Germany might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about LGBT TV dramas, but if you look closely, you’ll see that it has quietly made some of the most emotionally powerful and startlingly daring gay shows in the last twenty years. They found me, even though I wasn’t seeking for them. These shows made an impression, whether it was a quick look at a crowded party set to “Cure For Me” or two ex-lovers dealing with shame and longing in a soap opera subplot.
Some of them remind me of time capsules (Verbotene Liebe), while others feel like real diary entries from LGBT teens (Kuntergrau). What impressed me the most wasn’t the quality of the production or the pacing; it was the honesty. These stories may not be as glamorous as U.S. or K-drama type BLs, but they are real, meaningful, and very personal.
If you’re exploring queer storytelling across cultures, don’t miss our curated country guides: from the emotional highs of Thai BL series and the bold visuals of Spanish BL series to the raw vulnerability in American BL series, the charm of British BL dramas, and the quiet realism of German queer movies.
These 6 German LGBT shows stuck with me long after the credits rolled. Not because they were wonderful, but because they seemed real.
Top German BL & Gay Series
Country: Germany
Year: 2021
Genre: Teen Drama / LGBTQ+
Main Couple: Sascha & Ismail (Isi)
Verbotene Liebe is a long-running German soap opera that began in 1995, but it was the love story between Christian and Oliver that truly captivated audiences. Their relationship starts when Christian, a bartender, meets Oliver, a former sailor, after they become housemates. What begins as tension slowly becomes affection, confession, marriage, and eventually heartbreak. Their journey is filled with joy, infidelity, reconciliation, and complexity.
Though I discovered this show much later, only watching the Christian & Oliver storyline (known affectionately as OAC), I was instantly hooked. I rewatched their confession scenes, wedding, and even the messier break-up arcs more times than I’d like to admit. For a soap opera, their emotional arc felt surprisingly sincere. No wonder this couple brought the show its highest ratings—OAC really was the soul of Verbotene Liebe.
Country: Germany
Year: 2019
Genre: Teen Drama / Coming-of-Age / LGBTQ+
Main Couple: Matteo & David
Season 3 of DRUCK shifts the spotlight to Matteo, a sensitive teen grappling with loneliness, identity, and the slow realization of his queerness. Everything begins to shift when he meets David, a quiet, introspective boy with a haunted gaze and calm energy. As their bond deepens through small gestures and long silences, Matteo finds himself drawn into a world where connection feels terrifying—and inevitable.
This season is the German adaptation of Skam’s iconic “Isak & Even” storyline, but it brings its own rawness and gentleness. Instead of high drama, it offers stolen glances, inner struggle, and the slow blooming of trust between two boys who’ve both been hurt in different ways.
I didn’t follow this season live—it wasn’t a daily countdown kind of watch for me. Instead, I binged four episodes in one go. And somewhere between the second and third, I found myself falling for David. Not for how he looked, necessarily, but for the way he existed: thoughtful, almost too gentle, with eyes that always carried something unsaid. David is heartbreakingly soft, and Matteo—“little Mi”—matches him in his own wounded way.
The actors did such a beautiful job. Their chemistry isn’t loud, but it stays with you. Watching them together felt like watching the world turn blue again. And watching them apart? That was just pain. I genuinely hope more people can set aside assumptions and just see their love—honestly, it might move you to tears, or at the very least, make you smile without even realizing it.
Country: Germany
Year: 2007 (OAC Arc)
Genre: Soap Opera / Gay Romance
Main Couple: Christian & Oliver (Olli)
Verbotene Liebe is a long-running German soap opera that began in 1995, but it was the love story between Christian and Oliver that truly captivated audiences. Their relationship starts when Christian, a bartender, meets Oliver, a former sailor, after they become housemates. What begins as tension slowly becomes affection, confession, marriage, and eventually heartbreak. Their journey is filled with joy, infidelity, reconciliation, and complexity.
Though I discovered this show much later, only watching the Christian & Oliver storyline (known affectionately as OAC), I was instantly hooked. I rewatched their confession scenes, wedding, and even the messier break-up arcs more times than I’d like to admit. For a soap opera, their emotional arc felt surprisingly sincere. No wonder this couple brought the show its highest ratings—OAC really was the soul of Verbotene Liebe.
Country: Germany
Year: 2015–2020
Genre: Web Series / Queer Slice-of-Life
Main Focus: Noah & Friend Group
Kuntergrau is a web series created by youth queer collective ‘anyway’ in Cologne. Rather than telling a linear romantic plot, it captures the day-to-day lives of a group of young gay men through honest, raw, and heartfelt vignettes. From coming out and dating apps to intergenerational friendships and emotional insecurities, this is queer life in its most unfiltered form.
I originally skipped this series because the ratings seemed low, and I thought it would be just another long soap. But when I realized it was a short web series, I binged the entire thing in one morning—and I was genuinely touched. Noah stood out for me; he felt like someone I’d want to be friends with. It may not have a dramatic storyline, but that’s what makes it so real. It’s like queer life captured in a beaker—raw, warm, and truthful.
Country: Germany
Year: 2021–2022
Genre: Modern Gay Drama / Berlin Life
Main Couples: Vince & Robbie, Levo & Tom
All You Need explores the lives of four gay men in Berlin: Vince, a party-loving student; Robbie, a gentle soul with secrets; Levo, a designer facing financial stress; and Tom, a married man rethinking his life. Against the backdrop of hookup apps and a fast-paced city, the series dives into themes of modern queer love, racism, economic insecurity, and the search for belonging.
I wasn’t expecting much, but it surprised me—in just five episodes, it delivered compelling characters and genuine chemistry. Robbie was a standout—sweet, sincere, and grounding. Sure, the last episode tipped into melodrama and some themes like racism felt rushed, but overall, this felt like Germany’s heartfelt answer to Looking. It’s not perfect, but it’s refreshingly honest.
Country: Germany
Year: 2013 (Arc Focus)
Genre: Soap Drama / Closet Romance
Main Couple: Ringo & Yannick
In the small-town soap Unter uns, Ringo—a handsome but emotionally guarded young man—unexpectedly crosses paths with his former flame Yannick, now best friends with his sister Kira. As their past resurfaces, Ringo struggles with internalized homophobia and self-denial, trying to hide his feelings in a conservative environment. Their on-again-off-again dynamic brings emotional chaos and longing.
Let’s be real—I usually hate the “toxic closeted guy + emotionally available boy” trope. But Ringo? His face alone could justify a thousand rewatch sessions. His self-loathing was frustrating, but somehow, the chemistry and the angst made it work. Think Verbotene Liebe with more secrecy and a hotter lead. As a self-proclaimed face-worshipping viewer, I had zero regrets binging this.
If you enjoy exploring LGBTQ cinema from around the world, we’ve curated a variety of categories just for you. Dive into the emotional storytelling of Chinese Gay Movies, or experience the romance and intensity of Korean Gay Movies. Fans of British charm will love our collection of British Gay Movies, while those who appreciate the unique perspectives of Japanese filmmaking shouldn’t miss Japanese Gay Movies. And for a taste of Europe’s bold and thought-provoking narratives, our German Gay Movies selection offers plenty to discover.
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