--- title: "Half Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/half-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/half-man" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Half Man (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 7 reviews: 4 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Half Man a compelling but punishing study of masculinity, repression and destructive attachment, with praise clustering around the performances across its timelines. The spread is wide: enthusiasm for its complicated central relationship sits alongside complaints that the surrounding characters and plotting need more work. The sharpest disagreement concerns the writing. Digital Spy praises its layered treatment of trauma and identity without lecturing, while Vulture finds that the ambiguity of the early episodes gives way to formula and excessive explanation. NME takes the opposite view of its progression, finding the later episodes stronger in their character dynamics. The Hollywood Reporter offers the clearest dissent, admiring the acting but finding the accumulated trauma monotonous and the storytelling short of freshness. The consensus is broadly favourable, though the reviews differ over whether the sustained bleakness deepens the drama or simply makes it exhausting. ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/half-man-review-hbo-richard-gadd-1236726475/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 April 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/half-man-hbo-miniseries-review.html) ## Radio Times — Gareth McLean Rating 3/5. 24 April 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/half-man-review-richard-gadd/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/half-man-review-richard-gadd-hbo-baby-reindeer-1236569849/) ## Empire — Sophie Butcher 22 April 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/half-man/) ## Digital Spy — Laura Jane Turner Rating 5/5. 21 April 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a71081680/half-man-review/) ## Collider — Therese Lacson Rating 8/10. 21 April 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/half-man-review-hbo-richard-gadd-jamie-bell/) ## NME — Alex Flood Rating 4/5. 24 April 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/half-man-review-richard-gadd-baby-reindeer-3942363) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/half-man.md