The BBC and HBO Max have dropped the trailer for Half Man, an "incredible" six-part series starring Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Against The Law) and Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers, Rocketman), and we can't wait for this one to air.
The series follows two men, Ruben and Niall, whose decades-long friendship is marked by volatile and toxic highs and lows.
© BBC/Mam Tor Productions/HBO/Sebastian NevolsThe series, which also stars Mitchell Robertson (Curfew, Mayflies), Stuart Campbell (SAS Rogue Heroes, The Winter King), Neve McIntosh (Shetland, Chemistry of Death) and Marianne McIvor (Screw, The Nest), is created by Richard and marks his first on-screen project since his award-winning Netflix series, Baby Reindeer.
Based on Richard's TV track record and the tense, drama-filled first look, Half Man looks like a must-watch for fans who crave twisted dramas like Adolescence and Baby Reindeer.
What happens in the Half Man trailer?
The trailer opens at Niall's tense wedding reception, where Ruben delivers a toast: "Hello, for those that don't know me I'm Ruben Pallister. And I'm going to tell you about Niall Kennedy. I remember the first time I met him. He was only a kid."
We're then taken back to the 1980s, when Niall's mum reveals Ruben has moved into his room. "What? No way. He's a psycho," Niall protests.
A montage follows of the boys at school, including Ruben disrupting an exam, before their bond deepens as their mothers begin a relationship.
© BBC/Mam Tor Productions/Anne BinckebanckBack in the present, their once-close friendship appears fractured. Niall tells Ruben: "I hate everything about you, the way you live your life… but that doesn't stop me wanting every bit of it."
With flashes of violence, Ruben ending up in prison and Niall seemingly involved in a car crash, the trailer ends with the two men facing each other as Ruben admits: "You know the worst part about all this? Is that I trust you more than anyone."
What have viewers said about the trailer?
Viewers were quick to take to the comments on YouTube after the trailer dropped, with many praising the first look.
"Looks like a WINNER. I'm definitely gonna be locked in watching this series," said one person, while another penned: "This trailer has me completely invested."
© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Mam Tor Productions/Anne BinckebanckA third added: "Wow, rarely do trailers pack a punch nowadays but this one did for me. Incredible cast and the story looks like it's going to be an intense journey of love, family, toxicity, and an all-round cold air of reality showcasing these sorts of complicated situations and relationships. I'm so looking forward to its release."
What is Half Man about?
The six-part limited series follows Niall and Ruben, who become found brothers despite having completely different personalities.
The synopsis reads: "One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other's lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other…
© BBC/Mam Tor Productions/Anne Binckebanck"But when Ruben turns up at Niall's wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself. And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day.
"Capturing 30 years in the lives of these broken men, Half Man explores brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships. After all, when things fall apart… it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest."
How to watch Half Man
Episodes will be released every week from 24 April at 6am on BBC iPlayer, with BBC One and BBC Scotland transmissions following within the week. The series is a co-production with HBO, which will air the series in the US, Latin America and Europe.
