Heated Rivalry is THE queer TV show of 2025. The show went on air with HBO and has since celebrated a massive success.
The Canadian TV show Heated Rivalry outran every expectation that may have existed beforehand. The show celebrated a worldwide success, despite its limited availability.
Low Budget Production Achieves Worldwide Success
Even if $5 million sounds like a lot of money for probably all of us, it's a really low budget for one episode. Just in comparison, Stranger Things had around $30 Million for one episode. With its six 60 minute episodes, that makes up a budget of $30 million.
The creator, Jacob Tierney had a vision. Film a queer TV show that depicts a romance where explicit scenes can be involved and actually show character development. To adapt the book series Game Changers from Rachel Reid was a no-brainer.
Tierney wanted to keep the adult scenes especially due to the character development reason. After being met with several fundamental changes to the pitched script, the Canadian streaming service Crave decided to stream the show.
Only a month before the production began in April 2025, other parties stepped in to finance the show, keeping Tierneys vision intact to make what we can experience on screen today.
The show was shot within 36 to 37 days in various locations in two Canadian provinces. The apartment that served as one of the sets was rented from a woman who only later found out for what show her house was used.
Why Ilya And Shane Just Work So Well Together
The casting within Heated Rivalry is immaculate. Connor Storie, who portrays Ilya Rosanov discussed his chemistry read with Hudson Williams who plays Shane Hollander in an interview.
We had like two or three chemistry reads over Zoom. Who were up for the role of Shane. He was the third one.
Connor had already been cast as Ilya Rosanov, and despite the fact the two main actors never had an in-person chemistry reading, they just clicked. The two are close friends outside the show and even got matching tattoos.
You know those people that you just instantly click with and you're like, okay you're mine.
And it shows within the series. The two characters have an insane chemistry with each other that just pops the whole show up to another level. And trust me, I've seen it. But it's also the book and how Tierney adapted it. The story about queerness within sports and how the characters maneuver that terrain is rare in modern media.
Both of the actors have received a lot of fame since the show first launched, and both of them have signed a contract with CAA. Even though Connor Storie said in an interview he is just at the beginning of his career, this is already a huge success for both young actors.
Explicit Scenes Sell
As already mentioned, those scenes (and there are a lot of them) drive the characters and the story forward. They let the characters find out more about themselves and about their identity. All of this wouldn't have been possible without the work of a wonderful intimacy coordinator. Chala Hunter took upon that role for the show while also leaving the actors their room for interpretation and creativity.
It is no wonder those types of scenes attract an audience, yet it is something that has not been done that often when it comes to queer couples, at least not that many scenes.
Tierney wanted to portray a gay couple that ultimately can achieve a happy ending, that has a healthy relationship, and that involves intimacy.
Why Representation Is So Important
The book (and therefore the series) point out a huge problem for the queer community within sports. It's a place where being gay is often an insult, where queer relationships can't be public most of the time.
Heated Rivalry takes this issue and shows us how it could affect others. How being in the closet for so long can damage you, and how lost you might feel when you find out who you really are.
The story gives societal critique in between romance and hockey, and it just works. It's the representation that the queer community wanted, and it's a series that speaks deeply to everyone who has been in that situation. I may not cry easily, but I have to admit that the last episode got the waterworks going.
The Important Question: Will There Be A Second Season?
Yes! On December 11, HBO confirmed that Ilya and Shane will return in Season Two of Heated Rivalry. Both actors signed their contracts for two more seasons. Given that the books consist of six parts, I think it is safe to assume that HBO wants to see if the hype will be ongoing after season one.
According to Tierney, shooting will begin in summer 2026, meaning (that's the sad part) season two will not be done this year but in early 2027. I know, I can't wait either.
For those of you who just cannot wait, the books are available on Amazon, and according to my fiancé, they are fantastic as well.
Did you watch the show? Are you excited for Season Two? Let us know in the comments!