YES, 'HEATED RIVALRY' IS STEAMY — THAT'S NOT THE POINT

The viral gay hockey drama made viewers blush — but its real appeal lies in its emotional honesty, cultural timing, and two breakout performances.

- CHECHE V. MORAL

Pro sports bravado meets queer longing, where rivalry becomes a language for desire and the ice is the only place they're allowed to collide this openly.

The viral success of Heated Rivalry, produced by Crave Productions and shown on HBO Max, can't be explained by steam alone — though it would be dishonest not to acknowledge that the show is very steamy, in a way that has made even seasoned viewers glance around like they're doing something slightly illicit.

The heat is real, intentional, and unapologetic. But what transformed those scenes from titillating moments into a full-blown cultural fixation was how deliberately they were embedded in character, power, and emotional history.

Adapted from the books by Canadian writer Rachel Reid, and directed by Jacob Tierney, the series understands that eroticism is most potent when it's earned. At its center are Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (portrayed by Connor Storrie), two elite hockey players whose professional rivalry doubles as emotional cover.