Since December, 99.9% of my social interactions have revolved around gushing about HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry. The six-episode series, which follows a slow-burning and secret relationship between two hot gay champion hockey players, has made me new friends and strengthened my relationships with longtime friends. More importantly, Ilya and Shane’s decade-long saga—and its Cinderella-esque reception—has left me feeling brighter, lighter, and more connected to the belief that, deep down, all humans are just flecks of stardust yearning to love and be loved. The people in my life who haven’t watched it? I’ve cut them off.
Which is to say, thank God (she/her) that creator Jacob Tierney followed his heart to Canada, because it sounds like U.S. streamers envisioned a boring, neutered show where the hot gay hockey players don’t even get to kiss.
“To be fair, though, I don’t think this show could have been made in the U.S.,” François Arnaud, who plays Scott Hunter, told CBS Mornings. “It was set up at a big streamer before and they had so many notes and so many thoughts about what the show could be that Jacob decided to leave them and get it made in Canada.”
“It’s a huge lesson for Hollywood people— that this is a niche show with no movie stars, and it’s become a much bigger sensation,” Arnaud continued. “They didn’t want any kissing until episode five.”
There’s an endless list of evils that continue to squash creativity in the U.S.—private equity, artificial intelligence, and greedy CEOs cutting staff and budgets while giving themselves raises and bonuses. Add to the list big-wig streamers who seem to be run by little bitches scared of some steamy male-on-male makeouts.