'Baby Reindeer's Creator Released a New Project – But It's Nothing You'd Expect It to Be

Richard Gadd's Half Man premiered on HBO and BBC One. This controversial new project from the creator of Baby Reindeer features violence, an examination of masculinity, unhealthy relationships, and plot twists that will hit you in the gut.

However, this time, Gadd isn't trying to elevate himself above his material. In Baby Reindeer, the psychological nuances served as dramatic flourishes, but here, the suspense is pure entertainment.

What Is 'Half Man' About?

In a dark barn, two men stand face-to-face. Niall is dressed in traditional Scottish wedding attire and looks fearful. Ruben has bandaged fists and a thick beard. He corners his victim and orders him to finish his sentence. Niall complies and receives a powerful jab.

The audience then plunges into a flashback. Hunted by his classmates, Niall learns that his mother's partner's son, who was recently released from prison, is moving into his house. Ruben had been imprisoned for biting off someone's nose.

The new neighbor turns out to be a hyper-aggressive bully – and a truly dangerous one. Facing hell at home, Niall gradually detects the alluring vibes of this embodiment of toxic masculinity.

The downtrodden teenager falls completely under the bully's control. He needs his protection, approval, and love like air. Ruben also clings to his protégé, enveloping him in dark energy.

If You're Expecting 'Half Man' to Be Like 'Baby Reindeer', You're Very Much Mistaken

Baby Reindeer blew up Netflix two years ago. Gadd tackled his favorite topics – sexual violence, mental illness, drugs, and brutality – and delivered a shock therapy to viewers. The sophistication of the psychological nuances, necessitated by the autobiographical nature, heightened the suspense.

In Half Man, however, it's the exact opposite. Here, Gadd's punchlines as a comedian are similar to those his character Ruben displays on Niall's face in the opening minutes.

Don't expect any nuance or believability from Half Man. This time, you'll be treated to pure entertainment stuffed with sharp, absurd twists, dark absurdity, and deeply uncomfortable scenes of abuse.

Every scene, every character, and every transition from present to past is written and filmed for maximum impact. The event density is incredible, but the consequence of such effective creativity is the cliched nature of the story.

Instead of the Psychological Depth of 'Baby Reindeer', 'Half Man' Is Dark Nonsense and Madness

There's no doubt that these challenges will hit the viewers hard in the remaining episodes, but whether Gadd will rise above his material is a big question.

Half Man hits hard, but only in one direction – Gadd knows how to corner the audience emotionally, but so far, this dynamic feels as forced as it is effective.

Baby Reindeer was scary because it was believable, Half Man, on the other hand, is scary only because Gadd screams louder than anyone else. If you're expecting another heart-wrenching confession, you won't find it here. It's just a bloody, absurd circus.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Half Man'?

• Half Man has 76% from critics and 78% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.5/10.

Where to Watch 'Half Man'?

Half Man is available to stream on HBO.