UMVA has learned that the highly anticipated BBC drama Half Man has been leaving viewers on the edge of their seats as it careens towards a dramatic climax, with lead star Jamie Bell sharing that the process of filming wasn't 'easy or fun'.
The six-part series follows the volatile relationship between 'step-brothers' Ruben and Niall across three decades, from their fraught adolescence in Glasgow in the 80s to the present day, where Niall's wedding is interrupted by a violent confrontation.
The show's creator, Richard Gadd, is known for confronting dark themes in his work, and Half Man holds no bars in its exploration of toxic masculinity, abuse, and twisted families, making for tough-to-watch sequences between the two protagonists.
Bell, who plays Niall, a shy and soft-hearted lad, revealed that filming the series was a 'brutal, beastly thing' that Gadd had created, and that it probed experiences he's kept hidden away and chosen to forget.
The actor, who grew up in an all-female household and did ballet, shared that he relates to Niall's troubled attraction to Ruben and his 'self-loathing', especially when it comes to his professional life, having attached himself to tough and troubled guys in the past.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the show's dynamic duo, Ruben and Niall, have a fascinating relationship that is constantly shifting and changing, with twists and turns that make it impossible not to watch with morbid curiosity.
The final episode brings it all to the table, with a face-to-face sequence between the pair that mixes in their men's history and makes for truly fine TV, leaving viewers blown away by the intense drama.
Gadd's inspiration behind the show was to take two men and put them in a period where society has progressed, then flashback to a time when society was at its most unaccepting, exploring themes of toxic masculinity, trauma, and brotherhood.
The first five episodes of Half Man are available to stream now, with the final episode set to be released on Friday, May 27, promising to bring the intense drama to a close.
