First Impressions: “Heated Rivalry” Brings Steam and Sincerity to International Screens
Spoiler Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Heated Rivalry.
The first two episodes of Heated Rivalry have taken the internet by storm, mixing fans of hockey, romance, and queer stories all together into one fandom. Based on the book of the same name by Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry brings steam and sincerity to international screens. Writer and director Jacob Tierney shares the story of fictional star hockey players Shane Hollander — played by Hudson Williams — and Ilya Rozanov — played by Connor Storrie. The series breathes life into Reid’s queer world of sports stars, bringing a new queer story to fandoms across the internet.
Pressure in the Crease
Reid’s book series Game Changers doesn’t shy away from sex, and Shane and Ilya’s relationship is founded on it in Heated Rivalry. The two all-star athletes find a spark of competition when they meet and face off at the International Prospects Cup in 2008. From there, the first episode “Rookies” covers their interactions throughout their first season in the Major Hockey League (MHL).
From the drop of the puck, there is a level of animosity between the characters as they play to prove their worth before their rookie season even starts. They are new to the world of professional hockey and to each other, both trying to find their places in the world as young faces of the sport. The pressure of thousands of fans is already a lot to take on, but the episode delves deeper into the other stressors the two face.
Shane is Asian-Canadian, and his mom — an Asian immigrant to Canada — reminds him how much he means to kids that don’t often see themselves represented in the world of professional hockey. A perfectionist and people-pleaser, Shane doesn’t want to let his family, fans, city, country, or himself down by not living up to the expectations set out for him — including being straight in the macho, heteronormative world of hockey.
While Shane’s parents are supportive and ultimately encouraging, Ilya’s father berates him for any mistake he makes personally or professionally. His brother doesn’t respect him either, calling and asking for money with little regard for Ilya’s well-being. Ilya’s family in Russia don’t look out for him, and living in North America as a closeted Russian bisexual athlete pushes him to seek out thrilling partners and encounters, despite the danger that being outed would mean for him.
The pressure that both Shane and Ilya face is just like a strong push from defensemen in the crease (by the goal) where the pressure from all sides pushes them closer together, towards what they want. That pressure bleeds into every scene of the first two episodes, whether it’s a tense rooftop encounter or a cheesy award presentation on stage.
Talking Bodies
There is no talking about Heated Rivalry without talking about Shane and Ilya’s sex scenes. Sex is integral to their story, and the show doesn’t shy away from the importance of sex in their relationship. From clandestine hotel room hook-ups to stolen backstage moments, Shane and Ilya’s relationship blooms when their bodies meet.
In “Rookies,” their first time together is more than just a sex scene. It’s an exploration of who the characters really are. The privacy and intimacy they afford each other allows them to peel back the hockey pads and emotional barriers from their public personas and actually be vulnerable with each other.
When Ilya jokingly acts like he’s going to leave before taking care of Shane, the hurt that Shane expresses doesn’t just add to the current moment, but contextualizes his character’s behavior in the rest of the episode. He huffs and frowns, but accepts that he won’t get what he wants, providing deeper insight into how he allows himself to not truly be taken care of, in and outside of the bedroom.
In response, Ilya gently says “I would not leave you like that,” a tender moment given that they have no history or real accountability to each other. Ilya’s playboy persona slips away in this moment, and reveals his actual tendency toward caretaking, also seen in how he takes care of his family despite how they treat him.
Each sex scene is a deep dive into the characters, and Williams and Storrie take every breath and intimate moment to tell a story beyond the bedroom.
Production Hat Trick
If Williams’ and Storrie’s performances suck audiences into Shane and Ilya’s world of ice and steam, the production fleshes out the world until it’s bursting through the screen. One of the most noticeable parts of the production is the lighting in each scene, but especially in the sex scenes. The lighting helps tell the story, Shane and Ilya bathed in warm light and shadows that accentuate the movements and story that the actors tell with their bodies.
Another impressive feat from the production team is the seamlessness of the time jumps between scenes. Ilya and Shane are professional athletes that travel and play all over the world, from regular season games to the Olympics in episode two, “Olympians.” This means, practically, they only see each other several times a year with massive gaps between each interaction. With supportive writing, clear editing, and transition cards, the time that Shane and Ilya spend apart blends seamlessly into the timeline and their relationship.
The series wouldn’t be complete without the choreography that brings Shane and Ilya together on and off the ice. Williams and Storrie, along with Tierney, worked with intimacy coordinator Chala Hunter to make sure each sex scene was comfortable, communicative, and ultimately creative. Hunter’s work shines through Williams’ and Storrie’s performances, helping the best version of the show emerge with consent and comfortability on the set.
Powering Forward
With a new episode release each Friday, Heated Rivalry will continue to heat up screens across the globe. What started as an exclusive show to Canadian streaming service Crave has expanded to an international phenomenon. Fans outside Canada campaigned for an international release, resulting in a collaboration with HBO Max to distribute the show in the US and Australia, as well as with other streaming platforms in New Zealand and Spain.
As the season progresses, keep a lookout for characters from other books in Reid’s Game Changers series. Appearances from characters Scott Hunter — played by Francois Arnauld — and Kip Grady — played by Robbie G.K. — tease the story of the first book in the series, Game Changer. With appearances from characters across Reid’s queer hockey universe, Heated Rivalry fans new and old can look forward to heart, hockey, and queer joy on their screens in this new series.
Find out where you can watch each episode of Heated Rivalry here, with a new episode out each Friday.
Want more romance? Check out EnVi’s roundup of 14 romantic Asian-led films and shows to watch here.
