If you like “queasy masterpieces,” HBO‘s latest limited series might be right up your alley.
Half Man marks Richard Gadd‘s return to television after his breakout success creating, writing, and starring in Netflix’s Baby Reindeer. Reviews are still trickling in, but the project currently has a 63% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 68 score on Metacritic. (Compare that to the near-perfect 99% RT score for Baby Reindeer, which ended up winning six Emmys.)
In Half Man, Gadd takes on the lead role of Ruben Pallister, a macho character who grows up intimidating his weaker half brother, Niall Kennedy, played by Jamie Bell. Their younger versions are portrayed by Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson, respectively. The show delves into heavy topics like toxic masculinity and violence, with some critics mixed on the plot points.
Let’s dive into the reviews for Half Man:
THE GOOD
Lucy Mangan of The Guardian says that Half Man is “brave, brutal, and blazing,” continuing, “Richard Gadd’s at it again. His unforgiving new drama tackles the damage men do to each other head on, by pulling out his insides and smearing them everywhere. Every man should watch this queasy masterpiece.”
Half Man officially serves as Gadd’s “outstanding return to TV,” raves Aramide Tinubu (Variety). “A devastatingly brutal watch, the show explores loyalty, sexuality, and how men perceive themselves through the eyes of those they both admire and despise.”
The Upcoming‘s Andrew Murray agrees, saying, “Richard Gadd continues to cement himself as one of the greatest contemporary talents with Half Man. Aided by an ensemble of flawless performances, Gadd creates an astonishingly profound portrait of modern masculinity and brotherhood.”
Abe Friedtanzer of Awards Buzz writes, “Gadd has proven that he’s an exquisite storyteller, and even if the subject is off-putting … there’s a clear commitment to deeply fleshing out characters and confronting real issues in a genuinely intriguing and insightful way.”
“With Half Man, [Gadd] solidifies his reputation by stripping his second project of any real connection to his comedy roots and demonstrating what’s possible when he tells a story about utter ruin,” praises Collider‘s Therese Lacson.
Sara Clements of Next Best Picture says, “The series is a masterful portrait of male violence, wrapped in one of the most complex love stories put to screen. It proves once again that Gadd is one of the most vital, empathetic, and ferocious writers working today.”
THE BAD
Proving you can never please everybody, some television critics found Half Man to be uninspired and nowhere near an equal to Baby Reindeer.
IndieWire‘s Ben Travers calls the new show a “dire, one-note slog” and attacks the plot: “What needs to happen is obvious to everyone from the start, and the audience is asked to wait and see just how many dire situations are required for one man to find self-acceptance.”
The Daily Beast‘s Nick Schager is also critical in his review, stating, “Unfortunately, [Gadd’s] depiction of Niall and Ruben’s screwy dynamics is terribly unsubtle, and following a gnarly incident that forces Niall to make a momentous choice, the proceedings begin to grow monotonous.” He adds, “It’s a drama whose thematically neat-and-tidy investigation into What It Means to Be a Man is stultifying — as is, ultimately, its sameness.”
Finally, Anita Singh of the Daily Telegraph complains that Half Man is a “weaker piece of work” than Baby Reindeer and “leaves a nasty taste” — simply put, it’s “just cruel and violent.”
Half Man premieres Thursday on HBO in a co-production with the BBC.
