TL;DR
- Richard Gadd’s new series Half Man explores complex male relationships.
- Critics have mixed reviews, praising its boldness but noting bleakness.
- The show has a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- It premiered on BBC iPlayer and HBO Max.
- Themes of brotherhood and violence are central to the story.
After the success of his previous work, Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd is back with a bang in his new drama, Half Man. This six-part series, which Gadd created, wrote, and stars in, is making waves for its daring exploration of masculinity and the often tumultuous nature of male relationships. But, as with any bold artistic endeavor, the reception has been a mixed bag.
Half Man kicks off with a bang—literally. The story unfolds when Ruben (played by Gadd) crashes the wedding of Niall (Jamie Bell), leading to explosive violence that sets the tone for the series. The narrative then takes a deep dive into the lives of these two men, chronicling their 30-year journey together as blood brothers. It’s a gritty portrait of brotherhood, violence, and the fragile nature of male connections.
But how are the critics reacting to this ambitious project? Well, opinions are all over the place. On Rotten Tomatoes, the show currently holds a respectable 72% on the critics’ Tomatometer. The Guardian didn’t hold back, giving it a five-star review and calling it “brave, brutal, blazing TV.” They described Half Man as a “bleak and brilliant thing” that offers viewers a rare glimpse into the depths of its characters.
On the flip side, some critics have found the show’s dark themes a bit hard to digest. Empire magazine gave it three stars, stating that while the show tackles real and hard-hitting issues, it sometimes devolves into a “bleak-fest” that makes it challenging to stay engaged. They noted that the specific emotional resonance present in Baby Reindeer seems to be missing here.
Another review from Roger Ebert’s site remarked that Half Man is “like nothing else on television right now,” acknowledging its flaws but praising the density and layered nature of the writing. It seems that while some viewers might find the show’s bleakness off-putting, others are drawn to its raw and honest portrayal of masculinity.
For those in the UK, Half Man premiered on BBC iPlayer on April 24, and for our friends across the pond in the US, it hit HBO Max on April 23. The six episodes will be released weekly, so there’s plenty of time to dive into this complex world of male relationships.
Whether you’re a fan of Gadd’s previous work or just looking for a new series to binge, Half Man promises to spark conversation and perhaps even challenge your views on masculinity. Will you tune in to see what all the fuss is about?