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Season 1 – Half Man

Play trailer 1:20 Poster for Season 1 – Half Man Next Ep May 12 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 50+ 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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Martin Robinson London Evening Standard 1d
4/5
It’s brave work from Gadd, there is little trace of the nerdy stand-up we all loved in his previous show, and there’s a sense of him trying to do something genuinely new and unexpected. Go to Full Review Nicholas Harris New Statesman 1d
It makes for a striking and, at times, frightening story about fraternal trauma. But I never found that its commentary about masculinity overcame the particularities of its plotting. Go to Full Review Robert Levin Newsday 2d
2.5/4
Gadd remains a first-rate talent; anything he does is worth watching. But it's hard to sit through this one. Go to Full Review Héctor Llanos Martínez El Pais (Spain) 2d
In a way, Half Man positions itself as the dark counterpart to the luminous and moving dramedy Big Boys, and in turn, gives new meaning to the term guilty pleasure. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review James Walton The Spectator Apr 30
The sheer, almost gleeful relentlessness of the misery means that the programme already has a one-note feel, where even the most shocking scenes have become predictable. Gadd’s belief that he’s saying Something Significant is far too evident. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rob L @RT53443739 4d Trash. Normalizing child rape and pedophilia. Per usual from entertainment today. See more James I @RT22555075 4d I was reluctant to start watching because the promotion makes it clear that it's about bullying. I find bullying very triggering. However, once I got over myself, I dived in head first and can't wait to see what happens next. The performances are stellar by all four of the 'boys' in each phase of the story. But it's the incredible writing by Gadd that sends it into the stratosphere. There's a shift happening in storytelling that seems to be emanating from the backstreets of England. It's real, it's gritty and often very dark, but so compelling that you can forget that your ass is sitting on a comfy chair and not in the middle of the action. Richard Gadd is nothing short of genius. I recognized it in Baby Reindeer and now it's a solid confirmation as far as I'm concerned... Genius. See more Fabian S @RT97612921 5d Started watching without knowing what it is about, an I am HOOKED, def a must watch show (I’m still in episode 3) we gotta see what’s coming for the rest of the episodes See more Anra N @AnraN 6d Seen two episodes and am hooked! Fantastically tense and atmospheric with interlocked twists and turns and flashbacks pointing to the complex relationships between the two brothers. Acting and dialogue is superb. Can’t wait for the story to unfold! See more Yasemin S @RT64513944 6d great writing in a lot of ways but feels like torture porn to watch, utterly relentless and at end of ep 2 I have lost any interest in watching Niall enable such a dangerous man. The minor sex rape scene was really gross See more James W @MrJDW1 6d Nothing intelligent about it. As crude, disgusting and violent as it could be. 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 Airs May 14 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 Airs May 12 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 6 Airs May 18 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
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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

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Season Info

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