Starring Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, the highly anticipated TV show adaptation of Heated Rivalry is finally here — and the gays are having the time of their lives with this sexy, sweet, and even funny love story between two closeted hockey players who can’t resist each other despite being direct rivals on the rink.
This new TV show was created, written, and directed by out showrunner Jacob Tierney, and was based on the Game Changers series of novels by author Rachel Reid. Adapted to television under the title Heated Rivalry, the series is a Canadian production from Crave that’s available for U.S. viewers on HBO Max. Thankfully, all episodes will premiere simultaneously around the world, which means that the next few weeks are about to be a really good kiki for the gays who can react to the series in real time.
Keep scrolling to see some of the funniest, sweetest, and hottest reactions from fans watching Heated Rivalry — and tune in to catch new episodes dropping every Friday on HBO Max.
The reactions to Heated Rivalry have been pretty wild so far.
The show is tailor-made for these intense reactions.
As expected, we’re having a kiki with each new episode that drops.
The book is pretty horny, and so is the TV series.
Let’s say that one more time: This is a “horny gay hockey show.” Viewers advised!
Even Plane Jane has entered the chat, so we know this queer art is being fiercely protected.
There are soft moments, too, that have fans melting away…
…along with heartfelt, and even hilarious parts of a love story, which are all there.
Somehow, two closeted hockey players having a gay situationship feels like a relatable story?!
Sometimes, that includes meeting your sneaky-link’s mother way too early in the situationship.
Hudson Williams is acting for his life and giving fans everything they wanted out of Shane.
For instance, Shane is absolutely “not beating the fell first allegations” as he looks at Ilya with a face like that.
Shane might be new to this, but he knows what he’s doing!
And reactions like these are just too funny.
No one asked for the time, but we can confirm that the clocks are working in the Heated Rivalry universe.
Then again, there are times when clocking Shane can be like watching the sunset.
Connor Storrie is getting 10s for his Russian, which isn’t the actor’s native language…
…and we’re personally giving him 10s for the body-ody language, too.
“The tiddies,” one fan wrote on X.
The way Ilya just picks up Shane and just carries him across the room like nothing?
Pretty wild… it’s all we’re saying.
Live feed of us watching Heated Rivalry with the girlies.
Is it accurate to say that Shane is in “subspace”? Judge it for your own self, sis.
And, yes, Ilya has the ass of an actual hockey player, as seen in this other X post.
The ass is so big that people are (jokingly!) starting “BBL allegations” for Connor.
Is the hockey logic of the show making sense? We have no clue.
Because this hockey show is about, y’know, something else!
The Boots to Heated Rivalry transition has been wild.
The parallels with Red, White & Royal Blue are strong with this one, too.
And it’s only fair to also include a Sense8 shout-out.
It should be noted that Shane’s bestie, Hayden, is getting some love too.
Meanwhile, Sasha is pissing off some fans just like he did in the novel.
As the show keeps being praised for its accuracy to the books, even changes are being celebrated by fans.
But some questions are bound to come up, of course.
If this is what it means to have a sports rival, many of us have clearly missed out.
Oh, and the fancams? Unmatched.
The average reaction to watching the show? Gasps.
The girls, gays, and theys are obsessed… and they are thirsty for more.
