Pride 2026: A Q+ Celebration
June 5
Half Man
Richard Gadd’s follow-up to Baby Reindeer couldn’t be more different in tone, but it’s every bit as ambitious. Half Man follows Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Richard Gadd), two boys who grow up as brothers despite not being related by blood. Spanning decades, the series traces the evolution of their complicated relationship, beginning with their childhood in Scotland and continuing through adulthood as old wounds, buried feelings, and unresolved conflicts continue to shape their lives.
What makes Half Man so compelling is that it’s never interested in easy answers. The series digs into questions of masculinity, repression, identity, and the emotional damage people carry for years without confronting. At its center is a relationship that defies simple labels: part friendship, part brotherhood, part rivalry, and something even more difficult to define. The result is a story that can be uncomfortable, heartbreaking, and deeply moving all at once.
This isn’t a light watch, but it’s an unforgettable one. Anchored by remarkable performances from Gadd and Bell, Half Man explores the consequences of silence, shame, and unspoken love with a raw honesty that lingers long after the final episode. It’s the kind of television that challenges its audience while rewarding them with something genuinely powerful.
Where to watch? Half Man is available to stream on HBO Max.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid has taken readers backstage at rock concerts, onto tennis courts, and into Old Hollywood. With Atmosphere, she turns her attention to the stars—literally. Set during the early years of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, the novel follows astronomer Joan Goodwin as she joins a groundbreaking group of astronaut candidates and pursues her lifelong dream of traveling to space. Along the way, she forms deep bonds with her fellow trainees, including the magnetic and mysterious Vanessa Ford.
Like Reid’s best work, Atmosphere is about much more than its setting. Beneath the thrilling backdrop of space exploration is a deeply emotional story about ambition, belonging, found family, and love. Joan’s journey forces her to reconsider what she wants from life and what she’s willing to risk to pursue it, all while navigating a world that wasn’t exactly designed with women—or queer women—in mind.
Readers have fallen particularly hard for the novel’s combination of romance, historical detail, and emotional depth. It’s a sweeping love story, an ode to scientific curiosity, and a reminder that some of the most extraordinary journeys happen long before the rocket ever leaves the launchpad. If you’ve ever looked up at the stars and wondered what might be waiting beyond them, this book is for you.
Where to buy? Atmosphere is available to purchase at all reputable booksellers.
The History of Sound
Few films last year generated as much anticipation among queer audiences as The History of Sound. Based on Ben Shattuck’s acclaimed short story, the film follows Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O’Connor), two young men who meet while studying music during World War I. After the war, the pair embarks on a journey through rural New England, collecting and preserving folk songs that might otherwise be lost to history. Along the way, they form a connection that becomes the emotional heart of the story.
What begins as a project about preserving music gradually becomes something much more intimate. The film uses song, memory, and storytelling to explore the ways people leave traces of themselves behind, even when history threatens to forget them. Set against the backdrop of the early twentieth century, it captures both the beauty and fragility of human connection with remarkable tenderness.
Led by Mescal and O’Connor, The History of Sound is the kind of sweeping romantic and heartbreaking drama that feels increasingly rare. It’s thoughtful, emotionally rich, and deeply interested in the stories that survive through generations. For anyone who loves queer period pieces, devastating romances, or films that understand the power of art to preserve a life, this one is essential viewing.
Where to watch? The History of Sound can be streamed on MUBI and is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Happy Pride 2026! Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Images Courtesy of Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon MGM Studios, Focus Features, Getty Images, Disney+, Apple TV, Crave.
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