Heated Rivalry is a gay romance story, but it has found a huge female fan following. Created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney, it is based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series. In a recent interview with Variety, Tierney discussed what makes the show so popular among female viewers.
I think that’s a very complicated question, and there are a lot of answers to it. Women love these books. These are books written by a woman. These are books largely consumed by women. So I wouldn’t want to speak on behalf of a female audience, but I think that what women are presented in romance is not always something that interests them in that way.
He also discussed that it might be because women are generally endlessly exposed to s*xual violence, and seeing male vulnerability is refreshing.
From what I’ve heard, from the women who have written to me and Rachel and the boys, there’s a safety in seeing a woman being removed from the conversation. So you’re watching something happen between two men, and there is no fear of violence. There is no fear of things turning into stuff that women have to deal with too much in real life, and don’t want to deal with in their fantasies, and ultimately, this is a romantic fantasy.
However, he also remarked that it might be because romance is a genre that a lot of women love and write and read and are the primary consumers of. But at the same time, he also believes that it might be because of how they have treated the genre: with respect and wholeheartedly.
Heated Rivalry Season 1 Finale Achieves A Rare IMDb Feat
Heated Rivalry Season 1 just had its finale release. Titled The Cottage, it featured Hudson Williams’ Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie’s Ilya Rosanov at Shane’s remote cottage.
For the first time, the two connected emotionally as they had never done before. Instead of burying their emotions or only fully expressing their feelings while being intimate, they talked about their true feelings for each other.
They made a pact about always telling each other the truth about their feelings while alone. Shane also spent a whole night trying to come up with a plan to ease their public rivalry and be closer to each other. The moment grew more heart-warming as Ilya, who is bisexual, finally told him that he loved him, and Shane immediately reciprocated.
The emotional finale broke the internet and has achieved a rare feat with 9.9 out of 10 on IMDb, making it the highest-rated finale of the entire year on the site. Previously, the fifth episode, which also has a 9.9 rating on IMDb, became one of the highest-rated episodes of television of all time.
Heated Rivalry Season 2 Will Be More Focused on the Book
Heated Rivalry | Credit: Crave/HBO Max
Heated Rivalry is based on the Game Changers novel series. It directly adapts the second book in the series of the same name. Now that a second season is confirmed, it will be based on the sequel to the book, called The Long Game.
While the first season deviated a bit from its sources, creator Jacob Tierney revealed to Variety that the second season will be more focused on its source. When asked about what he is looking forward to adapting the most, Tierney stated:
There’s so many new characters that are going to be really fun to bring in. But I think that next season will end up feeling different because it’s a more focused book. It takes place over a shorter amount of time.
He also teased about the storyline, revealing that fans will get to meet more characters.
There’s more a sense of getting to know that team in Ottawa that Ilya is going to play for and getting to know Hayden and Jackie more. And there’s more Yuna and David. Hopefully what will happen, like with any good second season in general, is that we will get to enrich the stuff you already know and how those threads began, and then pull on them and really get into it.
As for what he is most looking forward to seeing, Tierney answered:
But I’m also really looking forward to seeing Ilya in therapy. It’s probably a really good thing for him. I know that my therapist has been crucial to getting through the past few months.
As for when the second season will be released, there has been no confirmation so far. We expect the majority of the cast to return, with several new characters that book readers will be well aware of.
AspectDetailsTitleHeated Rivalry TypeCanadian sports romance drama TV series CreatorJacob Tierney (creator, writer, director) Core premiseFollows NHL stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, bitter on‑ice rivals whose secret, years‑long affair turns into an all‑consuming love story that clashes with hockey’s macho culture. Main castHudson Williams (Shane Hollander), Connor Storrie (Ilya Rozanov), plus supporting ensemble, including Rose Landry and Svetlana’s families and teammates. Based onHeated Rivalry, the second novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series
What are your thoughts about the second season? Let us know in the comments below.
Heated Rivalry is now streaming on HBO Max in the US.
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