Forget ‘Baby Reindeer,’ HBO’s New 6-Part Drama Miniseries Is a Masterpiece From Start to Finish

Richard Gadd certainly made a name for himself with Baby Reindeer. When it premiered on Netflix in 2024, the seven-part limited series instantly captured everyone’s attention with its autobiographical take on Gadd’s experience with a terrifying female stalker. Thanks to its brutally honest look at trauma and self-destruction, as well as astounding performances by Gadd and Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer swept the Emmys with 11 nominations and six wins. In the wake of Gadd’s seemingly overnight success, viewers were curious about what project he would make next. His new HBO drama, which premiered in April, has already become a must-watch series.

What Is ‘Half Man’ About?

Half Man has a completely different narrative from Baby Reindeer, but it’s every bit as compelling to watch. The six-episode miniseries follows the toxic relationship between two quasi-brothers who grow up together in Scotland in the late 1980s. The story switches back and forth between two timelines, exploring the two characters’ lives both when they’re young men and decades later, when one of them is getting married.

Niall Kennedy (played by Mitchell Robertson in his youth and by Jamie Bell in his adult years) is a shy boy who gets bullied at school. His mother is in a relationship with a woman who also has a son, but Ruben Pallister (played as a youth by Stuart Campbell and as an adult by Gadd) is the total opposite of Niall. He’s boisterous and arrogant, but his violent temper continuously leads him down a dangerous path. The boys become drawn to one another, each finding something they need in their counterpart, but the closer they become, the more harmful Ruben is to Niall. As the series unfolds, threads of toxic masculinity, homophobia, and severe trauma continue to bind the two characters. Despite Niall’s wish to rid himself of Ruben, his self-sabotaging behavior keeps them forever yoked.

‘Half Man’ Is an Intense, Brilliantly Acted Limited Series

Half Man would be an engrossing drama to watch if it merely covered a friendship between two characters who are complete opposites, but Gadd has crafted a narrative that dives into the awful inevitability of a familial bond becoming increasingly harmful. In just six episodes, the writing creates a suspenseful, steadily building tension that will make you feel like you’re holding your breath until the credits roll. The brilliance of the series comes largely from the alternating timelines, which allow the viewer to see the building blocks that formed this relationship and where the characters have ended up today. There are also intriguing characters introduced, including Niall’s less-than-supportive mother (Neve McIntosh) and his kind college roommate, Alby (played by both Bilal Hasna and Charlie De Melo), who help to flesh out a clearer picture of Niall’s life. Although there are visceral scenes of violence that are hard to watch, Half Man is difficult to turn away from because of its brutal and haunting authenticity.

Much of the series’ success is in large part due to its cast. Bell is gripping to watch as Niall makes countless mistakes as an adult, while Gadd’s gruff, terrifying portrayal of Ruben operates on multiple emotional levels. When the two share scenes, the ingrained strain and electric energy between them is electrifying, but it’s not just the more well-known actors who turn Half Man into a masterpiece. Because Robertson and Campbell are so skilled at drawing us into Niall and Ruben’s lives, we’re easily able to follow them on their twisted journey. Each actor in a supporting role also helps to establish a dark world that feels all too realistic.

From the very first scene, it’s clear that there won’t be any happy endings to be found in the poisonous dynamics of Half Man‘s characters, but it’s also completely captivating to watch it all unfold. The way Ruben and Niall are drawn to each other is thrilling, but it’s also just tragic. Plus, a twist in the penultimate episode ensures that you’ll be speeding your way to get to the very final scene. Tune into Half Man to appreciate Gadd’s immense talent, but stick around to catch a drama that is ultimately well worth your time.

Half Man

Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

Network

BBC One

Directors

Alexandra Brodski, Eshref Reybrouck

Writers

Richard Gadd