Hot New (Gay) Hockey Series on CRAVE

[jerryskater]

Quote

52 minutes ago, MikeBiDude said:

Holy cow, Epi 5 was the best by far.

 

I agree. A really good episode.

[+ Gar1eth]

1 hour ago, TonyDown said:

I won't spoil anything but.......

Holy cow, Epi 5 was the best by far. ❤️

Make sure to watch it before someone spills.

 

 

1 hour ago, MikeBiDude said:

Yup, I’ve been keeping quiet all day…

I've just finished watching it. I might have more to say after a larger number of people see it. But my first impression is as follows...

PS:  One additional thought/question-isn't it funny that François Arnaud is getting top billing when he has a much lesser screen time than the two younger leads?

Edited Saturday at 04:32 AM by Gar1eth

[d.anders]

OMG, Epsiode 5. Holy shit! Everyone, and I mean everyone on the internet is talking about "the phone scene." I haven't cried like that since Elio's phone call with Oliver.

Connor Storrie is now the toast of Hollywood. That was an Emmy award winning scene, and writers and directors everywhere are going to scramble to try and work with him. Everything about that scene was brilliant. I can't wait to watch the episode again.

[+ SirBillybob]

Episodes drop Thursday at midnight in Montreal.

Arnaud’s featured cast billing status. Easy. More prominent and notable filmography, and productions’ award entries/noms/wins status. He is also a central dyad character in Reid’s first novel. I think Williams gets billing prior to Storrie because he is a book main character whose perspective in written order is first out of the gate, like Kip’s in the Scott/Kip story, but second and third series casting order less relevant.

I have now read all the novel samples and there are several storylines with characters unrelated to the TV production. Potential for milking? How do you follow Shane/Ilya for screen chemistry? Not sure if Episode 6 will wrap up their storyline from the second novel The Long Game based on them and published 3 years following Heated Rivalry but we are getting to the end of their decade span from the books. 
Stop reading here to avoid Ep5 plot spoiler alert potential re: final paragraph written following avert-eyes gap below ...

——
——

——

.

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t think series renewal had been strongly anticipated and perhaps Tierney would have slowed down the timelines prior to burgeoning domesticity diluting the dramatic tension. 

Edited Saturday at 06:09 PM by SirBillybob

[+ Gar1eth]

From The Onion:

 

 

Hockey Players Blast ‘Heated Rivalry’ For Unrealistic Depiction Of Anal Sex 

‘When We Fuck Each Other, That’s Not How It Goes Down,’ Say NHL Athletes

 

Published:

December 19, 2025

TORONTO—Accusing the HBO drama of egregiously misrepresenting their experiences off the ice, the National Hockey League Players’ Association blasted Heated RivalryFriday for what it described as incredibly unrealistic depictions of anal sex between players. “The show’s portrayals of hockey players having sex with each other are wildly misinformed, and we are disappointed by the producers’ utter failure to accurately represent what we do to each other behind locker room doors on a daily basis,” read a statement cosigned by each of the NHLPA’s more than 750 active players, adding that the series’ glitzy, overwrought lovemaking scenes miss the mark on even the most basic details regarding the day-in, day-out sexual encounters that define their lives between games. “Yes, it’s true that we as professional hockey players spend the majority of our free time cramming our cocks into each other’s hot, hungry assholes—the show gets that right. But beyond that, every instance of anal sex you see on screen is pure fiction. It’s clear they didn’t bother consulting any actual hockey players, as the butt-fucking on the show could not be further from what really occurs.” The statement went on to say that while the show’s anal sex scenes are “ludicrous,” its depictions of oral sex between hockey players are pretty much spot-on.

Edited Saturday at 05:42 PM by Gar1eth

[+ Gar1eth]

I have a question about Episode 5. It's a minor point but Spoiler Alert for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. 
 

 

 

 

Earlier in the episode Shane was hit by a Boston player named  Marleau. But later on at the end of the episode during the New York Admiral's game, the on-air announcer refers to a New York player named Marleau. I wondering if it's supposed to be the same Marleau-do trades happen during the season? Or it could be a different Marleau. Or maybe it's just a mistake?

[+ Gar1eth]

I have some more  questions about the series. 'Everyone' is talking about the groundbreaking sex scenes. And I have to admit to not going back and comparing- but I'm hoping someone else is more familiar- but are these scenes really more groundbreaking/revealing than  what the American Queer As Folk did back in 2000?

