A Dark, Codependent Bond at the Heart of Half Man

The New Yorker’s Inkoo Kang reviews Half Man, HBO/BBC’s drama about Niall and Ruben—two men who call themselves brothers—whose decades‑long, fiercely codependent relationship blends protection, aggression, and sexual tension. Set in Glasgow and driven by time jumps that heighten dread, the series probes internalized homophobia, power dynamics, and self-loathing, anchored by standout performances from Jamie Bell and Richard Gadd. While Ruben’s pathology can feel schematic, Niall’s complex, self-aware arc and the show’s mature take on masculinity carry the narrative toward a tense, emotionally charged meditation on family, desire, and culpability.