Heated Rivalry (2025) Review

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Based on the Game Changers novel series by Rachel Reid, it follows two rival professional hockey players, Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), whose on-ice animosity conceals a passionate, secret romance. (Source)

Review

How I came to watch it

Maybe I’m on a very niche part of the internet, but this show has been heating up screens across the world. It is a romance about two hockey players based on a book series by Rachel Reid. I started seeing news about it on my Instagram at the end of 2025 and I knew about the book first, but I hadn’t thought about picking it up because it was labelled as smut. (Note: I have since read the books and I don’t mind the smut. But I think what I enjoy the most are the emotional story beats.)

Hit by FOMO, as usual, I started looking up how to watch it. I thought it wasn’t available here until Singapore-based classicallyclare shared that she had recently watched it. So I bit the bullet and subscribed to HBO Max for a month … and I was outraged that I couldn’t find it! Adding fuel to the fire was an ad for HBO Max on Instagram, saying I could watch Heated Rivalry. I sent strongly worded feedback and unsubscribed. Since I still had a month left on the subscription, I ended up watching Mickey 17 instead.

Just a couple days later I got the same ad again. I opened the comment section, ready to give HBO Max a piece of my mind. But a helpful ANGEL had explained that you had to toggle the R21 settings to access the show. How I scrambled to check it and it worked! 😍

So did I enjoy it in the end? Suffice it to say that I have since watched the show 4 times (Technically 4.5 because on my 4th re-watch, my subscription expired. I took a 1-month break but re-subscribed to watch it again.) I’m now in the middle of my 5th rewatch.

This fandom is a prison, but I’m fine here, thank you.

What I liked about the show

Re-heating Heated Rivalry

The ability of the show to be rewatched multiple times is a big plus for me. That’s not to say I was hooked immediately. On the first watch, I actually had difficulty following the story. It had many time skips which were hard to track but were instrumental in understanding the characters’ states of mind. I was also quite nervous the first time because I didn’t know what was going to happen next.

Still, I felt compelled to watch it again after finishing the finale episode. It just felt like there was more to unpack. On subsequent re-watches, I could focus more on the characters’ experiences and emotional journey instead of just how it ends. I could follow the time skips and get into the heads of each character better. My third watch has been the best so far. It made me emotional several times, especially from episode 4 onwards.

I suspect another reason for re-watching is how comforting the show is. The imaginary world in the show is quite similar to our world today. There is still a tacit prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community, as evidenced by how all the characters keep their identity a secret from the public. However, the show rewrites and models what might be possible for these characters. The main romantic leads are (mostly) surrounded by supportive friends and family. The characters also learn to embrace their love despite the pressures they face to do the opposite. The show also models a lot of positive behaviour from allies, demonstrating the importance of allyship in creating a more accepting world.

Sex sells

The title of this section was inspired by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie’s matching tattoos (Source)

There have been a number of popular shows in recent years that feature sex as a selling point. I’m thinking Sex Education, Bridgerton, Euphoria, etc. Perhaps I’m a prude (I blame it on my uptight Singaporean roots), but sometimes I wonder if some sex scenes are added just to be provocative.

I was thus initially skeptical about Heated Rivalry’s sex scenes, especially with its source material being classified as smut. However, I can say that not a single intimate scene felt gratuitous. The show was tightly written overall with only six episodes to tell two couples’ stories. There was simply no time for unnecessary spice so every sex scene was key in moving the love story forward.

Second screening

After 10 years, streaming juggernaut Netflix released the final season of Stranger Things at the end of 2025. The final season reportedly had a budget of $400-480 million for eight episodes. This comes out to an estimated $50 million per episode. I had expected much fanfare for the finale of such a popular series, it was decidedly overshadowed by the relatively unknown Heated Rivalry which was released around the same time on HBO Max and Canadian streamer Crave. In comparison, this show was reportedly made with a budget of less than $3.6 million per episode (Source).

So what happened?

I am still mid way through watching Stranger Things Season 5, so I won’t be able to provide my own theory. But there is speculation online that it may have fell victim to a Netflix policy to “tell, don’t show” (Source). This is a policy enacted to account for the phenomenon of viewers multi-tasking while watching Netflix (Refer to this Guardian article about second screens). This results in shows dumbing down their scripts, and telling the viewer multiple times what is happening.

As much as I often lambast the age of brainrot, I have also caught myself scrolling on my phone while watching a show that I chose! In recognition of this, I am making a conscious effort to give every piece of media I choose my full focus. However, there is also an argument to be made that the reason why I am scrolling on my phone is because the show isn’t engaging enough in the first place.

