The moment I heard that Richard Gadd, the man behind Baby Reindeer was coming back with a brand-new HBO series called Half Man, I was already clearing my Thursday night.

Then I remembered: I’m in Canada.

And while Crave technically holds the rights to HBO programming in Canada, here’s the frustrating truth: glitchy app, playback issues, and the worst user experience compared to other mentioned streaming services.

So if you’re sitting there refreshing Crave waiting for it to show up, you might be waiting a while.

The good news? There are other ways in, and two of them are completely free.

I’ve personally tested the best VPNs to unlock those free streams from Canada, and this is my full, no-fluff guide on exactly how to do it.

Quick Summary: How to Watch Half Man in Canada

Short on time? Here’s everything you need in 60 seconds.

• Free options: TVNZ+ (New Zealand, free with ads) from April 24, and BBC iPlayer (UK, free) also from April 24.
• Paid option: HBO Max (US), requires a subscription starting at USD $10.99/month.
• None of these platforms are directly accessible in Canada; you’ll need a VPN.
• Paid option: Crave requires a paid subscription starting at CAD $11.99/month, and it directly works in Canada.
• Best free method: Use NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee to watch Half Man on TVNZ+ or BBC iPlayer completely free, then cancel before the trial period ends. You pay nothing.

Quick steps to watch Half Man in Canada for free:

1. Subscribe to NordVPN (comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee).
2. Connect to a New Zealand server for TVNZ+ or a UK server for BBC iPlayer.
3. Sign up for TVNZ+ or BBC iPlayer (both are free to register).
4. Watch all episodes of Half Man , then cancel NordVPN within 30 days for a full refund.

What is Half Man About?

If you loved Baby Reindeer, you already know that Richard Gadd does not make comfortable television. And Half Man is no exception.

Gadd returns as both writer and lead actor, this time playing Ruben Pallister, an intimidating, volatile criminal who is about as far from Baby Reindeer’s hapless Donny as you can get.

He shares top billing with Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) as Niall Kennedy, Ruben’s half-brother.

The show follows the two half-brothers through a complex, friction-filled relationship shaped by shared trauma, buried secrets, and the kind of tension that feels like it could explode at any moment.

Ruben is the volatile yin to Niall’s more timid yang, and as their past comes crashing into their present, things get deeply uncomfortable in all the best ways.

Half Man is a six-episode limited series, and like Baby Reindeer, it’s being described as another raw, unflinching exploration of 21st-century masculinity.

Full Cast:

• Richard Gadd as Ruben Pallister
• Jamie Bell as Niall Kennedy
• Stuart Campbell as young Ruben
• Mitchell Robertson as young Niall
• Marianne McIvor as Maura
• Neve McIntosh as Lori
• Charlie De Melo, Bilal Hasna, Julie Cullen, Amy Manson, Philippine Velge, Stuart McQuarrie

Half Man Episode Guide

Half Man Season 1 consists of six episodes releasing weekly on the following schedule (North America):

• Episode 1 – Thursday, April 23
• Episode 2 – Thursday, April 30
• Episode 3 – Thursday, May 7
• Episode 4 – Thursday, May 14
• Episode 5 – Thursday, May 21
• Episode 6 – Thursday, May 28

How to Watch Half Man Show in Canada for Free

Here are the two best free streaming options for Canadians, and how to access them with a VPN.

Option 1: Watch Half Man Free on TVNZ+ (New Zealand)

TVNZ+ is New Zealand’s free, ad-supported streaming platform, and it has Half Man on its lineup starting April 24 at 6am NZST.

TVNZ+ is completely free to sign up for, so combined with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee, you can watch every single episode of Half Man without spending a cent.

Here’s how:

1. Subscribe to NordVPN and download the app on your device.
2. Open the NordVPN app and connect to a New Zealand server.
3. Go to tvnz.co.nz and create a free TVNZ+ account.
4. Search for Half Man and start streaming.
5. Cancel NordVPN before the 30 days are up for a full refund.

Option 2: Watch Half Man Free on BBC iPlayer (UK)

BBC iPlayer is the BBC’s free streaming service, and Half Man will be available there from Friday, April 24 at 6am BST, with new episodes dropping weekly on Fridays.

Like TVNZ+, BBC iPlayer is free to sign up for; you just need a UK postcode (any valid UK postcode will work during sign-up). No payment required.

Here’s how:

1. Subscribe to NordVPN and download the app.
2. Open the app and connect to a UK server (London works best for iPlayer).
3. Go to bbc.co.uk/iplayer and create a free BBC account. Enter any valid UK postcode (e.g., SW1A 1AA).
4. Search for Half Man and start watching.
5. Cancel NordVPN within 30 days for a complete refund.

Best servers for free Half Man streaming:

• TVNZ+ → New Zealand (Wellington or Auckland servers)
• BBC iPlayer → United Kingdom (London server recommended)

Option 3: Watch Half Man on Crave (Paid)

If you already have a Crave subscription and are okay with the streaming app issues, you can watch Half Man there too.

Half Man will premiere on 24th April on Crave. The Canadian streaming service plan starts from CAD $11.99/month.

Option 4: Watch Half Man on HBO Max (Paid)

If you prefer to watch Half Man on HBO Max, the US platform where it officially premieres, that’s also possible from Canada, though it requires a paid subscription.

HBO Max plans start from $10.99/month in the US. Since it’s a US-only service, you’ll still need a VPN to access it from Canada, as well as a US-based payment method.

Half Man episodes drop on HBO Max every Thursday starting April 23, making it the earliest option to catch each new episode.

Steps to watch on HBO Max:

1. Subscribe to NordVPN and connect to a US server.
2. Go to hbomax.com and sign up for an account using a US payment method.
3. Search for Half Man and start streaming.

Final Thoughts

Half Man is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated series of 2026, and given what Richard Gadd did with Baby Reindeer, that anticipation is very well earned.

The frustrating reality for Canadians is that Crave, despite holding HBO rights and availability of the show, has serious app and playback issues that might ruin your streaming experience.

But the two free alternatives (TVNZ+ and BBC iPlayer) are excellent options, and with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee, getting access costs you nothing.