 

I probably need to go back and re-watch QAF. It came on while I was still a virgin and mostly thinking I'd never have sex ever. I do remember the first episode somewhat. Brian takes  Justin's virginity. I don't think they showed much. But they turned up the sound on the scene really loud. I actually-now remember I was a total virgin and scared of sex -esp bottoming (come to the think of it, my feelings about bottoming haven't changed a lot in the ensuing 25 years)-but it made a bit nauseous. And I had to turn the TV off. It took me a while to get back into the series. 
 

Another thing I'd like to know is if Shane has ever made love successfully with a woman. 
 

And as a final thought -I really like the character of Rose. She seems like a really nice person. 

Edited Saturday at 07:36 PM by Gar1eth

[+ SirBillybob]

Spoiler alert: based on name confusion inquiry 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cliff Marlow in the books is Rozanov’s Boston Bears teammate (Raiders in series). They lost the eastern division to New York Admirals, that went on to defeat San Francisco for the cup, so he wouldn’t have landed on the Admirals following the ice mishap with Montreal’s Shane that season merely a few weeks earlier. The announcer referencing a Marlow/ Marleau for NY as they run out the clock and win would likely be a screenplay oversight yielding continuity error unless intended to be a different player same or similar name. 

Edited Sunday at 12:23 AM by SirBillybob

[Manhattan]

I support people making and watching whatever content they want, but something being popular does not make it good. 
A friend recommended it and asked that I watch at least four episodes. 
The acting from the two leads is embarrassingly bad. 
The writing is incredibly stupid.
The sex scenes are hardly revolutionary. 
It reminds me of Showtime after dark. Softcore for a female audience. 
Boring. 
My friend has no taste. 

Edited Sunday at 06:13 AM by Manhattan

[TonyDown]

🙂

I'm glad the Ilya Rozanov drama includes the fallout he could face back in Russia.  That's an important piece these days.

[+ FrankR]

20 minutes ago, Manhattan said:

I support people making and watching whatever content they want, but something being popular does not make it good. 
A friend recommended it and asked that I watch at least four episodes. 
The acting from the two leads is embarrassingly bad. 
The writing is incredibly stupid.
The sex scenes are hardly revolutionary. 
It reminds me of Showtime after dark. Softcore for a female audience. 
Boring. 
My friend has no taste. 

Quality is subjective. So is good taste.  

[Manhattan]

57 minutes ago, FrankR said:

Quality is subjective. So is good taste.  

Quality is objective. 
McDonalds serves low quality meals by every measure, but it's still very popular. 
People can enjoy McDonalds, but I hope they don't think it's good. 
Viewers may enjoy Heated Rivalry, but I hope they allow themselves to realize it's also low quality fare. 
 

[TonyDown]

The Internet is buzzing over the performances in Episode 5.  IMDB rating for the episode is currently at 2nd highest ever for a TV show episode. 

Connor and Hudson both signed with Creative Artists Agency.  Fans are speculating where their fortunes will lead, eg HBOs The White Lotus.

The Canadiens showed a Heated Rivalry trailer on their jumbo Tron during Pride Night in Montreal.

https://www.reddit.com/r/heatedrivalry/s/Oyfe15o4ck

 

[d.anders]

7 hours ago, Manhattan said:

something being popular does not make it good

There is an abundance of proof. Even with 6% on Rotten Tomatoes, All's Fair is raking in over 3-million viewers (great, by today's standards), and got renewed for a second season. In TV, "good" is always subjective.

5 hours ago, Manhattan said:

Viewers may enjoy Heated Rivalry, but I hope they allow themselves to realize it's also low quality fare.

The story is based on a series of popular romance novels, which usually means "low quality fare" by default. This isn't Paddy Chayefsky. The show's creator, Jacob Tierney, continually says in interviews how surprised he is by viewer reactions.

There is something unique going on here, and it's called a certain style of magic. Magic is rarely easy to achieve in the arts, but this show is having its moment. I see no harm at all in celebrating that, especially when the main characters are gay men in professional sports.

