Television is increasingly featuring romantic stories involving older queer men, a trend dubbed 'Old Man Yaoi' by fans. Shows like Severance, Mid-Century Modern, and Interview with the Vampire showcase these characters in complex, desirable roles, challenging stereotypes of aging queerness. This shift addresses long-standing gaps in representation for older LGBTQ+ individuals.
The term 'Old Man Yaoi' has gained traction in online fandoms to describe romantic or sexual relationships between older male characters, drawing from the Japanese genre yaoi but expanding into Western media. Originally applied to fanfiction and art from series like House, M.D. and Squid Game, it now celebrates canonical depictions on television that portray older queer men with depth and desire, rather than desexualizing or marginalizing them.
In Apple TV+'s Severance, the relationship between Irving Bailiff, played by John Turturro, and Burt Goodman, portrayed by Christopher Walken, anchors the first season's emotional narrative. Their subtle workplace romance, marked by longing glances and intimate touches, unfolds within the confines of their 'Innie' identities at Lumon Industries. The season ends tragically when Irving discovers Burt lives with another male partner outside work, highlighting the barriers to their connection and the devastation of unfulfilled love in later life.
Hulu's Mid-Century Modern offers a comedic take, following three older gay men—Bunny (Nathan Lane), Jerry (Matt Bomer), and Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham)—who relocate to Palm Springs after losing a friend. The series explores their intersecting lives, mistakes, and bonds, rejecting stereotypes of lonely or sexless elders. It emphasizes community as a form of love, showing how these men navigate relationships much like younger characters.
AMC's Interview with the Vampire reimagines Anne Rice's story with journalist Daniel Molloy, played by 72-year-old Eric Bogosian, in charged interactions with vampires Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Armand (Assad Zaman). A pivotal scene revisits their 1973 meeting, where Louis asks Daniel, 'Do you want to now?' about intimacy, underscoring enduring fascination. This adaptation uses Daniel's age to humanize the vampires, promising bolder queer representation ahead.
This trend evolves queer storytelling by embracing aging, vulnerability, and sensuality, inviting audiences to see older queer men as vibrant and relational.
