Heated Rivalry (HBO Series)

This steamy, unapologetically queer hockey romance on HBO has become of the surprise hots of the year. In fact, I have been reading that it is the platform's biggest success this year; which honestly surprises me a little. Based on a book, this 6 episode, one hour each series is filled with very explicit sexual scenes, which of course add a lot to the viewership, but thankfully the show is not just about sex (although there is a lot of it). It is about how these two rivals eventual get emotionally close from just physical intimacy, talks about cultural barriers, and the terrible price of living in the closet.

Canadian hockey star Shane Hollander and Russian hockey star Ilya Rozanov are rivals on the ice; something that media also plays with. But somewhere there is a spark that gets stated with Rozanov initiating an invite to Shan win his room. What follows is a night of very sexual passion and the affair continues for 7-8 years playing different games.  They have the best sex and then they separate, while chatting in messages only to reconnect few months later for some other game. Their hookups are quick, athletic, and carefully filmed to show character instead of just getting people excited. They don't talk much because real conversation would require them to show their feelings, which they've been avoiding for years. Episode 3 takes a tangent and focuses on another hockey player Scott Hunter and how his love affair started with barista boy Kip. For me the best episode of the season, we see how the love develops but what eventually happens when one partner demands the relationship step into daylight while the other clings to secrecy? Back to our original boys, Shane starts to feel a lot more towards Ilya, and knows that he does too but both have to deal with the career and being in closet. When Shane declares that he cannot do this anymore, both guys go into despair and jealousy as well as the realization that they love, care about, and need each other more than they want to admit. Moreover, as Shane starts acknowledging that he is gay, Rozanov, who is bi, is unable to announce that publicly because it would jeopardize his life back in Russia. When Scott Hunter's team wins the tournament in episode 5 and he takes the courage to publicly kiss Kip on the floor, this gives a new courage to Shane and Ilya. They decide to spend some time together in their cottage, where eventually Shane's father sees them. In a very emotional yet practical episode , we see how Shane comes out to his family with Ilya accompanying him, how they all talk through of various scenarios and eventually the duo drive back with a kiss and smile on their face. Their journey will soon begin.

It is easy to dismiss the show as just another coming out narrative but it is how the characters process their emotions that makes “Heated Rivalry” so enthralling. Yes the show is very sex and has a lot of sex scenes which can get quite uncomfortable to watch for non LGBTQ+ audience. I was myself initially also wondering if that details were needed , but somehow it makes the show unapologetic and I did like that fact. The first two episodes are fully focused on multiple games, the two men sneaking to meet each other, with playful glances and teases while keeping this all a secret. The tension comes through silences, looks held too long, in conversations carefully avoided.As the show progresses, armor that both players are keeping up is slowly peeled off. We see Shane try to date a famous actress but soon he comes out to her and she becomes his supporter. Ilya, meanwhile has a bigger battle because he is bisexual and being gay in Russia is not the easiest thing. The two boy are both drop dead gorgeous and have. Not hesitated one bit to show off their perfect bodies. There is a lot of focus on their asses and my god! What beautiful ass they got. They have crackling chemistry and I ma very curious to know how did it all happen and make it so utterly believable. Ilya is this foul mouth loud guy while the shy Shane who is always worried about stuff; they make such an excellent pair. The acting is top notch and so is the brilliant direction, accurately portraying what so many of us have felt at some point, in some way, during our journeys coming out, or coming to self-realization. Dealing with society, with sex, with love, with self acceptance, with anger, with fear, with hope and joy. I have not read the book, but I did love the show very much and can't wait for the next season to up the game. (9/10)