Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
‘Heated Rivalry’ delivers what its title and trailer promised viewers: a sexy, steamy romance about two rival ice-hockey players. All those tired of fluffy, tame, cold, bland gay romances, can stream this one for some heat, sweat, sighs, a few lows, and more highs.
Directed by Jacob Tierney, ‘Heated Rivalry’ is based on a series of books by Rachel Reid. Actor Hudson Williams plays Canadian ice-hockey star Shane Hollander, a shy, serious player, while Connor Storrie plays Russian player Ilya Rozanov, a more flamboyant, hot-headed sports star, known for being a ‘ladies man’. So, Connor is a bisexual king, while Ilya is gay and a little too deep in the closet. They’re rivals, the tension is already there, and the attraction comes soon enough. What follows is years of secret ‘screw and scram’ sessions post games, until their feelings finally get deeper than their casual hook-ups.
Spanning seven episodes, Heated Rivalry opens with an easy, no-frills introduction to its central duo. Shane nervously approaches Ilya with a compliment about his playing, only for Ilya to respond with a teasing warning: “You won’t be so nice when we beat you.” Beginning in their rookie season, the show charts their journey to becoming hockey stars while unfolding a slow-burn love story, even if the physical side of things moves a lot faster than the emotions.
On the surface, Shane and Ilya fall neatly into the classic “opposites attract” trope. Still, they’re united by a fierce passion for ice hockey, towering ambition, and an intensely competitive streak. Hudson Williams is awkwardly endearing as Shane, the serious, shy Asian-Canadian player who is visibly close to his parents, especially his Japanese mom Luna (Christina Chang) who doubles up as his manager. Their dynamic is a subtle reflection of how deeply involved Asian parents often are in their children’s lives. That said, Shane also manages to maintain a healthy distance (no way he is going to be able to have a hot affair with a rival player for years otherwise), allowing him space to grow on his own.
Connor Storrie’s Ilya brings the spark and humor to the relationship, constantly teasing Shane for being “boring,” lightening their interactions, while heating up their bed. He carries the swagger and confidence of a sports star, paired with a punchy, competitive streak. Connor’s slow, drawled English wrapped in a Russian accent is highly entertaining; often making it feel like Ilya is mocking everyone he speaks to. But when Ilya returns home to Russia between games, we get a glimpse of his stormy family life marked by an overbearing father who’d never accept his sexuality.
Ilya’s Russian roots and turbulent family life create one strand of Heated Rivalry’s central conflict, as he finds himself suffocating under rigid expectations. Shane’s struggle, on the other hand, is more internal, as he tries to come to terms with who he is and what he wants, a confusion that even pushes him into dating a celebrity woman in an attempt to fit in. Of course, the fact that Connor has a ‘friends with benefits’ thing going on with his friend Svetlana (Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova) doesn’t make things easier for Shane.
‘Heated Rivalry’ runs largely on the steamy chemistry between its lead stars, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, even if, for most of the show, their relationship amounts to two strangers repeatedly getting it on. Their sparse banter is fun, and it’s clear they’re happy in the sheets, which is basically the secret sauce behind plenty of pairings that don’t quite make sense on paper.
In Episode 3, ‘Heated Rivalry’ steps away from its central romance to spotlight Scott Hunter (François Arnaud), an ice hockey star from another team. The shift feels slightly awkward, but it introduces his sweet, low-key romance with barista Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.), whom he meets at a café after a run and then starts visiting daily for smoothies. Cute as their story is, it lacks the crackling chemistry of Shane and Ilya. Regardless, it works as an entertaining break from the main storyline, and it initially seems like the makers won’t give Scott Hunter’s arc a proper ending, but the side story does arrive at a fairly satisfying conclusion in episode six of ‘Heated Rivalry’.
In fact, the climactic episode of ‘Heated Rivalry’ is also sexy, mushy, and surprisingly heartwarming. Sure, the show doesn’t take a deep dive into many of the themes it introduces, but in the end, it’s a steamy story that gives rival-turned-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov a cozy retreat at a vacation home away from the spotlight. There, the two finally confront their feelings for each other, before the story swerves into a awkward but comically cute encounter with “the family.” Whose family? Watch the show to find out.
Will I watch a season 2? Absolutely!
‘Heated Rivalry’ is on HBO Max and Crave.
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