What to Watch After “Heated Rivalry”

If your Heated Rivalry post-finale plan is “re-watch the cottage scenes and spiral,” you’re not alone. The hit queer sports series wrapped Season 1 on Friday, December 26, 2025, streaming on HBO Max (U.S.) and Crave (Canada) and yes, Season 2 has already been confirmed for 2027. 

Until the next season drops, here are 12 MLM (men loving men)/BL (boy’s love) love stories that can help quell those Heated Rivalry cravings. 

Where to watch availability may shift by region.

Coming Of Age

I Told Sunset About You (2020) – Thailand

Set against the beauty of Phuket, Thailand two former best friends, Teh (Billkin Putthipong) and Oh-Aew (PP Krit), reunite in Chinese language class. As they build their relationship the jealousy, pride, and longing they thought they buried back then comes right back up. It’s intimate, beautifully shot, and heartbreaking, with moments that will have you holding your breath built around that “we’re young and we don’t know what to do with how intense this all feels” ache. 

For: Yearners who want a good cry

Where to Watch: Viki

SKAM season 3 (2016) – Norway

This Norwegian teen drama follows students at Hartvig Nissen School in Oslo, and Season 3 focuses on Isak (Tarjei Sandvik Moe) as he falls for Even (Henrik Holm). He tries to balance his feelings while trying to keep control of a life that already feels unstable. Their relationship grows in private, but it forces Isak to confront identity, fear, and the way anxiety can distort what we consider safe.

For: Those who want pain that hits close to home

Where to Watch: NRK, YouTube

Moonlight (2016) – USA

Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning film follows Chiron across three stages of life as he grows up in Miami and tries to understand himself, his desire, and what masculinity is supposed to mean. His connection with Kevin becomes one of the story’s emotional anchors, carrying through years of trauma, silence, tenderness, and regret. It’s not a light watch, but it is essential, especially as Hudson Williams mentioned Chiron as character inspiration for Shane Hollander’s quiet repression. 

For: Viewers who want to sit in silence after the credits roll

Where to Watch: Tubi, HBO Max

Additional recs: My School President (2022), Love Simon (2018), Cherry Magic (2020)

Mystery/Thriller

Not Me (2021) – Thailand 

When White (Gun Atthaphan) learns his twin brother has been brutally attacked, he takes his brother’s place to infiltrate his friend group and find out what really happened. This gets him pulled into an activist group and a violent conflict bigger than he expected. He clashes with Sean (Off Jumpol), who is suspicious of him, but keeps getting drawn in anyway.

For: Anyone who falls in love mid-investigation

Where To Watch: YouTube

Additional recs: Manner of Death (2021), The Eighth Sense (2023)

Spicy 

KinnPorsche (2022) – Thailand 

Trigger warning: sexual assault and violence 

Bangkok bartender and underground fighter Porsche (Apo Nattawin) gets pulled into the orbit of Kinn (Mile Phakphum), a powerful mafia heir who hires him as a bodyguard after a violent night goes sideways. Their relationship is explosive from the jump, and the show fully leans into the danger, luxury, and complicated loyalty as Porsche slowly starts to realize exactly what he has gotten himself into. 

For: Lovers of severe moral ambiguity

Where to Watch: iQIYI

Smiley (2022) – Spain 

In Barcelona, Alex (Carlos Cuevas) sends a blunt voicemail after a guy ghosts him, and it accidentally sets off a chain reaction that puts him on a collision course with Bruno (Miki Esparbé), an architect who is nothing like the person Álex thought he was calling. 

For: People who pretend they’re chill, but are absolutely not

Where to Watch: Netflix 

Only Friends (2023) – Thailand 

A college friend group faces challenges as they deal with an overlap of friends with benefits situations. Top (Force Jiratchapong) is desperately pursuing Mew (Book Kasidet), while curving the advances of former hookup Boston (Neo Trai) who has a sexual relationship with Nick (Mark Pakin). Nick’s friend Sand (First Kanaphan) starts an addictive fwb relationship with the wealthy Ray (Khaotung Thanawat) who’s dealing with a host of problems. If you like romance that is complicated, occasionally unhinged, and still weirdly addictive, this one is for you.

For: Anyone who has ever watched a group chat self-destruct in real time

Where To Watch: YouTube

Additional recs: Sense8 (2015), The Novelist (2018)

Reality

His Man (2022) – Korea

South Korea’s first gay dating reality series brings eight single men into a shared house where they cook, talk, flirt, and go on dates while trying to figure out who they actually connect with. 

For: Those who read into everything

Where to Watch: iQIYI

The Boyfriend (2024) – Japan

This Japanese dating series follows a group of men living together for a month while running a coffee truck, which creates natural time for friendships, tension, and unexpected pairings to form as they face long shifts. Don’t expect any big blow out drama, the show is quieter and more intimate than most dating series, with a lot of meaning packed into small gestures and conversations that do not always say everything out loud. Season 2 starts Jan. 13! 

For: Secret admirers who like to crush from afar

Where to Watch: Netflix

Additional recs: Bromance (2021), Boyscation (2022), Boys Like Boys (2023)

Rivalry Energy 

10DANCE (2025) – Japan 

Two elite dancers with opposite styles agree to train together for a competition, and the partnership becomes personal fast. Shinya Sugiki (Ryoma Takeuchi) is strict and disciplined, while Shinya Suzuki (Keita Machida) is more instinct-driven, and the push-pull of rivalry is baked into every rehearsal. If you want competition, tension, and romance that builds through movement and proximity, this one is an easy yes.

For: Anyone obsessed with competitive eye contact and unresolved sexual tension

Where to Watch: Netflix

HIStory2: Crossing The Line (2018) – Taiwan

YuHao (Fandy Fan) joins a volleyball team and ends up pulled into a rivalry that turns personal, especially as the team’s captain (Zach Lu) and the people around them start reading between the lines. The sports setting keeps them in constant proximity, and the relationship develops through training and competition and ends up in a push-pull dynamic that’s equal parts competitive and romantic. If you specifically miss the rivals-to-lovers spark, this is a good one for you.

For: “One more practice” people who love denial and tension

Where to Watch: Viki

Gameboys (2020) – Philippines 

Set during the 2020 lockdown in the Philippines, gamer Cairo Lazaro (Elijah Canlas) loses an online match to a mysterious player named Angel2000. When Cairo calls for a rematch, he finds out Angel2000 is Gavreel Alarcon (Kokoy de Santos), a fan who turns the challenge into something personal. What begins as playful competition becomes an online relationship built through video calls, group chats, and late-night conversations, until real life pressures start testing what they have.

For: People who fall in love through notifications and late-night calls

Where to Watch: Netflix

Additional recs: Bad Buddy (2021), Yuri!!! on Ice (2016)

Secret Lovers

Red, White, & Royal Blue (2023) – USA

Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the First Son of the United States, is forced into a staged truce with Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) after a public incident threatens international optics. Their rivalry turns into late-night conversations, secret meetings, and a relationship that becomes a lot harder to hide the more it matters to them. Based on the best-selling novel by Casey McQuiston, a sequel has already been green-lit by Prime Video.

For: Anyone who doesn’t mind long distance, like across continents

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Additional recs: Fellow Travelers (2023), Young Royals (2021)

Between Seasons

The Heated Rivalry season might be over, but the tension does not have to be, this list should keep you busy until the puck drops again. Whether you want something tender, something dangerous, or something messy on purpose, there’s plenty here to carry you into the wait for Season 2. Consider this your official watchlist for the off-season.

Want more? Check out our interview with the cast of AFAM Wives Club here!