Half Man (2026)

The critic calls it an excellent but difficult watch that explores the brittle bonds of male friendship and violence. She singles out Gadd's ability to write complex characters who shift perspective and the emotionally shattering final episode for praise.

The critic finds the early episodes compelling in their ambiguous, layered exploration of attraction, masculinity, and homoerotic tension between the young protagonists but feels the series grows increasingly didactic, formulaic, and overly explanatory in later timelines, ultimately squandering its initial potential.

Gadd’s difficult second album after Baby Reindeer charts a toxic, tragic 30-year relationship between de facto stepbrothers locked in destructive co-dependency; it has much to admire in its study of masculinity and repressed love but is half-baked with underwritten characters and plot holes.

The critic describes it as a deeply felt but monotonous exercise in trauma that is more exhausting than enjoyable. He praises the performances and grip on toxic masculinity but singles out the unrelenting emotional drain, lack of narrative freshness, and dour tone for complaint.

The series tracks the toxically codependent dynamic of two half-brothers over decades, with strong performances but a story that devolves into a bleak-fest of trauma, violence and repression on modern masculinity.

The critic hails the series as breathtaking and appointment television, praising its nuanced, layered portrayal of a toxic yet loyal bond between two flawed men, strong performances across timelines, and refusal to lecture while exploring trauma, identity, and masculinity.

The critic calls it raw, brutal, and absolutely devastating, highlighting masterfully tense storytelling, strong performances from Gadd, Bell, and young actors, and deep exploration of trauma and masculinity. Some flaws are noted in the portrayal of Niall's sexuality and stereotypes.

The critic describes an unflinching analysis of toxic masculinity that is topical, with later episodes excelling in complex character dynamics and a revenge-game structure reminiscent of Rashomon. Early episodes are seen as average, but overall it delivers another unpleasantly captivating drama for Baby Reindeer fans.