Two closeted hockey captains begin hooking up between matches. The press paints them as arch enemies. Bad boy Ilya Rozanov and boy scout Shane Hollander feel trapped by their public personas. As the years pass, and their stars rise, they realize they’re falling in love. What will that mean for their careers? Heated Rivarly is based on the second novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series. The show’s passionate sex scenes drew a large audience. They’ve stuck around to watch the romance develop between the charismatic stars.
I resisted the shows goofy charms at first. Initial episodes focus on the sex. The writing connecting the trysts is clunky. The teenage dialogue sounds silly in the mouths of adult actors. The timeline fast forwards through the years, yet the characters show no sign of growth. Episode three switches focus to a supporting couple who engage in romcom cliches. The show felt slight. Disposable.
The writing levels up in the second half. The leads start having adult conversations that feel long overdue. Their relationship gains emotional stakes. Actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are allowed to show their acting talents as well as their gorgeous bodies. Storrie has the flashier part, as the brash rogue. Williams’s introvert seems unbelievably naïve at the start. He’s more compelling as his self-awareness increases. The supporting characters, who were only quick sketches, are given some flavor as well.
The positive reaction to the show has been heartwarming. The press tour, the reaction podcasts and the public viewings have added to the shows’ buzz. The most criticism I’ve seen has come from queer men. All high-profile queer media draws a level of wariness. I’ve seen it with Queer as Folk, Looking and Heartstopper. Straight audiences are used to suspending disbelief for heterosexual romances. Some queer critics still bristle if they feel they’re being fetishized or condescended to. Early episodes did not escape these allegations. But, by episode five, this show became something special. I look forward to a second season.
You can read more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.