I think back to when I watched Devil’s Plan with my partner Mr Bao. Part of why we weren’t scrolling was because we were watching the show together. But practically speaking, it would have been impossible to follow the show if we had been on our phones. Even if the show was in English, there are complicated rules to follow, multiple storylines and ever-changing strategies and alliances to keep up with. I actually enjoyed pausing the show to discuss the rules with my partner. We sometimes even re-wind to review what happened and dissect how it impacted the plot. That whole experience was what made the show so addictive.

For Heated Rivalry, nothing is explicitly said in dialogue. I had trouble interpreting some subtext at first, but it was the confusion and suspense that intrigued me to watch the second time to catch what I might have missed. The scenes have also been dissected by hordes of dedicated fans online. After engaging with the community, rewatching is even more exciting as you search for your own easter eggs and view the story with a better understanding of all its layers.

The trickier the better, I say! Let us be challenged or else be turned into cattle.

Soundtrack

⚠️⚠️⚠️ This section contains MINOR SPOILERS for Heated Rivalry Season 1 ⚠️⚠️⚠️

A special shout out here to the soundtrack of Heated Rivalry. You can read more about how composer Peter Peter created the original score HERE. I personally love “Two Souls” (Las Vegas rooftop in ep. 1), “One Soul: (The Lake in ep. 6), and “Hollanov” (Tampa Bay All Star Game in ep. 5). You can listen to the full soundtrack HERE.

There were also some needle drops that I loved. I think the public loves “I’ll Believe in Anything” by Wolf Parade which was in the iconic finale scene in ep. 5, and “All The Things She Said” by t.A.T.u and the remixed version by Harrison in the club scene in ep. 4. Both have become undeniably iconic songs that have even being played at real hockey games.

My personal favourites are, in chronological order:

  • Sealion by Feist (ep 1 before their first tryst)
  • My Moon My Man by Feist (ep 4 opening montage)
  • C’est toi by Satine (ep 4 montage of Shane and Rose)
  • L’anarchie des jours heureux (chanson theme Le chalet) by La Bronze (ep 6 driving to the cottage)
  • Bad Things by Cailin Russo (ep 6 end credits)

What I liked about the phenomenon of the production itself

Moving beyond the production, the phenomenon of Heated Rivalry IRL is something that has fascinated me for the past month.

Small but mighty

After the show’s mainstream success, many wondered how such a small project managed to pull it off. To be clear, this wasn’t a schoolyard production. They had elaborate sets, expensive camera equipment, and an experienced director. But small is relative, and compared to Hollywood productions, this show was made on a shoestring budget. For big budget production houses who have been languishing at the box office, this show’s success probably feels like a slap in the face.

I think one ingredient for success was ironically in its limitations. To tell the story with only six episodes, limited sets, a small cast, and a tight timeline forced the production team to find creative ways to manage. These limits extended to the writing which was likely kept tight as a consequence. They only kept the essentials and cut out the rest. Valentina Vee, a Director and Cinematographer talks more about how economical they were with filming in this video on her Instagram.

Another reason is that it was a passion project from its inception. Show creator Jacob Tierney was the one who reached out to Rachel Reid to option the book (Source). The book series was popular in some circles, but it was far from a guaranteed success. So the production was partly fuelled by passion. I felt it in the writing, cinematography, costumes, hair, accent work, lighting, music, and of course the intimacy choreography. Every last detail felt lovingly crafted by a cast and crew who loved and treasured the story. And I think that made all the difference.

As a creator, the show was a reminder that small things can still succeed, so Keep Going. Even with only three pennies and a dream, Keep Going. Even when everything feels like a remake, cash-grab, or nostalgia-bait, Keep. Going.

“Overnight” sensations

Seemingly overnight, the success of the show catapulted its creators and stars into the mainstream. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in particular, who play the two main characters Shane and Ilya respectively, have been the talk of the town. In subsequent interviews, they appeared surprised and expressed gratitude at the success of the show. Now all eyes are on their next move. Watching their success, I guess François Arnaud said it best, “They’re rockstars”(Source – slide 8).

What stood out for me is that I’ve always felt like the accolades and admiration for actors were overstated. There was never enough acknowledgement of a good script, a good director, or a strong vision. But with this show, both actors often acknowledged the amount of work from other people that contributed to their final performances. They praised their hockey doubles, their language teacher, and their intimacy coordinator, etc. After that, I was free to appreciate their individual performances. I have to say that they made me believe in acting as a craft again. (Granted, this was after I had watched Materialists (2025) which contained some acting that I was not thoroughly convinced by.)

