'Half Man' portrays brutal misogyny and toxic masculinity through teenage lens
Richard Gadd directed his focus toward a narrative of extreme masculine behaviour
- Richard Gadd's new drama Half Man explores themes of misogyny and toxic masculinity.
- Julie Cullen portrays Joanna, a university student who challenges the protagonists' extreme behaviour.
- The series features a dual-timeline narrative with Jamie Bell and Richard Gadd starring.
"Half Man," the latest drama from "Baby Reindeer" creator Richard Gadd, has generated significant debate among viewers and critics due to its unflinching depiction of misogyny and toxic masculinity.
The series, which premiered on Friday, 8 May 2026, follows the lives of two teenage boys, Niall and Ruben, whose mothers are in a romantic relationship.
The narrative is primarily presented through their perspective, featuring Mitchell Robertson and Jamie Bell as the younger and older versions of Niall, while Stuart Campbell and Richard Gadd portray Ruben.
In a recent interview with "Variety," newcomer Julie Cullen discussed her role as Joanna, a university student who becomes a pivotal figure in Niall’s life. Ms Cullen’s character is subjected to Ruben’s grotesque behaviour, including verbal abuse and off-camera violence.
"A lot of things that Ruben does to Joanna are quite grotesque," the actress noted, explaining that she relied on intimacy coordinator Sharon MacKay to navigate the more distressing scenes.
Ms Cullen highlighted a chilling dinner scene as a turning point where her character confronts the cycle of abuse perpetuated by the boys' mothers.
Richard Gadd reportedly informed Ms Cullen that Joanna was one of his favourite characters to write, serving as a "moral compass" during the first half of the season.
Her performance provides a necessary lightness against the show's otherwise heavy psychological backdrop. Following this provocative exploration of male violence, Mr Gadd is expected to continue his work on several upcoming television scripts.
For now, "Half Man" remains a central point of discussion regarding the representation of trauma in modern media.