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Season 1 – Half Man

Play trailer 1:20 Poster for Season 1 – Half Man Apr 2026 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
78% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
When Niall's estranged brother Ruben shows up at his wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day.
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Half Man — Season 1

Half Man — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Richard Gadd delivers a broodingly bleak sophomore effort that dares to plumb the depths of toxic masculinity and repression in a complex and unsettling tale that makes for unsettlingly good TV.

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Critics Reviews

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J. Kelly Nestruck Globe and Mail 1d
This heart-wrenchingly honest show makes most other TV dramas seem sanitized. Go to Full Review Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) May 20
It’s a prime example of something you admire versus something you like. Go to Full Review Graeme Blundell The Australian May 15
Yes, it’s bleak and chilling, and hard to watch at times, unleavened by the surreal humour of Gadd’s Baby Reindeer, but Half Man sure is brave, if extremely uncomfortable viewing. Go to Full Review Allyson Johnson The Playlist 2d
C
Gadd clearly has a lot of ideas, and he knows how to harbor simmering hostility and volatile undoings that dress themselves with unassuming bouts of dark comedy. Go to Full Review Jericho Tadeo Exclaim! May 26
8/10
A grotesquerie of the mind and heart Go to Full Review Bruce R. Miller Sioux City Journal May 25
3.5/4
Like "Baby Reindeer," "Half Man" prompts discussion. See it with someone you love and you’ll be debating for hours. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joe S. @movieexpert01 10h Richard Gadd is a writer, creator, and actor dedicated to depicting the human condition and real-life situations woven through an incredible story arc which is easily relatable and to connect with! See more Sandra G. @Dolphindaddy 18h Brilliant writing, smart and brutally raw, fantastic acting! See more Mario T @RT45264314 19h I’m a gay man, and I loved Baby Reindeer. Half Man, however, is one of the very few shows that made me stop the serie midway out of anger. It seems to want to explore the damage caused to a repressed, fragile gay man by a toxic bond with his violent, manipulative stepbrother in Scotland decades ago. But it does so through tired clichés about gay men — including the current trend of turning every gay man into a bisexual one, with little regard for how insulting that can be to the women involved. The writing also leans on cheap devices: a conveniently timed cancer diagnosis, a bizarre dinner scene where a guest insults the host just just so the script can get to the topic it wants to addres, and characters appearing exactly when needed to ruin a moment. As a viewer and a gay man, I felt offended. The writer can convey emotion, so I won’t give it half a star, but this is nowhere near the unpredictability and dark humour that made Baby Reindeer a (minor) masterpiece. See more Nataly S @NatalyS 2d I can't get rid of feeling this show is made just to shock. Maybe that is damn of Baby reindeer, and trying to go with already knowing steps. See more James H @Flatscreenfocus 2d Great performances. What will Richard Gadd do next!? See more Gabriel P @otavio357 3d O Gadd realmente sabe escrever um roteiro: tudo muito amarrado, a construção dos personagens é ótima e as discussões são muito bem feitas. Ainda acho o primeiro episódio insuperável, mas todos são bons. Ótima atuações principais, mas pra mim o Jamie Bell se destaca muito. See more Read all reviews
Half Man — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Gadd

Creator

Jamie Bell

Niall

Richard Gadd

Ruben

Neve McIntosh

Lori

Charlie de Melo

Alby

Tom Andrews

Butch

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Ruben shows up unexpectedly at Niall's wedding; this surprise visit turns what should be a joyous occasion into chaos, leading to an eruption of violence that catapults back through the decades. Details Episode 2 Aired Apr 30, 2026 After struggling to fit in at university, an isolated Niall turns to Ruben for help, but his presence leads to devastating consequences. Details Episode 3 Aired May 2, 2026 1993. His mother asks Niall to lie in court about Ruben's violence, and he is conflicted. Ruben seems different now, so the decision weighs heavily on him. Details Episode 4 Aired May 14, 2026 When Niall's estranged brother Ruben shows up at his wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day. Details Episode 5 Aired May 12, 2026 Niall and Ava face major life changes as Ruben struggles with his relationship; An impulsive choice between Mona and Niall has serious consequences for all involved. Details Episode 6 Aired May 18, 2026 2014; Niall builds a new life, but old ties resurface when Mona reconnects with Ruben, forcing difficult choices. Details
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Half Man — Season 1

Half Man: Limited Series Trailer - Weeks Ahead Half Man: Limited Series Trailer - Weeks Ahead 1:20 Half Man: Season 1 Featurette - Behind the Story Half Man: Season 1 Featurette - Behind the Story 1:55 Half Man: Limited Series Trailer Half Man: Limited Series Trailer 2:13 View more videos
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Half Man — Season 1

Half Man View more photos

Season Info

Director
Eshref Reybrouck, Alexandra Brodski
Creator
Richard Gadd
Screenwriter
Richard Gadd
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Apr 23, 2026