Is a Canadian gay romance series the internet’s most popular show? THR claims it is, but let’s let HBO Max viewership numbers dictate how big a deal “Heated Rivalry” really is. The new series from “Letterkenny” multi-hyphenate Jacob Tierney premiered on the streamer late last month to much fanfare, in no small part to its viral marketing. But is this hype real, or mere hyperbole?
Based on Rachel Reid’s critically acclaimed “Game Changers” book series, the show follows two professional hockey players who navigate a secret, steamy, years-long fling while playing for their respective clubs.
Here’s an official synopsis for “Heated Rivalry,” courtesy of HBO:
HEATED RIVALRY chronicles the story of rival hockey players Shane and Ilya. Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, the pair chase glory on the ice while struggling to navigate their feelings off it. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there is room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile and as powerful as real love.
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Callan Potter, Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Kolton Stewart, and Sophie Nélisse.
Tierney originally created “Heated Rivalry” for the Canadian streaming service Crave. The series is an Accent Aigu Entertainment production, in association with Bell Media’s Crave. Sphere Abacu distributes the show internationally.
The first four episodes of “Heated Rivalry” are available on HBO Max now, with two more episodes premiering, including the finale on December 26. And if you end up watching the series and liking it, good news: a second season is already in the works.
Watch a trailer for “Heated Rivalry” below.
