent paths into adulthood. Though not related by blood, Ruben and Niall share a brotherly connection. Ruben’s fierce, violent nature contrasts with Niall’s more reserved demeanor, which both frightens and fascinates him. The story takes a dramatic turn when Ruben reappears at Niall’s wedding three decades later, challenging them to reassess their brotherhood and the fragile nature of male relationships, as described in the show’s synopsis.

Half Man presents an unflinching exploration of anger, brotherhood, and violence, taking viewers on a journey to the darker corners of human relationships. While it might spark mixed reactions, the series offers an honest portrayal that provokes thought. Ruben and Niall’s intertwined lives over 30 years highlight the repercussions of toxic masculinity without necessarily providing neat resolutions.

Although the series doesn’t propose solutions to the pressing issue of masculinity, it serves as a reflective piece on the impact of shame within patriarchal structures. In an interview with DECIDER, Gadd revealed that he initially wrote Half Man in 2019 but shelved it when Baby Reindeer was commissioned. The idea, however, lingered in his mind, and now, with the show poised for release, its themes resonate even more strongly in an era witnessing a troubling revival of traditionalist ideals among young men and women.

After Baby Reindeer, it feels impossible to watch Half Man and not search for Gadd in every scene of the dramatic new series. Of course, it’s unclear how much of Half Man borrows from Gadd’s personal life, but the writer is like a dark specter over the entire series thanks in part to the dramatic transformation he underwent to become Ruben, making every menacing moment he spends on screen feel like a shock to the system. Regardless, this is no Donny Dunn. Gadd and Bell completely lose themselves in their roles, making every second leading up to the finale feel powerful.

Gadd may be the face of the show, but it’s Bell’s performance as Niall that truly anchors Half Man. Despite their differences, Niall Kennedy is no angel. Bell carries Niall’s complexities and years of anguish in a way that should earn the BAFTA-winning actor plenty of recognition come awards season.

The actors are backed by Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson, respectively, who each play younger versions of Ruben and Niall. Campbell takes the screen as an unapologetic young Ruben who arrives in Niall’s life fresh out of the Young Offenders Institute when their mothers begin dating. Both of the young actors deliver performances that help the series seamlessly slip back and forth in time, highlighting the drastic impact their trauma has on their characters as they go from being young boys to men. Campbell holds his own in a way that closely mirrors Gadd’s physicality and confidence as an older version of Ruben, while Robertson’s wide-eyed performance underscores the tragedy at the root of both Niall and Ruben’s stories.

At its heart, that’s what Half Man is – a tragedy. The show is not only uninhibited in the way it portrays violence, leading to some scenes you may want to watch through your fingers, but it also showcases the collateral damage of shame. Both Niall and Ruben live by vastly different morals and values that lead them both down destructive paths, forcing viewers to watch the fallout of their poor decisions, leading to worse and more dire consequences as they become older that will leave an impact on others.

Perhaps Half Man‘s biggest flaw is the heavy-handed way in which Ruben menaces over the entire series. There are moments when Gadd is so ominous as Ruben it almost takes you out of the show’s dramatic atmosphere. It can feel somewhat over the top. We are seeing Ruben through Niall’s eyes, which explains the leaden presence he has on the show. In this case, it both makes and breaks the series.

After a certain point, the series also resorts to violence in a way that feels gratuitous and dreadful, making it difficult to watch at times.

But the men bramble forward – with plenty of misguided support from their moms, a tale as old as time when it comes to the patriarchy – leading up to a shocking showdown at Niall’s wedding when they reunite for what could be the first honest moment they’ve shared in their decades-long friendship. By the time we reach the finale, both Niall and Ruben have a list of people from their pasts who can call themselves victims in one way or another.

Despite the show’s dark subject matter, Gadd’s knack for comedy is very much still present. The series premiere is rather lighthearted compared to the rest of the six episodes shared with critics. Six episodes may not seem like enough time to uncover 30 years in the lives of these men, but this limited series packs some serious punch. Niall and Ruben’s journey together is worth sticking around for.

Half Man interrogates something sinister and profound at the center of what begins as a friendly, if problematic, bond between boys. It is not unashamed in its examination of masculinity; rather, it’s racked with guilt.

Half Man premieres Thursday, April 24 at 9 p.m ET, with new episodes airing every week through May 28.