Richard Gadd's 'Half Man' Arrives on BBC iPlayer — Is It as Good as Baby Reindeer?
Richard Gadd's highly anticipated follow-up to Baby Reindeer has landed on BBC iPlayer today, with the six-part drama 'Half Man' — co-starring Jamie Bell — receiving a mixed but largely positive critical reception as it explores brotherhood, violence, and toxic masculinity across three decades.
What Is Half Man?
Half Man follows two "brothers" — Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Richard Gadd) — who are not related by blood but share a deeply intertwined and complex relationship spanning from the 1980s to the present day in Glasgow. The series begins with Ruben appearing at Niall's wedding decades later, appearing shifty and on edge, leading to an "explosion of violence" that propels viewers back through their lives.
All six episodes are available to stream on BBC iPlayer from today, with weekly releases on BBC One. The series had its world premiere as the opening series of the 2026 Canneseries and premiered on HBO in the United States on 23 April.
Critical Reception
Reviews have been mixed. The Guardian's Lucy Mangan awarded it five stars, calling it a "bleak and brilliant thing" and praising Gadd's "brave and blazing" drama, noting that Jamie Bell is on "career-best form." Digital Spy called it "the best show of 2026."
However, The Independent's Nick Hilton gave it two out of five stars, calling it a "brutal, pointless misfire," while The Telegraph considered it a "weaker piece of work" than Baby Reindeer. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 72% approval rating based on 36 critic reviews.
Themes and Production
The series explores brotherhood, violence, the intense fragility of male relationships, toxic masculinity, repression, and male rage. Gadd stated he was interested in exploring "a kind of general male problem" and trying to contextualise it. Filming wrapped in 2025 in and around Glasgow, with the series supported by Screen Scotland.
What's Next
New episodes will be released weekly on BBC iPlayer at 6am, with BBC One broadcasts following within the week. The series is distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.
