Episode 2 of Half Man opens with Niall hours earlier at the wedding. He has a heart-to-heart with his mother to soothe his nerves. However, the peace is overwrought with panic as she informs him Ruben is on his way. As guests mingle outside the idyllic venue, Niall shudders at the sound of a roaring motorcycle.
We’re shot back to 1989 as Niall starts his time at university. Here, our assumptions of Niall and his sexuality are proven true as he meets his flatmates Joanna, Celeste and Alby. Niall plays coy with the girls, but Alby sees past his performance. The two have undeniable chemistry, and for the first time, he drops his mask. That is until an unfortunate incident forces him to call his crutch.
Ruben’s presence immediately shifts the roomies’ dynamic. Joanna is absolutely smitten, but grows envious as Ruben prefers Celeste. Things become more heated when Ruben forces Alby to play a game of spin the bottle; it selects him and Niall. Niall concedes to Ruben’s teasing and shows he’s man enough to kiss another bloke. The moment awakens something in him.
After an evening out, Alby and Niall find themselves alone again. Back at the flat, Alby attempts a move on Niall, who insists he isn’t quite ready. Alby assures him he’ll go at whichever pace is most comfortable. A calm embrace is interrupted by Ruben and the girls’ return.
The next day, Niall walks in to a disturbing scene: Ruben high, sitting amongst broken dishes and Celeste in a cocaine-induced stupor. After Joanna threatens to call the police, Ruben leaves. In a moment of vulnerability, Niall finally let’s his guard down with Alby, and they take their relationship to a new level. That is until Ruben returns. Alby, exhausted with this back and forth, gives Niall an ultimatum.
Niall fails to come out to Ruben, leading to a misunderstanding. Alby attempts to tell Ruben instead and things escalate. Alby pushes Niall, shifting Ruben into attack mode. Moments later, Niall watches Ruben taken away in handcuffs as a bloodied and unconscious Alby is rolled out on a stretcher.
We finish in the present, with Niall’s mother escorting him down the aisle. With Ruben glaring from the congregation, Niall arrives at the alter to exchange vows with an adult Alby; his face permanently scarred.
Episode 2 was a brilliant exploration of Niall and Ruben’s unhealthy co-dependency. Niall finds comfort in the cover that Ruben provides, camouflaging in his brute persona. In return, a truly lonely Ruben has someone who genuinely loves him. But Niall’s love for Ruben operates out of fear. And Ruben’s shield for Niall destroys everything in its wake. A truly toxic bond forged by a patriarchal society that taught them both the wrong lesson about being a man.
The performances continue to be strong with Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson doing great work. Robertson’s ability to evoke such emotion from his eyes; Campbell’s dexterity in portraying brokenness through Ruben’s tough exterior. And kudos to the writing with Robertson’s scenes with Bilal Hasna’s Alby.
Rating: 8/10