Half Man premiere’s most controversial scene is disturbing and uncomfortable – and that’s the point

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“If I wasn’t family, I’d get up underneath that kilt right away.”

I honestly can’t think of anything worse than hearing those words on your wedding day, and that’s exactly what happens to Ruben Pallister (played by Richard Gadd) at the very beginning of the first episode of Half Man. It’s a completely shocking moment!

Ruben and Niall Kennedy (Jamie Bell) aren’t brothers by birth, but they share a deep, almost psychic connection, as described by a troubled character in the story. This connection signifies a powerful bond, though it’s not a comforting or desirable one.

Every word Ruben says feels like a blow, even more impactful than his punches against Niall. It’s not just his fists that hurt; his words do too.

It’s clear this isn’t the first fight between them, though the specific details of what happened might still be shocking.

The story flashes back to when teenagers Ruben and Niall first became roommates, sharing a single room.

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Niall helped a friend, whom he considers like a brother, cheat on an exam. Afterward, Ruben celebrated by bringing a woman named Mona, played by Charlotte Blackwood, back to his place.

After Niall unexpectedly sees Ruben and Mona kissing, Ruben playfully suggests Niall join them and experience intimacy with Mona himself.

Things get complicated, particularly when Niall discovers Ruben orchestrated everything as a way of showing gratitude for his assistance with the exam.

Aside from the discomfort the scene naturally causes, Gadd prefers to leave things unsaid in his writing, rather than explaining everything directly.

According to Gadd, the creator of the show, people have had widely varying reactions to that scene, based on conversations he’s had with viewers (via LadBible).

People react to the situation in different ways. Some are deeply affected by its intensity, while others might find it humorous or miss its significance entirely. It’s a complex issue with countless possible interpretations and lessons.

Even the actors involved had mixed feelings about this scene, and that’s not surprising considering how conflicted the characters were too.

It’s complicated, but their connection definitely seems to grow,” Robertson explained to TV Insider. “However, that closeness also highlights how little control Niall feels he has, which is a recurring theme throughout the first episode and the entire series.

The dishonesty is deeply disturbing. When you consider Niall’s growing awareness of his own sexuality, and his clear feelings for Ruben, things become even more confusing and unclear.

Even though Niall knows it’s wrong and there’s no consent, he’s still drawn to his “brother,” and can’t ignore that feeling, despite the potential consequences.

Ruben genuinely believes he’s being helpful to Niall, but he has no idea about the trouble he’s actually causing.

Robertson believes Ruben underestimated how serious the situation would become. He thinks Ruben initially saw it as a playful act, which, in hindsight, was reckless. It wasn’t until later, after they were all together and using marijuana, that Robertson started to feel Ruben hadn’t anticipated the connection it would create, but ultimately, it did.

A strong connection forms between them, quickly becoming a harmful cycle of love, loyalty, violence, and cruelty. Neither boy actively chose this dynamic, but they become dependent on it anyway. Once connected, they can’t envision a life apart, even though their comfort comes with deep emotional pain.

Okay, so Ruben is clearly the bad guy – he’s quick to use threats and violence to get his way. But Niall isn’t some innocent angel either. Like in Baby Reindeer, the creator really doesn’t let anyone off the hook. He doesn’t want us to see a simple victim and villain; he wants us to think about why things happened, and what led to all the trauma in the first place. It’s a much more complicated story than that.

Okay, so looking back, I think this one scene is where things really started to feel…intense between these two characters. It was seriously unlike anything I’ve ever seen on TV, and honestly, a little unsettling. It really highlighted what the show was getting at with its whole take on masculinity – how far guys will go, and the weird places it can lead them.

Whether you agree with his ideas or not, Gadd aims to make you think and question things for yourself. He wants to spark discussion, even if you don’t end up with the same answers he does.

How can we truly grasp how damaging this behavior is if we don’t show its full extent, even if it’s disturbing to watch?

There’s no going halves on this, not according to Gadd.

You can watch Half Man on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK. Check here to find out when new episodes are released.

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2026-04-28 11:20