The cultural revival of 2016 hasn’t just brought us filtered photo dumps and a new appreciation for Zara Larsson – it has also facilitated the sky-high popularity of hit new show Heated Rivalry.
Heated Rivalry – or as it’s more eloquently known, ‘the gay hockey show’ – has swept social media, accumulating an obsessive fan base at an alarming speed. Based on the book series Game Changers by Rachel Reid, the show follows two rising ice hockey stars from their rookie year, detailing the budding romance and relationship that develops between the two players.
An important part of the show’s charm is derived from the two main actors – Hudson Wiliams, who plays Canada’s reserved and professional Shane Hollander, and Connor Storrie, who performs as Russia’s stoic and provocative Ilya Rosonov. The internet has fallen in love with both their characters and the artists behind them, with fan accounts, edits, and paparazzi chases popping up at alarming speeds. For a show that was filmed in 37 days and seemed to have a budget of about $100 CAD, some lube and a few hockey sticks, their speed-run to international adoration has been monumental to observe. They presented an award at the Golden Globes, walked in fashion shows, became brand ambassadors, and just this last week, they were both torch-bearers for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Both young men have an impressive digital footprint, from Connor’s childhood YouTube channel to Hudson’s student film career. The fact they held regular jobs in hospitality before landing their roles in Heated Rivalry has captivated the attention of many fans, painting a relatable image of down-to-earth people and capitalising on the shared trauma felt by many who work in service.
I can’t comment much on the hockey aspect of Heated Rivalry, but the show managed to even keep me hooked during the sports scenes, using them to further the tension between the two players and draw viewers deeper into their tumultuous sporting careers. Editors relied heavily on time and location jumps to demonstrate the long, drawn-out relationship as it unfolds over about a decade.
I found myself wrapped up in Heated Rivalry in a way that a serious drama hasn’t in a long time. It’s no secret I’m a fan of predominantly queer shows (just look at my review history) but seeing the internet’s overwhelmingly positive reaction to such an openly homosexual show was heartwarming, particularly during such troubled political times. Through the news, especially highlighted in headlines from across the pond, it can feel that the world is moving backwards, retreating to a time of bigoted and conservative views. The rejoicing of queer love and open sexuality on such a major scale is essential. Online discourse compares the online love for Heated Rivalry to the type of ‘fangirling’ that ruled sites like Tumblr and Pinterest back in fan fiction’s peak period of popularity about 10 years ago – and I find that comparison to be hugely complimentary to the TV show.
‘Fangirls’ (not gender exclusionary, simply just the coined online term) used to run pop culture, and I find it encouraging that this program is being enjoyed so much that it is inspiring fan dedication, as well as the creation of more art – whether it be fan fiction, spin offs, edits, or more.
The show’s sex scenes have generated heated debate online, with viewers commenting on their graphic and prolonged nature. As always, it sparked the classic ‘Are sex scenes really needed in media?’ debate, which seems to cycle round platforms like X and Threads every couple of months. I am very much of the opinion, especially concerning Heated Rivalry, that sex scenes are entirely necessary. Not only are they deeply important for the show’s plot, helping to illustrate how Shane and Ilya’s relationship develops over time, but they are also, in my opinion, crucial to furthering society-wide acceptance of queer culture. We are used to the on-screen portrayals of many kinds of intercourse between heterosexual couples, whether rough, loving, uncomfortable, or sexy. However, there is significantly less representation of gay couples and their sexuality, particularly in such a detailed and tender form. Heated Rivalry delivers a crucial addition to queer media’s portrayal of on-screen love, and I maybe even argue they should have more NSFW scenes in Season 2 – just to anger the nay-sayers, of course. No other reason.