Round Table

Round Table is a relaxed dinner-time talk show where host Wentao Dou invites three old friends and a rotating slate of guests to recreate the feel of a genuine after-dinner conversation. Instead of formal interviews, the cameras linger on casual give-and-take, jokes, disagreements and quiet moments, so episodes feel improvised and alive. Conversations begin with everyday observations and then widen to cover culture, social trends, personal memory and current events. The tone is unpolished but attentive, leaning on curiosity and candid exchanges rather than slick production. Each episode is structured around the chemistry at the table, allowing talk to shift between light anecdotes and more reflective remarks without following a rigid agenda. Episodes often feel like private exchanges between friends.

Launched in 2016, Round Table was created, hosted and fronted by Wentao Dou for Youku, appearing under the platform's 'Looking at the Ideal' series. The program was produced for online streaming, favoring intimate studio settings over large sets in China.

There are no widely reported major industry awards for Round Table. It did attract media attention and was noted in commentary pieces for its style and guests, yet it does not seem to have accumulated formal prize recognition from major festivals or award bodies, and continues to be discussed online.

While not mainstream, Round Table helped normalize dinner-table style conversations on Chinese streaming platforms, encouraging looser, longer-form talk shows. It resonated with viewers who favor in-depth, unscripted dialogue, and its table-based, low-key aesthetic became a talking point among creators. Online commentators often highlighted its focus on chemistry over production values.

Critics and viewers who followed Round Table praised its candid tone and conversational depth, and it's reflected in a 9.0/10 user score from a small sample. Reception tended to be positive among niche audiences, who appreciated its focus on cultural observation, memory and candid contemporary commentary, rather than mass-market appeal over time.