[+ SirBillybob]

But that unique and rare McNUGGETS & dipping sauce chemistry that soars and sings …

Edited Sunday at 03:44 PM by SirBillybob

[+ SirBillybob]

I’ve sprung for the two novels a bit spaced apart in Reid’s soapy publishing chronology that cover extended Shane and Ilya history span with other central characters in additional novels woven in here and there. Funny and filthy (series script smut comparatively very tame) thus far though I’m just at the point of forecasting some of the final episode content for this season. Tone gets more serious in the second novel sample. 

[TonyDown]

On 12/6/2025 at 3:11 PM, TonyDown said:

SPOILER 

*

I wondered if there might be other closeted players.  Hayden and Scott were the possibilities so far.  I base that on their interaction with Shane.  Yeah, Hayden is married but he hovers around Shane.  Maybe he just wants a handsome bro to hang with.

 

SPOILER

*

*

*

*

By now we know....yeah Scott likes men.

Will Epi 6 reveal how Hayden reacts to Scott's coming out?   <-- rhetorical question

I still wonder about Hayden's feelings about his buddy. 

Either way, Shane and Hayden might see some tension. 

Edited Sunday at 10:10 PM by TonyDown

[+ Gar1eth]

Apparently it's been greenlit for a second season. 
 

Connor Storrie Reflects on Shirtless Audition and On-Screen Queer Intimacy | EDGE United States

WWW.EDGEMEDIANETWORK.COM

---

The hockey romance series “Heated Rivalry,” adapted from Rachel Reid’s popular novels, is building...

 

[+ Gar1eth]

21 hours ago, Manhattan said:

The acting from the two leads is embarrassingly bad. 
The writing is incredibly stupid.

I won't dispute that the writing isn't Tolstoy. But I do disagree that the two leads are embarrassingly bad. Again I'll concede that neither is Larry Olivier. But for example Connor Storie's reveal of his feelings in episode 5-even in Russian was quite emotional. Also my grandfather was Russian-well Belarusian-he's been gone since 1980-so it's difficult to remember now. But I think he sounded somewhat similar to Connor with Connor's character not having the advantage my grandfather had of being accustomed to  speaking English for over 50 years. 
 

And take Hudson Williams-I've read some of Shane's character bio online. And while they've probably toned it down a great bit for TV, he's  doing a great job of showing how regimented Shane's life is. And how afraid he is of his feelings causing it all to come crashing down. 
 

I think they are both hot-although I found Hudson's instagram.  There were some photos of him wearing jewelry and smoking.  I'm one of those weird guys who doesn't like the appearance of most  jewelry on men-and even some on women.  It decreased my level of attraction to him. I'm glad he isn't looking like that in the series. 

 

[+ SirBillybob]

10 hours ago, Gar1eth said:

I think they are both hot-although I found Hudson's instagram.  There were some photos of him wearing jewelry and smoking.  I'm one of those weird guys who doesn't like the appearance of most  jewelry on men-and even some on women.  It decreased my level of attraction to him. I'm glad he isn't looking like that in the series. 

 

Only at times sporting a ‘pearl necklace’ after his family jewels are removed from a lily’s moist mouth.  

Edited Monday at 02:28 PM by SirBillybob

[+ SirBillybob]

There is some Shayden tension of a sort in a bonus short story on Reid’s site. 

Otherwise, I think a significant plot line reveal will drop this week because it would bridge S2. Unless, again, the show’s future at time of initial production was too uncertain to add the content. Not naming it. 

Edited Monday at 02:38 PM by SirBillybob

[+ SirBillybob]

Edited Monday at 02:51 PM by SirBillybob

[+ SirBillybob]

… Montreal’s Village. Though I think it would be from the Crave network early streaming as the episodes otherwise appear Sunday evenings. 

Edited Monday at 03:04 PM by SirBillybob

[+ Gar1eth]

29 minutes ago, SirBillybob said:

Only at times sporting a ‘pearl necklace’ after his family jewels are removed from a lily’s moist mouth

Gross!!! And wouldn't said 'necklace' be on the 'lily ' then?

26 minutes ago, SirBillybob said:

There is some Shayden tension of a sort in a bonus short story on Reid’s site. 

Shayden????

Edited Monday at 02:53 PM by Gar1eth

[+ Gar1eth]

I've just watched Episode 5 for about the third or fourth time.  Ilya's monologue, even in Russian, gets to me. And the last scene while Shane and his family are watching the game, as well as Ilya and his teammates-Shane and Ilya's emotions get to me too. I'm glad Scott has a chance to be happy too.