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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

By Golu
I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
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Oh, Otto! (Dutch/English) (Web Series)

By Golu
"Oh, Otto!" is a wonderful coming-of-age story, which will be incredibly recognizable to their twenties and thirty-somethings. The series seamlessly captures the messy reality of growing up, and all the issues that come with it. The characters are not perfect and make everyday mistakes, making the story feel very real and not forced. With 7 episodes of about 25 minutes and a criminally handsome and charming lead, this series should be on everyone's watchlist.

The series starts with Otto's boyfriend Boris returning from a 3 month trip, and breaks up citing that Otto needs more fun and Boris is bored of his mundane life. Otto lives in the huge apartment by his grandmother, hasn't renovated the place, as if he is stuck in time loop. This breakup comes as a shocker to him and he is not ready to move on. His best girlfriend Lente suggests Grindr. Otto is new to Grindr and creates a new identity and starts to hook up, gets to experience the surprisingly vibrant (and at times, chaotic) queer nightlife of Brussels, filled with everything from drag performances to leather bars and, oh yes, dark room hookups. His idea was to meet Boris to reconnect but he has moved on. Otto is also a psychologist and an unprofessional encounter with a patient in a bathhouse means he is fired from his job. If this is all not enough, his best friend Lente is moving to countryside with her boyfriend. We have one full episode each dedicated to Otto thinking he found the perfect new guy, a romantic musician who turns out was just a weekend fling and then on Lente who ends up sleeping with a bartender because she doesn't know what she wants from life (just like Otto). 

Oh, Otto! is the show we’ve been missing in an era where queer representation on TV is growing but still lacks depth and nuance in the mature, adult drama department. It’s not all about heartwarming coming-out stories or tragic, overly sanitized tales of gay love. It’s about the grit and glamour of life, the struggles and the fun, the realness of being an adult in today’s queer world. We get to see the messiness, the vulnerability, and of course the skin. The show is unflinching in its depiction of adult queer experiences: Otto’s forays into the city’s drag shows, leather bars, and anonymous darkroom hookups are depicted with both sensitivity and candor, offering a rare focus on mature gay themes and the messy, beautiful process of post-breakup self-reinvention. The actors are all gorgeously handsome. The Otto actor with that mustache is just jaw dropping handsome. Every single shot if his and I would think, how can this guy be so gorgeous with perfect jawline and a face like that. And his act of a kid in a grown man's body who is happy with how boring he is and mundane things like hanging out with Lente is what he enjoys. He doesn't want to party and be out and about and that is ok. The weekend fling middle eastern guy or even Boris was quite deliciously charming. Lente as the best friend is something we all hope for in our life. The landscape is still too sparse when it comes to mature LGBTQ+ stories, especially ones that explore complex relationships beyond the teenage coming-out narrative. As much as I enjoy all the Asian BL series, a mature and relatable story is what was missing (think G&T). Whats great about the show is that it steers clear of stereotypes and instead delving into the realities of navigating love, loss, and friendship as a young gay man in a rapidly changing world.

Oh, Otto! is gritty, real, and unapologetically adult. It’s the kind of series that makes you feel seen—both in your awkward moments and in your steamy ones. It’s the reminder that love isn’t always tidy, but it’s always worth the mess. Maybe the next one needs to be Ew, David!! Till then, this series is an absolute must watch. (8.5/0)
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