HBO might have a new hit on its hands, as the Baby Reindeer follow-up series, Half Man, will premiere later this month. It’s already generating buzz, as actor, writer, and producer Richard Gadd returns in the spiritual successor to the award-winning Netflix limited series.
Baby Reindeer debuted on Netflix in 2024 and told the story of Gadd’s character and a stalker named Martha Scott. Audiences quickly binged the series, turning it into a major moment in pop culture. Before his Netflix series, he appeared in several TV series, including playing Conrad in three episodes of the Disney+ series Wedding Season and Liam on the comedy Code 404. Half Man will follow a weekly episode release schedule, unlike Baby Reindeer, which was all released at once. However, it still has the strong potential to become a cultural phenomenon.
Why You Must Watch Richard Gadd’s ‘Half-Man’
Half Man follows Richard Gadd’s character Ruben, alongside his brother Niall (Jamie Bell), as they navigate their reunion after being apart for the past several years. The series is similar to Baby Reindeer for several reasons, the most obvious being that it showcases yet another deeply flawed protagonist played by Gadd. The series, like its predecessor, will also explore themes of identity and friendship. Considering the trend of his past work, it’s likely he’ll continue to be an unreliable narrator, which will add intrigue to the plot.
While Baby Reindeer was based on a shockingly true story from Gadd’s personal life, Half Man features a fully original premise. However, it still has the potential to connect with viewers and become another awards contender for the actor-writer-producer. The Netflix limited series included memorably uncomfortable scenes, as Donny Dunn confronted his stalker, Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning). Half Man could flip the dynamic, as Gadd’s character makes the first contact with his estranged brother by abruptly showing up at his wedding after decades of not being in touch.
