Heated Rivalry

Restless, Shane stares at the ceiling of his hotel room, replaying the disappointing events of the day in his head. Frustrated that he can’t do anything about it, he quickly gets up and changes into his workout clothes. If he can’t change anything, he can still channel this energy into keeping his body at performance level. He heads down to the small and quiet hotel gym, pleased to find it empty. Straddling one of the two open stationary bikes and popping in some head phones, he starts setting a comfortable pace for himself. He leans onto the handle bars and lowers his head, trying to forget the day and find peace in the steady movement of his body. Sudden motion catches the corner of his eye and he looks over to find Ilya Rozanov jumping on the other bike right next to him. Annoyance immediately comes right back to the forefront as his rival easily matches his speed. As Rozanov increases his speed, Shane matches it, determined to prove himself in this silent competition. Quickly rising the pace against each other, Shane feels the burn in his thighs start to betray him. He tries to hold out as long as possible, pushing his body farther than he’s used to. Ilya shows no signs of struggle, a glint of humor on his face from Shane’s efforts. Reaching his breaking point, Shane concedes and lets his legs slow and come to a stop. Gasping for air and sweat now clinging to every inch of his body, he practically collapses off of the bike. Sitting on the floor and trying to get oxygen back into his body, he watches Ilya sit down across from him, his breathing just as heavy as he spreads his long legs out on the floor. Maybe he was pushing himself more than he let on.

“What a day, huh?” Ilya says between deep breaths. “Yeah,” Shane replies, his lungs still working hard for air. Ilya takes a drag from his water bottle. “Is everything you dreamed of?” Ilya asks, then takes another drink holding his gaze with Shane. “Almost,” Shane says, his irritation still hovering at the surface. Ilya flattens his lips into a line and shrugs. “I’m sorry,” he smirks, clearly happy for his own earlier achievement. “No, you’re not,” Shane shakes his head and can’t help the small smile that escapes him. Maybe he has more admiration for his competitor than he realizes.

‍ ‍Heated Rivalry has taken the world by storm, telling one of the most passionate romances of the twentyfirst century. Canada’s Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russia’s Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are the top two draft picks in the MLH (Major League Hockey), a fictional version of the NHL in the series, creating a naturally intense rivalry between the two on the ice. However, off the ice, the two men discover an undeniable attraction to each other. As the players compete hard against one another in their professional lives, they simultaneously can’t keep their hands off each other the second they’re alone. Based on the second book in the Game Changers series by Rachel Ried, this may be the best book adaptation into a television series to date. Heated Rivalry is eight years of quiet yearning, stolen glances, moments shared in darkly lit hotel rooms, and a complicated yet beautiful love story. Watching as Shane and Ilya grow into adulthood, grappling with family problems and navigating a glamorous career, but finding a safe space within one another is something every romantic longs for. As their worlds shift and declarations are made, who knows what could be possible for the two rivals? This Crave original series has brought a refreshing new life to an already saturated industry of romance media, the LGBTQ+ community scoring a huge goal with this one.

For a story that has an excessive amount of time jumps, something that would usually make a story feel disconnected and hard to follow, Tierney manages to keep a consistently effortless flow of intimacy and tension for two characters who barely see each other. He keeps the high stakes excitement that comes with sports dramas while also centering the tenderness of a true romance in a delicate balance. The plot advances in a way that it’s clear every small moment is important, emphasizing how love is built within the little things. A crucial part of this is through the explicit and intimate love scenes throughout the show. Some may argue that there is too much within the show, but these intimate scenes are the entire point of their relationship. Sex is Shane and Ilya’s shared language, the physical communication that solidifies their connection when words seem to fall short. It is gratifying to finally have a unique story like this being told and for it to be so widely accepted and loved.

Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and Kip Grady (Robbie Graham-Kuntz) who have their own part to play within the Heated Rivalry universe, have an unexpected but vital role in the narrative unfolding between Ilya and Shane. Scott and Kip’s story is from the first book, Game Changers, and offers another perspective to the lives of professional sports players who are of the LGBTQ+ community. Their own relationship has its struggles and successes, bringing about a turn of events that change the game for MLH with a shocking surprise that has fans cheering everywhere around the world.

With a low budget, unknown actors and only 37 days of filming, Heated Rivalry has become a very successful phenomenon. While the cinematography, set design, editing and original music scores by the talented Peter Peter are all done exceptionally well and blend together with ease, it's the intriguing and relatable story that has captured the hearts of audiences across the globe. As a fan of the books himself, Jacob Tierney successfully made a series that brings justice to the words written by Rachel Reid, including almost every keen detail that makes Heated Rivalry what it’s meant to be. Anyone who reads books within the romance industry can appreciate what Tierney has done for the standards of adapting books to screen. Keeping the production aspects simple and impressive made way for the true nature of the story to shine through.

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie have definitely proven themselves and their worth as artists within the craft of performance. While they both have impressive physics, it’s equally impressive how they are able to use their bodies as the main communication for their characters. With the slightest inflection of emotion subtly stitched into their facial expressions and body language, their bodies speak for the very guarded and reserved characters. In the years of experience for both actors, playing roles in side projects and low budget short films, Connor and Hudson have honed in their skills to bring these beautifully written characters from a page to the lively action of the screen. Connor’s portrayal of the Russian playboy is done so shockingly well that he surprised native Russian speakers with the fact that he isn’t actually Russian. Born and raised in Texas, Connor’s love for dabbling in languages helped him fool millions of people into believing he was of Russian blood, absolutely perfecting the accent. Hudson Williams is equally impressive in his ability to bring out every thought living within Shane’s head, displayed so loudly within his eyes. Playing a character who is very internalized, and yet the audience can easily read all the emotions and thoughts of this complicated character, proves Hudson is perfect for the role.

‍ ‍Heated Rivalry explores what it means to share an intimate and judgement free connection with another person. Shane and Ilya’s relatable story is a perfect on-screen representation of true yearning, finding a safe space within another person, and being loved and accepted for who they are. The series highlights how sex and intimacy is an important plot device within romance that builds a connection of trust and understanding between two people. It’s a physical language used to express the love and tenderness they are too afraid to say out loud. It brings awareness to gay sex, normalizing the natural act and leveling it with all other intimate scenes created in cinema. This series breaks down stigmas around gay relationships and the toxic masculinity that's so deeply seeded within the sports industry. It has given so much inspiration to people around the world, chipping at barriers and creating more loving spaces for people to be proud of who they are regardless of careers, social status, race, or gender. Rachel Reid and Jacob Tierney have started important conversations with their work, proving art’s essential and prominent influence on our cultures, changing the world and so many people’s lives for the better.