"Let me start by saying that I am a cis woman, and I don't know anything about ice hockey except that people on TikTok have started calling the rinks " boy aquariums." ButI, like a large percentage of the show's women-identifying audience, tore through the first five episodes of Heated Rivalry (2025-ongoing) in less than a day. In just one month, the Canadian gay hockey romance drama, adapted from author Rachel Reid's Game Changers(2019-) novel series, has skyrocketed in popularity, scoring an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes."
"The main cast is eye candy and exposed. Fresh-faced co-leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are breakout stars who shatter the monotony of Hollywood's recycled talent pool, and the long-form plot is a realistic slow burn peppered with yearning, respectful but passionate sex, drama, and competition. Streaming on Crave and HBO Max, this remarkable contribution to queer storytelling has been a salve for me following Netflix's decision to cancel Boots (2025), about a closeted gay teenager who impulsively enlisted in the Marine Corps while it was still illegal for non-heterosexual people to serve."
Heated Rivalry is a Canadian gay hockey romance adapted from Rachel Reid's Game Changers novels that achieved rapid popularity and critical acclaim, earning a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score. The series centers on Shane Hollander and Russian rival Ilya Rozanov in an enemies-to-lovers arc that evolves from secret encounters into deeper emotional connection amid rink competition and media scrutiny. The production features breakout leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie and emphasizes a realistic slow burn, respectful but passionate sex, and interpersonal drama. The show streams on Crave and HBO Max and has generated viral memes and strong fan enthusiasm.
Read at Hyperallergic
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