Logline: Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other… But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself. And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day. Capturing 30 years in the lives of these broken men, HALF MAN is a six-part limited series exploring brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships. After all, when things fall apart… it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.
Life provides but a finite number of opportunities to make things right. While there’s no guarantee the outcome will be in your favor, unburdening yourself can increase your quality of life and mental health, even if only momentarily. Whether it’s unloading a secret that’s been withheld from friends or loved ones, a past-due apology, or making amends, do it while you can. Do it while you’re still here, while they’re still here, because not only is tomorrow not promised, but you’re choosing potential torment over happiness.
“My brother from another lover.”
If you can’t keep it real with yourself, are you truly honest with anyone else? Created and written by Richard Gadd, Half Man is a keen dissection of masculinity. The six-part limited series is both a tender hug and a visceral punch in the face; a sentiment that is both literal and figurative. Its bleak and moody tone creates an atmosphere of dramatic unease and an addictive sense of wonderment and curiosity. Alternating between dragging you by your feet and holding your hand through the gamut of emotions, each episode manipulates you into believing that it’s all going to be okay despite the pilot saying otherwise. Driven by brilliant writing and commanding performances by Richard Gadd, Jamie Bell, Stuart Campbell, and Mitchell Robertson, this queer journey toward self-approval and outward acceptance is defined not by its destination, but by the profoundly chaotic way it gets there.
Covering 30 years of an aggressively turbulent brotherly bond, jumping years ahead with each passing episode, Gadd masterfully balances a narrative and characters that embody and evoke compassion and pity, as well as apathy and rage. Highlighting and dwelling within the psychological battle that all young men struggle with, identity and perception, the story challenges you to ponder whether you are living your truth or playing the role society expects. Will you allow trauma and fear to dictate your path in life? If so, how long before you break? It examines the unreal, and sometimes cartoonish, standards we hold ourselves to. These are standards that ooze envy and toxicity, and often lead to abusive behavior when attempted to achieve. Moreover, they are often championed when some do it and vilified when others follow suit. The older we get, the worse the internal conflict becomes. And as the series lays out, it’s no longer just your mind and physical form that is affected, it’s every facet of your life and everything you touch. The question then becomes: can I hold myself accountable, or is everyone else to blame?
“Do you want to tell him, or shall I?”
Half Man is the intense family drama that you could never see coming. It grabs you by the shirt, lifts you off your feet, and demands your attention. It’s refreshing, original, Shakespearean, and unpredictable. I think my favorite aspect of the show is how it’s formulated. Each episode begins and ends in the present day, with the story’s evolution taking place in the middle. This complicated sibling rivalry is thought-provoking, violent, sexually charged, and quite charming despite its heavy subject matter. It chooses not to judge the characters or take a stance, but rather lets the audience arrive at their own conclusions while letting consequences play out as they should. Filled with explosive scenes that rival anything currently streaming and performances that stay with you, Richard Gadd is carving out his own lane in thrilling television, and we need to give him all the room he needs. Its rewatchability is high.
Elite Episodes
I would truly like to include all six episodes here, but it would defeat the purpose. So, here are my top 2.
Episode 4: This episode features my favorite scene of the series, the hospital scene. Not only do things come to a head, but the truth finally starts to come out. It’s the kind of scene that wins you an Emmy.
Episode 2: This is the episode when everything starts to get thick; it’s the story’s linchpin, or really its dynamite. This is where everyone’s authentic selves are exposed.
Not for nothing, episode 1 features one of the wildest scenes I’ve ever seen. There’s nothing visually wild, but the situation and transformation that takes place are noteworthy.
Influence & Impact
Cast: Richard Gadd, Jamie Bell, Stuart Campbell, Mitchell Robertson, Neve McIntosh, Marianne McIvor, Charlie De Melo, Bilal Hasna, Julie Cullen, Amy Manson, Anjli Mohindra, Tim Downie, Tom Andrews, Philippine Velge, Stuart McQuarrie, Sandy Batchelor, Piers Ewart, Scot Greenan, and newcomers Charlotte Blackwood, Calum Manchip, and Kate Robson-Stuart
After the wild ride that was Baby Reindeer, I was curious what Richard Gadd would conjure up next. Who knew it would be another banger? And he is almost unrecognizable in this series as he put on some size and adopts a stare and demeanor that belong in MMA. When his character, Ruben, inevitably hulks out, the look in his eyes is terrifying. This series is definitely going to be one that may catch on late, but once anyone jumps on the ride, they’re not going to want to get off. Jamie Bell’s performance is also physical at times, but nothing beats his delivery and descent as Niall. However, Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson also deliver excellent performances as young Ruben and Niall, respectively. The entire cast did amazing. It would seem that Gadd has a great talent and plenty to say, hopefully we continue to get more sharp, stimulating, and intriguing stories in the future.
Half Man debuts THURSDAY, APRIL 23 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes of the six-episode series will debut weekly through Thursday, May 28. Stay safe and stay woke.
Rated: TV-MA Runtime: Six 1h episodes Creator: Richard Gadd Writer: Richard Gadd Directors: Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck Executive Producers: Richard Gadd, Sophie Gardiner, Anna O’Malley, Gaynor Holmes, Gavin Smith, Tally Garner, Morven Reid Producers: Mam Tor Productions (a Banijay UK company) in association with Thistledown Pictures, for HBO, BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and BBC Scotland
Half Man is a keen dissection of masculinity. The six-part limited series is both a tender hug and a visceral punch in the face; a sentiment that is both literal and figurative. Its bleak and moody tone creates an atmosphere of dramatic unease and an addictive sense of wonderment and curiosity
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
