From Half Man to Louis Theroux’s Manosphere, is TV’s tackling of toxic masculinity only further alienating our young men?

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It’s striking how many people immediately associated my topic of masculinity with the idea of ‘toxicity.’ It feels like the two are now seen as inseparable, and that’s a pretty discouraging sign about how we view men today, even before we begin to explore the issue.

Last week in The Radio Times, actor Christopher Eccleston expressed concern that traditional ideas of masculinity are struggling, especially for young, white, working-class men who he feels are being overlooked. Shortly after, Richard Gadd – known for his Emmy-winning, personal show Baby Reindeer – released another unsettling, though perhaps more commonly experienced, story.

Half Man, a drama by Gadd, explores the troubled connection between the quiet Niall (Jamie Bell) and the unpredictable Ruben (Gadd). Gadd describes the show as an unflinching look at “what it means to be a man” – the pressures, hidden pain, and ingrained societal expectations. While Gadd avoids using the term “toxic masculinity,” the series isn’t a lighthearted comedy, and its themes sadly resonate with current events and seem very common.

There are many reasons why this is happening – things like pressure from social media, economic inequality, and issues with parenting. But we’ve already seen a powerful story explore how these problems affect everyone, so listing them feels unnecessary.

Jack Thorne’s series, Adolescence, has been critically acclaimed, winning Emmy and Golden Globe awards and sparking discussion in Parliament and across the country. The show centers around Jamie, a 13-year-old whose sudden and disturbing transformation from a typical kid to someone troubled deeply affected viewers and prompted a national conversation.

The scene resonated so deeply because Stephen Graham portrayed a father’s heartbreaking grief, voicing the universal fear of all parents: the agonizing question of whether they could have done more to protect their child, especially when that child was thought to be safe at home.

We might tell ourselves that well-behaved, kind characters aren’t very interesting to watch on TV, and that these kinds of stories are often made more dramatic for entertainment purposes.

If you prefer to avoid challenging content, you might want to skip Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside the Manosphere (Netflix). It features young, online personalities from places like Marbella and Miami, who go by names like HSTikkyTokky and Sneako. The traditional idea of men enjoying life’s simple pleasures – wine, women, and song – has shifted for some into a focus on gaining power, accumulating wealth, and, unsurprisingly, still attracting women.

The strange and often offensive ideas they present – like demanding complete loyalty from women but not offering it in return – might seem ridiculous if it weren’t for the fact that their silly, yet increasingly shocking, content is becoming incredibly popular online and reaching young people. It’s something almost every parent is worried about.

You know, watching these guys, these self-proclaimed gurus, it wasn’t long before Louis Theroux himself became a part of their online world – and honestly, it was clear that all they really craved was attention. It’s what drove them, and Theroux, with his cameras, was giving them plenty of it. I really hope his documentary ultimately does some good, shows things in a positive light, but I’m just not sure if it will. It felt a little…complicated.

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Although authors like Gadd and Thorne share these troubling stories with good intentions, they may unfortunately contribute to the feelings of isolation and disconnect that young men are already experiencing, as so vividly portrayed by Eccleston.

I don’t have all the answers, but I’d like to share an inspiring story. Darryn Frost, a young civil servant, is featured in the new series of Extraordinary Portraits (available on iPlayer). He bravely risked his life during the 2019 London Bridge attack, using a narwhal tusk to defend others against an attacker with knives who claimed to have a bomb.

Still deeply impacted by the experience, Frost focuses on positivity, hoping to use what happened as a way to make a positive difference in the world. It’s incredibly inspiring and offers a hopeful contrast to difficult times.

Authors

Caroline Frost

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2026-04-22 10:39