A review of the series OH OTTO! by Stijn van Kerkhoven, following a young gay man from Brussels after a breakup. An engaging and endearing drama.

A touching Belgian gay series about breaking up and rebuilding in Brussels

Here, we love gay series that focus on feelings, and in that genre, Oh, Otto! is a gem. We follow the charming Otto (Jonathan Michiels) as he begins his professional life as a psychologist in Brussels. Since his grandmother’s death, he has been living in her apartment with his dog. Fairly well-balanced, Otto sees his daily life turned upside down when his boyfriend Boris (Gijs De Corte) breaks up with him after returning from a trip. Boris finds him too predictable and boring, and wants to have fun. It is a hard blow for Otto, who understandably feels like wallowing in misery. Fortunately, his best friend Lente (Jennifer Heylen) is there to shake him up and encourages him to break out of his routine by trying gay dating apps. Otto is sceptical at first, but eventually gets into it.

Gay dating, identity and the search for connection in Oh, Otto!

On the apps, Otto uses the username Elio (in reference to Call me by your name). As he meets people, he discovers the world of gay dating, which he had not known before. His naivety is either appealing or leads him into far-fetched situations. Swept up in his search for a deep connection with a boy, Otto becomes less diligent at work and somewhat neglects his best friend, who nevertheless needs him. Lente is also going through a crisis, as she is about to move into a house away from the city with her partner. She wonders whether this settled life is not coming a little too soon for her, while she still wants to enjoy the thrill of youth. Both she and Otto will be led to take stock of their lives, sometimes putting themselves in perilous situations in order to get to know themselves better and move forward…

Sensitive direction and engaging characters by Stijn van Kerkhoven

The plot is fairly classic on paper, but that is precisely what makes this Belgian series so charming: it is modest, intimate and, above all, very well made. Across seven episodes of under 30 minutes, Stijn van Kerkhoven creates engaging characters and universal situations, with fine writing that feels lived-in, careful direction and beautiful cinematography. The cast is perfect, led by Jonathan Michiels and Jennifer Heylen. We also find a whole gallery of well-drawn supporting characters, including a fine lineup of endearing actors: the very desirable Gijs De Corte, Tarikh Janssen, Mickaël Pelissier, Tomas Pevenage and Vadiel Gonzalez.

LGBTQ+ themes, friendship and desire: the emotional heart of the series Oh, Otto!

The contrast between a romantic boy discovering Grindr culture and its quick or colourful hookups, the touching friendship between a gay man and his best friend, the complexity of sexual and romantic relationships that can end much more quickly and easily than one might think, and a complex relationship with one’s mother: these are some of the themes handled here with brilliance. In perfect balance between emotion, humour and existential questions, Oh, Otto! captivates with its style and sincerity, capturing a snapshot of youth in search of connection in Brussels. Utterly endearing.

Series produced in 2025 and available on

Other gay romance series to watch

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• The outs
• Looking
• Please like me
• Special