For Jacob Tierney, I love the idea that he had a vision for the show. That he read these books and wondered if they could be adapted for the screen. I love that one creative had been inspired by another creative, then united many other creatives under this one vision to create something for people around the world to enjoy. Listening to some of Jacob Tierney’s interviews gave me the same feeling as when I read Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight Director’s Notebook. It’s the feeling that you can make magic.

Lastly, Rachel Reid. She is the author of the Game Changers series that the show is based on. I’m really glad that the success of the show came at a time when she needed it most. It was partly due to the show’s success that helped her get some treatment for her Parkinson’s disease (Source). Her story makes me feel like I can just start writing and see what happens. Her love for her books and her characters has translated into a phenomenon that can have positive real-world implications. I love that.

Hungry for sticky art

I had been thinking at the end of last year that nothing seemed to be sticking with me anymore. The latest Taylor Swift album The Life of a Showgirl came and went, and even breakout star Olivia Dean’s album The Art of Loving wasn’t as big of a hit as her single Man I Need, which almost seemed to exist solely as a trending sound on social media. If existing fame (Taylor Swift) and a beautiful new album (Olivia Dean) can’t make art stick in the collective consciousness, what hope is there for the rest of us?

But this show proved me wrong.

Fans have been ravenous. Re-watching the show multiple times, dissecting every scene and every piece of dialogue. They have made fan edits, fan art, and memes- oh glorious memes. The comments and engagement online show how much people are revelling in this shared psychosis around a show. It appears that when you make work that is thoughtful and challenging, people will keep talking about it. Who knew?

In the wake of the show’s release, Bridgerton Season 4 and Singles Inferno Season 5 have dropped. One would have expected the novelty of Heated Rivalry to wear off and for fans to move on to the next new thing, but there isn’t quite as much buzz for these two established shows online. People just can’t seem to get enough of Heated Rivalry.

Above all, Heated Rivalry fans have proved that there is an appetite for meaningful and hand-made art. As a creator, it has made me excited about the potential of creative work in pop culture again. As a fan, it has spurred me to expand my tastes and try to appreciate the craft behind the media I consume.

What’s next?

While waiting for Heated Rivalry Season 2 (As confirmed in December 2025), I’ve started reading the book series. I recently finished book 3 and I have 3 more books left. In September 2026, we are expecting the third instalment of Shane and Ilya’s story, Unrivaled (Source). I will definitely be waiting for both of these to drop. In the meantime, you can find me re-heating the show, or catching up on the books.

Thanks for coming to film club! See you next time. 🍿💜

Creator shoutout

Credits and Links

⚠️⚠️⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! ⚠️⚠️⚠️

Here are my random thoughts on each episode.

Ep 1: Rookies

  • Their first time together, so good and so sweet!
  • Introduction to them as characters and the tension is insane

Ep 2: Olympians

  • Their next first time which was also so very sweet and consensual! The goodbye kiss also is a favourite of mine.
  • Then they decided to break my heart. To be honest, I was so annoyed at Ilya in episode 1 for not being open with Shane. But I think in this episode we start to have a bit more empathy for him. We see him in Russia and his relationship with his Dad. There’s also the issue of Russia being dangerous for gay people.
  • My favourite part in Russia is when Ilya rejects Sasha’s advances. In my mind, it means that even at this point, he is only thinking of Shane.
  • After Ilya wins the cup, they meet up again to present the most sportsman-like player on stage. Then Ilya finds Shane crying in the bathroom. And it’s so sad! I love the music in this scene (Let’s Make a Deal). it’s just this quiet thing between the two of them. Ilya still has his guard up I think, which is annoying, but Shane is like all walls down and trying to get Ilya to come to him? At least that’s my interpretation. when Ilya is asking Shane to say what he wants. Then Shane is saying it so earnestly, with those doe-eyes. I CAN’T, I’d cave so fast.
  • The Las Vegas hookup was super weird to me. I’m not sure if I fully understand it, so my favourite part is actually when Shane goes into the lift and I think it’s the first time he admits to himself that Ilya’s more than just a hook up for him.

Ep 3: Hunter

  • I’m kicking my feet with the two of them, they are so cute! None of the drama like with Shane and Ilya (I still love them, don’t worry)
  • I LOVE ELENA: She’s so beautiful so smart so perceptive, please can I give you my number?
  • Kip’s friend group is so good to him. He’s broke in New York but he has such a good village/community around him. I love that!

