Half Man concluded today, with the series finale now streaming on BBC iPlayer. Richard Gadd's phenomenal yet brutal drama has been unfolding slowly for the past few weeks, and honestly, what a joy it has been to have some water-cooler television and episodes to savour, with time and space to process what we've watched and sit in the discomfort that the show has channelled so well.
We are here to talk, specifically, about the back end of the episode six finale. It starts with Niall finally coming out to Ruben, the last person close to him in his life that doesn't yet know that he is gay.
It's not your typical coming-out scene, if such a thing exists, because Half Man likes to put you on the back foot. There is a glimmer of an initial release, but in laying out this one truth, Niall actually uses it to hide another one – it is the fact he's gay, Niall lies to Ruben, that was the source of his argument with Mona.
The flow of this conversation, which unfolds while Niall is paying Ruben a visit in prison, is messy and disjointed from the off, injecting a sense of realism and unpredictability.
Much to Niall's surprise, Ruben doesn't seem fazed by Niall's sexuality in the slightest. He chuckles in the gruff, guttural way that we've come to expect, only to tell his 'brother' that he's always thought that might have been the case, ever since they were younger.
But far from being a welcome comfort, this nonchalance actually stings. Niall is quick to point out that Ruben has never shied away from using slurs and incredibly hurtful language over the years, and let's also not forget what he once tried to push Niall to say in court about Alby.
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"They're just words," Ruben dismisses. "They do damage," Niall pushes back – emphasising that hearing them, especially from someone he was so closely bonded to, had affected him "every day of my f**king life".
The pair then enter into a toxic tennis match of barbs, passing back and forth the source of the shame Niall has been carrying. True to Half Man's tendency to exist in the grey, the drama doesn't come up on either side, but instead uses this expertly written dialogue to unsettle the viewer and leave us to work out how we really feel about it all ourselves.
Ultimately, despite his fears about showing Ruben that part of himself and whether or not those fears were founded, Niall's vulnerability, and the catharsis it brought about between them, in turn, invited Ruben to feel safe enough to open up in a way he never had before either.
"It's about my dad," Ruben began. And with those few words, the audience – at least those that had picked up on some of the signs and subtle references from earlier episodes – probably knew what was about to be said.
Such was the connection between them that Ruben didn't need to say much more for Niall to work out why his 'brother' suddenly looked so broken. A release of emotion soon followed, with a softer side of the terrifying character we've come to know finally breaking through.
What then unfolded was a deeply uncomfortable, yet undeniably effective and moving, sequence of dialogue whereby Ruben laid bare the nature of the abuse he had suffered at the hands of his dad, as well as the deeply rooted trauma it had left behind.
The release of all of these bottled up emotions, and the weight of their burdens being lifted, provided a deep catharsis for the characters, and also by extension for the viewer watching at home.
In this more tender state, the pair then went into a lighter-hearted exchange, peeling back further layers of things that they'd been hiding from each other. But of course, despite the momentary laughter, we all knew where this was going to end; that contrast of levity, with the building of tension and impending dread, was a masterclass in storytelling.
There has been a lot to celebrate about Half Man, with many singular standout scenes (special mention also goes to that hospital room confrontation back in episode four). But this sequence in particular has ensured that the six-part series ended on a high, with Niall and Ruben becoming characters we'll be thinking about for a long time to come.
The ebbs and flows of this entire prison conversation, which is around 11 minutes long and never leaves the confines of those visiting room chairs, is some of the most masterful, immersive, and well-written television we've seen in the past year. Not since Adolescence has something left quite such a distinctive mark.
Half Man pushes its creator Richard Gadd forward as one of the most exciting writers in TV drama right now, and we can't wait to see what he does next.
Half Man is available on BBC iPlayer.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
