Half Man Review
Director: Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck
Date Created: 2026-04-23 19:12
4.5
Half Man Review: Directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck and created by and starring Richard Gadd as Ruben, alongside Jamie Bell as Niall, Neve McIntosh as Lori, Charlie de Melo as Alby, Tim Downie as Daniel and others. The six-episode HBO limited series stretches close to an hour.
Half Man Review
HBO series Half Man begins with a highly charged encounter between Niall and Ruben set against the backdrop of the current day—a couple in formal attire, while the other is prepared to throw down. This creates intrigue in the minds of the audience and prompts the viewer to ask themselves what led to this point, and what had happened between these two men. The plot then unfolds backwards over three decades in their lives as young men.
Niall is introduced to us as a timid young boy who faces constant bullying at school. Life is tough for Niall, but it takes a drastic turn with the arrival of Ruben into his life, an older, temperamental boy with a violent streak. When Ruben comes to live with Niall, it appears to be an encroachment on Niall’s personal space, which later turns out to be much more than that. Ruben offers to protect Niall from his tormentors at school, but there is a price to pay for that protection.
The story unfolds to reveal how the connection affects both the lives of the characters in question. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Ruben takes control of Niall’s life by becoming an imposing figure who provides protection and security, while instilling fear at the same time. On occasions, Ruben seems almost nurturing and loving towards his son, but such occasions always come with a sense of aggression and control.
One of the best things about HBO’s Half Man series is Richard Gadd’s writing style. There is an incredible rawness to the way he crafts his characters. He doesn’t write people who are polished or perfect; rather, he writes people who can be infuriating yet authentic. Niall and Ruben aren’t your average heroes. They don’t follow a linear storyline, nor do they desire to redeem themselves in the classic sense.
The relationship between Niall and Ruben is definitely one of the most prominent features of the show. Their interactions are volatile, intense, and quite hard to watch. Specifically, Ruben is a person who acts on impulse, and his emotions come out through his violent behaviour, aggression, and need for control. At the same time, the show never makes him into a one-dimensional character but delves deeper into his past and shows the traumas he had to go through.
In contrast to this, Niall is practically the opposite when it comes to his emotions. He keeps everything inside. His battles with his identity and sexuality come across in an extremely raw manner. There are scenes where you can actually see his fear, his confusion, and his need to break away from Ruben’s manipulation, yet he still stays caught in this vicious cycle. This conflict of needing you but not wanting you is exactly what gives the relationship its depth.
Jamie Bell gives what is probably one of his finest performances in this series. The vulnerability displayed by Jamie Bell’s Niall character is completely convincing and believable. It’s obvious from his facial expressions that Niall carries many painful experiences with him. As for Richard Gadd’s Ruben, he plays a character with a disturbing intensity in such a convincing manner that it’s scary!
I cannot forget about the young actors portraying Niall and Ruben in the earlier part of the series, filled with flashbacks. Their performance is phenomenal in terms of how they establish the groundwork for those characters. These scenes are so important since they provide the background needed for all the trauma, the relationship, and the eventual emotional fallout.
What really impressed me was the approach Richard Gadd’s Half Man takes toward masculinity. It delves deeply into what it means to be a man, particularly in situations when being vulnerable is frowned upon. While the series examines how toxic habits are ingrained through generations, it also poses an interesting question about whether knowing the cycle of perpetuation is sufficient to break it or if responsibility should still come first.
It must be noted that the show is not without flaws. While there might be a number of things one could say, I would argue that the representation of women is perhaps the weakest part. Indeed, the show fails to give the supporting female characters the development that would make their roles in the story more substantial. That being said, the lack of depth does not detract from the rest of the narrative.
The last thing I need to mention is the tone. When watching the Half Man series, don’t expect to laugh or have a good time. This show is dark, focused on dialogue that requires undivided attention. It might be a draining experience at times, but there won’t be a moment when you feel bored. The pace is consistent, even with the length of each episode, as the level of intensity is always kept high.
HBO Half Man Review: Summing Up
On the whole, Half Man is a difficult series to watch. Its narrative is bold, its portrayal of human interaction is unforgiving, and the acting in it is superb. Richard Gadd continues to show that he can stretch the boundaries of comfort zones and reveal some ugly truths about human nature. It is the kind of series that leaves a lasting impression.
Also Read: 6 K-Dramas Like We Are All Trying Here That Capture Life’s Quiet Struggles and Emotional Truths
