"I am usually stone-faced while watching TV shows, but I found myself holding my face and groaning when Shane and Ilya bumped feet under the table, and gasping when Ilya told Shane to keep his glasses on. I kicked my feet when Ilya confessed his love in Russian to Shane. My physical body may be at work, but my spirit is still thinking about the show's cottage episode on loop."
"Women loving to watch men in love with each other is not new. In fact, there's a Japanese term called "fujoshi" specifically to describe women who delight in men-loving-men romances. Academics theorize that women's desire to see men hook up with each other might be, in part, because women feel psychological safety from watching romances that cannot ever involve them."
"In other words, watching men kiss, grind and fall in love with each other can be a refreshing escape from the garbage that comes with being a woman in a society that too often caters to the needs of men. "People fantasize about and enjoy seeing content that specifically allows them to see or be someone else," said certified sex therapist Nicoletta von Heidegger."
Heated Rivalry, an HBO Max/Crave adaptation of Rachel Reid's books, centers on professional hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov who are secretly lovers. The show's intimate moments triggered strong physical and emotional reactions from fans, particularly women. A passionate fanbase creates edited music videos, merchandise like "Gay Hockey Romance Saved My Life" items, and tattoos of chairs and loons. A Japanese term, fujoshi, describes women who enjoy men-loving-men romances. Academics suggest women may find psychological safety in male-male romance because such relationships cannot involve them, offering escape from patriarchal expectations. A sex therapist notes people enjoy content that lets them see or be someone else.
Read at HuffPost
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