Richard Gadd, the creator of Baby Reindeer, has returned with a new series that poses challenging questions about manhood, identity, obsession and love. Half Man, a six-part drama, takes its place alongside other recent explorations of masculinity, focusing unapologetically on aggression and its consequences.
The series follows the complex relationship between Niall and Ruben, who are forced into a brotherhood that shapes their lives. Niall, played by Jamie Bell and Mitchell Robertson, is mild and shy, while Ruben, played by Gadd and Stuart Campbell, is overtly cruel. Their story spans decades, punctuated by devastating events that take them to dark and destructive places.
Through the contrast between the two men, Half Man brings nuance to the way manhood manifests. Ruben is a criminal and an abuser, while Niall is self-centred and egotistical, using his past as an excuse for appalling behaviour. The show asks whether one form of toxic masculinity is better than another, and explores the intersections of bravado, queerness, sex and cruelty.
As the narrative moves between past and present, it becomes a story of inevitability. Niall shows empathy for Ruben, who becomes his step-brother, but both repeat the same decisions for over 30 years. When they finally face each other, little has changed, forcing viewers to consider whether it is ever too late to change.
Ruben is portrayed as a monster, but the series challenges this dehumanisation, suggesting that dangerous men can be charismatic and polite. Half Man is an uncomfortable watch that reminds us that toxic masculinity exists in many forms, some easier to identify than others.
