A Dark, Codependent Bond at the Heart of Half Man
TL;DR
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.
Topics:entertainmententertainment-television#entertainment-television#masculinity#richard-gadd#television#toxic-masculinity#tv-review
- “Half Man” Tests the Limits of Brotherly Love The New Yorker
- Richard Gadd on ‘Baby Reindeer’ Hysteria, Netflix Lawsuit and “Going to Extreme Places” for ‘Half Man’ The Hollywood Reporter
- ‘Half Man’ Stars on Their ‘Sinister’ Fraternal Relationship in Richard Gadd’s New Drama and That Shocking Virginity-Loss Scene: ‘A Lot Scarier on the Page Than It Was to Shoot’ Variety
- Half Man review: Baby Reindeer creator's violent new series is brutal and 'unbearably intense' ★★★★☆ BBC
- After ‘Baby Reindeer,’ Richard Gadd mines toxic masculinity in the brutal, bloody ‘Half Man’ Los Angeles Times
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