After gaining recognition with "Baby Reindeer," Richard Gadd is back in front of audiences with HBO's new drama mini series "Half Man." "Baby Reindeer," which will be released on Netflix in 2024, garnered significant attention by exploring Gadd's experiences with a terrifying female stalker from an autobiographical perspective. This series won 11 nominations and 6 awards at the Emmy Awards thanks to its brutal honesty about trauma and self-destruction, along with impressive performances by Gadd and Jessica Gunning. Following Gadd's rapid success, there was much anticipation about what his new project would be, and "Half Man" has managed to meet that curiosity.

While "Half Man" has a completely different narrative style from "Baby Reindeer," it is an incredibly compelling production to watch. The six-episode mini series focuses on the toxic relationship between two half-brothers who grew up together in Scotland in the late 1980s. The story oscillates between two time periods, exploring the characters' youth and one of their journeys toward marriage years later.

Niall Kennedy, one of the main characters, is portrayed by Mitchell Robertson in his youth and by Jamie Bell in adulthood. Niall is a shy boy who is bullied at school. His mother is involved with a woman who has another son. The other character, Ruben Pallister, is played by Stuart Campbell in his youth and by Gadd in adulthood. Ruben is the complete opposite of Niall; he has a loud and arrogant personality. However, his violent anger constantly leads him down a dangerous path. As the two boys are drawn to each other, each finds something they need in the other. Yet, as they grow closer, the harm Ruben inflicts on Niall increases.

"Half Man" would be an impressive drama even if it only dealt with the friendship between two contrasting characters. However, Gadd has crafted a narrative that deeply explores the inevitability of family ties becoming increasingly harmful. Throughout the six episodes, the writing creates a tension-filled atmosphere, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats until the final credits roll. The show's brilliance stems from its use of alternative timelines; this allows the audience to see the foundations of this relationship and understand how the characters arrived at the present day.