HBO's Violent New Show Is Like Heated Rivalry for Sickos

"For fujoshi, the Japanese term for women who love media about romance between men, we are living through what can only be described as a second Enlightenment. There's the recent monumental success of Heated Rivalry, the Canadian hockey show that made superstars of its actors and caused author Rachel Reid's source books to fly off store shelves around the world. Other LGBTQ+ romance books have also been surging in popularity for years, assisted by steamy movie adaptations like 2023's Red, White & Royal Blue and 2024's . Hell, out gay actor Jonathan Bailey is People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive."

"Enter , the follow-up show from Baby Reindeercreator Richard Gadd, which is also laden with homoerotic yearning, albeit in other twisted ways. The BBC and HBO co-production, which premiered in late April, spends decades following two men, the chaotic ogre Ruben (played by Gadd as an adult and Stuart Campbell as a teenager) and meek closet-case Niall (Jamie Bell and Mitchell Robertson), after they become "brothers from another lover" when their respective mothers begin a romantic relationship together."

"The boys' bond is fraternal, but also poisonous and unstable, marked by years of yearning, brutality, fear, and competitive masculinity. The complicated relationship isn't consumed by endless will-they-won't-they sexual tension so much as it is confronting in its physicality, both violent and sexual. At the end of the very first episode, for example, after Ruben has assaulted Niall several times, he assists his younger "brother" in losing his virginity with Ruben's willing girlfriend."

"At one point, as Niall is inside his girlfriend, Ruben leans close to him and helps guide his breathing. At another, he helps redirect his brother's penis"

LGBTQ+ romance content has gained major mainstream momentum, including the success of Heated Rivalry and increased sales of related source books. Popular adaptations such as Red, White & Royal Blue and other recent media have further expanded visibility. Public recognition of LGBTQ+ actors and high-profile romantic scenes has contributed to a broader cultural shift. Enter, a BBC and HBO co-production, follows two men across decades after their mothers begin a relationship, making them “brothers from another lover.” Their bond combines fraternal closeness with instability, featuring years of yearning, brutality, fear, and competitive masculinity. The relationship is portrayed through physical violence and sexual acts rather than prolonged will-they-won’t-they tension.

Read at Slate Magazine