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Heated Rivalry: What to Know About the Gay Hockey Romance Steaming Up the Internet
Creator Jacob Tierney depicts an eight-year on-again/off-again gay romance between two hockey rivals, emphasizing realistic intimacy and complex emotions beyond stereotypes.
- On November 28, Heated Rivalry premiered with its first two episodes on Crave and was soon picked up by HBO Max for US and Australian distribution, debuting a Friday release schedule.
- Adapted from Rachel Reid's novels, the six-part series creator Jacob Tierney set out to explore a gay romance between hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov and resist stereotypical gay 'smut.'
- Across six episodes, the characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov meet three times a year in gyms, showers, and hotel rooms, blending explicit intimacy with realistic tender aftercare.
- Soon after its debut, the series created ripples across streaming platforms, prompting conversations about queer representation as audiences and social media praised Episode 3's emotional balance.
- Rachel Reid, author, revisited the Hollander-Rozanov romance in her sixth book, 'The Long Game,' and in a September 15, 2025 blog post said she hopes for more seasons while expressing gratitude for the six episodes, though the series has not yet been renewed by Crave.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left9Leaning Right1Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution82% Left
Bias Distribution
- 82% of the sources lean Left
82% Left
L 82%
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