Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#1
Posted: 5/13/26 at 8:02am
Richard Gadd, (who brought "Baby Reindeer" to Netflix, which won critical acclaim and sparked a defamation lawsuit as well) has a new series on HBO Max called, "Half Man". It's a 6-episode series. Tomorrow (Thursday, May 14), is the release date for Episode 4 and I am as hooked on this series as I was with "Baby Reindeer". I will probably go back and re-watch BR after the final episode of HM airs on May 21st.
I'm finding Richard Gadd to be an interesting voice in writing and telling stories about masculinity, and particularly his inclusion of homoerotic elements. I'm not nearly as interested in how Gadd self-identifies, as I am in the choices he makes regarding their inclusion, and the emotional atmosphere in which those elements appear in his work.
Admittedly, his writing will not sit well with everyone, but in a limited universe of Gay storytelling, I find his voice to be unique, and his perspective one I've not seen before.
Is anyone else watching this on HBO Max?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#2
Posted: 5/14/26 at 7:58am
If your interest isn't whetted yet, this review at https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/half-man-jamie-bell-hbo-max-tv-review-2026 describes why I'm so riveted to Gadd's characters, and his work.
The trailer opens on the final scene from episode 3 (episode 4 premiers today). Although the scene looks to be traditionally familial, you have no idea of its ominous reality until you've seen the first (3) episodes. That's why I love Gadd's writing, and this show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#3
Posted: 5/14/26 at 8:10am
Also, I really like the publicity photo (card? poster? ...I don't know what you call it...) for this show.
Are they in an embrace, or a choke hold? Look at the expressions on Gadd's and Bell's faces; and especially Bell's. Bell is looking directly at us, but what is the emotion he's telegraphing? And what do the placements of Bell''s hands indicate?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#4
Posted: 5/16/26 at 5:13pm
So, I watched E4 last night. This is the episode where Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell take over as the primary actors in the lead roles.
E4 (specifically) is getting some pretty high praise online, and in context with the series, but I was left feeling a bit let down. There were a couple of instances where very short bits (lines) were played for a laugh. I thought the humor were out of place, and actually frustrated me.
The plot has also taken a turn that I'm confused by, given how the entire first half of the series has progressed with character development. I guess I'll have to see where and how the remaining episodes pan out.
I needed to change my mood after watching, so I watched Jamie Bell in "Billy Elliott" (also available on HBO Max). What an amazing performance at only 14 years of age.
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#5
Posted: 5/18/26 at 8:50pm
Haven’t gotten to #4 yet, but I find it tedious trauma-porn so far. How he’s a part of ANY of their lives in any form makes me lose sympathy for almost every character involved in his orbit.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#6
Posted: 5/22/26 at 7:41pm
Ep 5:
Welllll... That got real complicated real fast.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#7
Posted: 5/22/26 at 8:45pm
John Adams said: "The plot has also taken a turn that I'm confused by, given how the entire first half of the series has progressed with character development. I guess I'll have to see where and how the remaining episodes pan out."
I totally get it now.
Ep 4 was a tough transition. The main characters were suddenly now being featured as adults after being the teens/young adults we saw for the first three episodes.
And as adults, they carry the traits that we saw displayed as teens, but they are most certainly not who we knew as teens.
I distrusted these new adults because previously, they had been so different. I took sides with, and against those characters.
Then, in ep. 5 a wwhoooolle bunch of stuff happens and I can see why ep. 4 was ep. 4, and why I was so disoriented by it.
...and that "wwhoooolle bunch of stuff" is amazingly written and acted. No spoilers - just amazingly written and acted.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Richard Gadd's "Half Man" on HBO Max#9
Posted: 5/24/26 at 8:09am
Sutton Ross said: ""
John Adams said: "The plot has also taken a turn that I'm confused by, given how the entire first half of the series has progressed with character development. I guess I'll have to see where and how the remaining episodes pan out."
I totally get it now.
Ep 4 was a tough transition. The main characters were suddenly now being featured as adults after being the teens/young adults we saw for the first three episodes.
And as adults, they carry the traits that we saw displayed as teens, but they are most certainly not who we knew as teens.
I distrusted these new adults because previously, they had been so different. I took sides with, and against those characters.
Then, in ep. 5 a wwhoooolle bunch of stuff happens and I can see why ep. 4 was ep. 4, and why I was so disoriented by it.
...and that "wwhoooolle bunch of stuff" is amazingly written and acted. No spoilers - just amazingly written and acted.
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