Written by Isaac Villegas, Staff Writer
With such an astounding impact on the world currently, how has Heated Rivalry affected people?
WARNING: Spoilers for the show are ahead!
Heated Rivalry, based on author Rachel Reid’s book series Game Changers, is arguably one of the biggest shows in the world right now. Its first episode released on HBO Max on November 28, 2025, and its last on December 26, and it follows the romantic, yet complex relationship between two major league hockey stars, Russia’s Ilya Rozanov and Canada’s Shane Hollander. Given their stardom, it is difficult for the two of them to see each other privately, let alone live the type of life they actually want to live together. Throughout the show, both Ilya and Shane also encounter their own personal obstacles as the years pass until they are finally made to face their true feelings for each other.
There are many reasons for this show’s current popularity, but one of the biggest factors is undoubtedly the awareness and representation it has brought for professional athletes (and people in general) that are in the closet. Student Alyanna Gomez (12) elaborates on this aspect of the show, saying that emotional moments such as the final scene in the penultimate episode, titled “I’ll Believe in Anything,” where two other men courageously put their romantic relationship in the spotlight “gives people hope [and] comfort” to do the same thing. This has clear significance as coming out is already one of the toughest things a queer person can do, and it can become increasingly difficult when they are part of a culture that can be very unwelcome (though not always) of the LGBTQ+ community. Junior Allurabella Chandler (11) seconds this, stating that “the [young] athletes that are queer are talked down upon or they’re often criticized.” It has already even been revealed that some professional athletes and celebrities have privately vocalized their struggles and expressed their gratitude to various people that worked on the show for making it in the first place.
Another aspect of Heated Rivalry that hooked many audience members was the large amount of intimate scenes in each episode. The debate of whether or not it is necessary to add explicit scenes in movies and TV shows in the first place is nothing new, although this case may be slightly different given that it is centered around gay relationships instead of straight ones. Senior Isabella Fernandez (12) believes that “it was necessary to show the growth” of the two main characters through intimate scenes, in that their dynamic starts off as purely casual before it develops into something more serious and honest.
Despite the explicit moments and almost taboo subjects discussed in Heated Rivalry, this TV show’s audience varies extensively. Before presenting the best supporting female actor at the Golden Globes on January 11, 2026, Ilya Rozanov’s actor Connor Storrie joked that if someone has not yet seen the show, it is still certain that “their trainers have and their moms have and their daughters have.”
Heated Rivalry has already been renewed for a second season and fans all around the world are incredibly excited to see what’s next in store for Ilya and Shane’s story. If you have not watched this show yet and would like to see what all of the hype is about for yourself (or with a trusted adult if under 18), it is currently streaming now on HBO Max.
