Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Half Man is a dark drama about two boys whose mothers, Lori Kennedy (Neve McIntosh) and Maura Pallister (Marianne McIvor), are living together. Because of this, Nial Kennedy (Mitchell Robertson) and Ruben Palister (Richard Gadd), were raised as if they were brothers.
The series opens on Nial’s wedding day, with him and Ruben in a room having a tense conversation that ends in violence. The story then flashes back to when they were in their teens. Nial, gentle and eager to please, is frantic when he discovers that Ruben, who has been released from juvenile prison, will be living with them.
Lori tasks Nial with looking after Rubin to make sure he can stay in school and doesn’t get into trouble. Nial is displeased with the responsibility until Ruben beats up a bully who has been picking on him. To show his appreciation, Nial helps Ruben cheat on a test. And with that, a bond forms between them and the drama begins.
Some Thoughts:
Half Man is an incredibly dark and violent story that some may find triggering. The series is about internal homophobia and how it can turn someone into two different people (i.e. Nial and Ruben). Although this is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde drama, it is very much about two different people. I don’t lead anyone astray.
Each episode is tense, with scenes that do not let up and will leave you unsettled. As you can imagine, this makes it difficult to binge. Also, if you have ever been on the receiving end of bullying, you may find it triggering.
Aside from the emotional toll, everything about it is so well done. The story is gripping, the pacing works, and it sports a fine cast of talented actors. And although it doesn’t have any shocking revelations, it’s best to go into it knowing very little about the particulars.
It does a great job selling the toxic relationship between Nial and Ruben. They have a bond that feeds off desperation, control, and responsibility. Because of that, it’s easy to understand why they can’t stay away from each other. It’s similar to how some parents will go to great lengths to save a troubled child even when their help isn’t appreciated.
Despite everything seeming plausible, there are moments of disbelief. The biggest one being a violent altercation between Nial and Ruben in a hospital room in which nobody on staff bothers to see what the commotion is about. There’s also a reunion between two characters that feels a bit forced. While these incidents don’t ruin the story, they’re disappointing because everything else is so well done.
As with any limited series, everything hinges on the final episode. For Half Man, it doesn’t live up to expectations. It’s not bad, but it lacks the emotional tension that precedes it. Because of that, it feels a bit lackluster.
The Final Verdict:
While Half Man is a compelling dark drama, it may be too intense for some viewers.