Random things I noticed from the episode:

  • The fundraiser suit being “in the closet”. I can’t help but think this is also about Scott being literally in the closet and almost pulling Kip into it with him? The scene feels weirdly claustrophobic? As if Scott only loves him inside the closet.
  • At the fundraiser, Scott goes over to talk to kip. When they first start talking “casually”, their faces are all in the light. Then when sScott talks to Kip in “private” and acknowledging their relationship, Scott is facing what appears to be a wall, with his back to the crowd. Showing that he can’t be his true self to others. In contrast, Kip is facing the crowd, and he’s comfortable where he is, but side-by-side with Scott. At this point in the story, they are at two different stages of their relationship.
  • There is another parallel where Kip and Scott are drinking after the fundraiser in Scott’s house and Kip has his tux unbuttoned and is slightly more relaxed and open, trying to get Scott to come closer to his world. Scott has his jacket off, but his tie is still on and buttoned. It looks super stiff and it’s like he wants to keep himself closed, even though it appears like he is relaxed? Kip asks Scott to come to the bar with his friends just to hang out but Scott rejects the invitation.
  • I like the overlay of the speech that Scott made when Kip is walking home. It is a cool way to visualise Kip thinking back on the speech. In the speech, Scott was saying that hockey is his family. This explains that there is a mutual understanding that neither of them can abandon their own families. Kip understands what it’s like for Scott to potentially lose the only family he has. But Kip and Scott’s hockey family appear to be in direct contention with each other. So Kip chooses to step away.

Episode 4: Rose

  • I loved the whole sequence when Ilya invites Shane over to his place for the first time in Boston and they hookup at his house. The whole sequence was done really well but of course I was devastated for Ilya when Shane wasn’t able to immediately process the progression of their relationship and Ilya’s invitation to become something more.
  • Shane’s development was interesting. I think he was okay to continue hooking up in secret and he was also conflicted by his feelings because he was sad that Ilya hadn’t contacted him after the Olympics. So there’s definitely something more. But I think in the day time, everything feels more exposed.
  • There was also an interview where they talked about how the domesticity of the situation (the tuna melts and ginger ale) scared Shane because sh* t was getting real.
  • As a side note: This was the episode where I felt the most like this was the mid 2010s because of Rose’s peter pan collar. It brought me straight back to secondary school LOL when all the Pinterest boards were full of these. There was a comment online that this show is a period piece, and I agree. A period piece about the 2010s. Nothing felt too out of place but it also felt really authentic.

Episode 5: I’ll believe in anything

  • Banger episode.
  • Again, all the ladies are so perceptive. They know that Shane and Ilya are in love with “someone”, though they’ve been pretty good at hiding who it is.
  • On my rewatches, I absolutely love the scene between Shane and Rose. It’s such a tender and loving space where Shane finally is able to process his feelings without feeling like it’s a bad thing. And it helps him in the process of feeling more comfortable in his true self.
  • I actually love the all star game because we finally get to see them play together. Indeed, Svetlana you psychic queen, Shane centers for Ilya. There’s some back and forth passing, Ilya passes and lets Shane take the goal. Then they KISS on the ice like a playful thing, but they look so happy to be playing together ; – ; I’m crying.
  • Scott Hunter coming out to everyone by kissing his smoothie barista boyfriend OMG I LOVE IT, it was so cute!!!!!!! I have to admit, on the first watch I was so uninterested in their storyline. At first I was thinking ah who cares about these other two people. BUT, it was such a pivotal moment for Shane and Ilya to think that things could be different. So now I’m kind of a Skip stan.

Episode 6: The cottage

  • We’re all still here.
  • Pure domestic bliss, I LOVE IT SO MUCH ; – ; I could just put this on in the background and watch it forever.
  • They were finally able to open up and talk to each other.
  • And they say I love you to each other for the first time, after Ilya tried to open up in ep 4, and Shane freaked out. Now Shane is the one that is going all in, thinking years ahead when he can be out together with Ilya.
  • the one time I cried the whole series is when Shane reconciles with his mom about the whole thing. After another interview, I think Shane’s struggle with his sexuality is actually worse than he lets on. When he tells his mum, he says he really tried, and maybe he’s referring to when he hooked up with rose. But he feels like he “failed” in a sense. And he’s basically been perfect in every other way, and managed to do things to make his parents happy. But he’s also been keeping this huge lie from them.
  • I cannot understate the relief I had in the end, when everything is on the table with his parents. It’s SUCH A HUGE RELIEF. I was so scared for him too, but seeing how everything worked out, and ultimately the parents just want Shane to be happy, ah I’m so happy for them. Please let them be happy. I love it.

Thanks for coming to film club! See you next time. 💋💜

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