Critical reception
[edit]Two and a Half Men received mostly mixed reviews from critics throughout its run.[73][74][75] The New York Daily News has described the sitcom as "solid, well-acted and occasionally funny."[76] Conversely Graeme Blundell, writing for The Australian, described it as a "sometimes creepy, misogynistic comedy".[77] Ashton Kutcher's debut was met with mixed reviews,[78] and reviews for season nine were also mixed.[79] One reviewer commented that the show was made for Charlie Sheen's character and the way he interacted with other characters, and the setup did not work with Kutcher's character.[80]
However, it has been labeled as "one of America's most successful comedy shows."[51] Ellen Gray of Daily News praised the shows' legacy just before the premiere of the finale. The show is credited as being the reason The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly and Mom were all made. Men's success was what enabled these other Chuck Lorre shows to be made and be successful.[81] Following the filming of the final episode, Stage 26 of the Warner Brothers lot was renamed the "Two and a Half Men stage".[82] After the finale, Two and a Half Men fans launched a global petition under the name "Yes To The Harpers", to have Charlie Sheen reprise the role of Charlie Harper alongside his former co-star Jon Cryer. This idea surfaced after fans saw Chuck Lorre's vanity card about Charlie Sheen's idea of a spinoff show named The Harpers.[83]
The first season received generally positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 20 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Two and a Half Men's inaugural season rises above its sitcom formula with a rapid-fire clip of bawdy quips as well as the sparky chemistry between stars Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen."[84]
The ninth season of the show, its first without Sheen, received generally mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 41% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "Ashton Kutcher proves to be a game replacement for the unceremoniously departed Charlie Sheen, but Two and a Half Men feels exhausted and bitter as it trudges beyond its natural lifespan."[85]
The show's final season received generally negative reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 33% of 12 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Two and a Half Men putters to an unpleasant end that continues to beat the dead Charlie horse while spinning an offensive, homophobic subplot."[86]