Richard Gadd, the creator of the acclaimed Baby Reindeer, returns with a new BBC drama, Half Man, that confronts the damage men inflict on each other. The series, conceived before Baby Reindeer's success, is a harrowing exploration of masculinity and trauma.
The story begins in the present with two men circling each other in a dark barn: Niall (Jamie Bell) in a Scottish wedding outfit, and Ruben (Gadd) stripped to the waist with hands wrapped like a boxer. The narrative then flashes back over 30 years to piece together their shared history.
We meet 15-year-old Niall (Mitchell Robertson) being brutally bullied at school. His situation worsens when Ruben (Stuart Campbell), the 17-year-old son of his mother's partner, moves in after being released from a young offenders' institute for biting off a boy's nose. The two become close, but Ruben's influence comes at a escalating cost.
The drama interrogates how hurt people hurt people, examining whether men like Ruben can take responsibility for their actions. It asks blunt questions about when violence becomes inexcusable and whether men can change. The series features strong performances, particularly from Bell and Campbell, and is described as bleak, brilliant, and unflinching.
While the female characters are underwritten and the final twist may not fully convince, Half Man is a brave and blazing drama that leaves a lasting impression. It showcases Gadd's ability to pull out his viscera and examine every bloody organ with a scalpel.
