Season 1 – Heated Rivalry

Play trailer

1:29

Nov 2025

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A romance set in the world of hockey; Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are two stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands.

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Critics Consensus

Jacob Tierney lovingly adapts Rachel Reid's hockey-set romance novels into an all-consuming, steamy, dreamy love fest of true queer intent, making Heated Rivalry a bona fide winner.

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Audience Says

A charged Heated Rivalry between two captivating protagonists delivers a magnetic love story that leaves us wanting more.

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Scott Bryan

BBC.com

Mar 11, 2026

You tune in initially because you hear about this hockey drama about two guys who hook up in secret thinking that it's going to be a sexy, horny piece of TV. And it is. But it ends up being something way, way more than that.

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Phillip Maciak

The New Republic

Jan 27, 2026

The show feels unique. It’s physical and intimate, surprisingly quiet, and it moves strangely, telling its story in lurches and skids.

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Caroline Siede

Girl Culture (Substack)

Jan 16, 2026

I assumed Heated Rivalry was going to be a bit absurd, but instead it’s pretty exquisite.

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Michel Ghanem

The Cut

Oct 5, 2026

9/10

Despite what the pulsing score might suggest, Heated Rivalry isn’t reheating Challengers’ nachos — it’s scoring its own goals.

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Sam Huang

Mediaversity Reviews

Jul 15, 2026

B-

Heated Rivalry goes beyond including a gay couple; it dives into how LGBTQ people must reckon with societal and personal pressures.

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Vera Wylde

Council of Geeks

Jun 2, 2026

It's a journey... and watching it unfold over the course of these six episodes is so heartwarming.

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Daniel M

@MazzaQuePasa 20 hrs ago

I went in expecting to hate it and I really couldn't imagine it deserving the hype it has, but after watching it all I could really see the magic it had. The relationship stories are quite powerful and really make you feel for them. I did have to fast forward all of the love scenes though, it was a little too much for me lol

coyote T

@trextomatoe Oct 12, 2026

Big fan of the show. Hockey and a lot of spicy steamy scenes. Fun show. Looking forward to future seasons. 🤙🏒🥅

Harper D

@RT94655283 Sep 14, 2026

loved it, fabulous representation of how hard it is to be any minority in sports. i love shanes autism rep, its definitely the best neurodivergent character ive seen yet. cant wait for s2 and the unrivaled book to come out (the book is amazing too)

Manon I

@RT48051627 Sep 10, 2026

best show I ever seen.

El C

@RT05843431 Aug 30, 2026

I'm not saying this series changed my brain chemistry. But also... for a moment, it was nice that all of us collectively were able to go to the cottage at a time when the world outside was going to hell.

Diaulas F

@RT13630323 Aug 28, 2026

Simplesmente perfeito!!! Ameiiii tudo. A história do Hunter e do Kip me emocionou muito!!

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Jacob Tierney

Director

Jacob Tierney

Creator

Hudson Williams

Shane Hollander

Connor Storrie

Ilya Rozanov

François Arnaud

Scott Hunter

Christina Chang

Yuna Hollander

Episode 1

Aired Nov 28, 2025

Rookies

Two rival hockey stars at the peak of their careers face an unexpected emotional connection, challenging their professional paths and disrupting the sports world's expectations.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Nov 28, 2025

Olympians

Shane and Ilya keep their secret fling alive while their growing connection is tested by personal and professional pressures.

Details

Episode 3

Aired Dec 5, 2025

Hunter

Four months before the 2014 Winter Olympics, hockey golden boy Scott Hunter stops into a smoothie shop and orders a smoothie recommended by an employee named Kip; Scott finally breaks a scoring slump.

Details

Episode 4

Aired Dec 12, 2025

Rose

A moment of unexpected vulnerability and a high-profile romance unleash a storm of turmoil for Shane and Ilya.

Details

Episode 5

Aired Dec 19, 2025

I'll Believe in Anything

At dinner with Rose, Shane confirms her suspicions and admits he is gay, they agree to remain friends only; at the 2017 All-Star Game, Ilya and Shane reconnect when Shane reveals his breakup with Rose, and play on the same team for the first time.

Details

Episode 6

Aired Dec 26, 2025

The Cottage

Kip and his friends watch on TV as Scott discusses his public coming out while accepting the MVP award; Shane drives Ilya to Shane's cottage, where Ilya reveals his exclusivity and later shares the trauma of his mother's death by suicide.

Details

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Heated Rivalry: Season 1 Trailer

1:29

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Director: Jacob Tierney
Creator: Jacob Tierney
Executive Producer: Justin Stockman, Brendan Brady, Jacob Tierney
Network: HBO Max
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date: Nov 28, 2025

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Season 1 – Heated Rivalry

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