Warning: This piece contains spoilers.
Love is dichotomously the simplest and most complicated thing that befalls us; both your first breath of fresh air and a crushing weight on your lungs form its delicate balance. Heated Rivalry has done a wonderful job in revealing all of love’s shifting forms: The heartbreak, the yearning, and the comfort. Beyond hockey, Montreal, and Boston, the show tells the story of two men learning to love each other.
You’ve likely encountered the Crave series that’s been taking the Internet by storm, whether through your love of the sport, nationalistic pride for our snowy country, or the viral McGill namedrop. With only six episodes filmed across Ontario and Quebec in, reportedly, only 37 days, the show has rivalled the much-anticipated Season 5 of Stranger Things in popularity.
So why is Heated Rivalry such a sensation? Perhaps because every character reaches into your chest and settles there, leaving you no choice but to become an active companion in their journey. The characters are so disastrously human, burdened with messy choices and regrets, fumbling their way to happiness, that you find yourself both heartbroken for their struggles and rooting for their success. This is not a show you watch passively: You become complicit in every embrace and argument. This effect is only made possible thanks to the sheer quality of the acting.
Canadian actor Hudson Williams (who plays Shane Hollander) cultivates a hesitant yet earnest image of the Montreal Metros star through his delivery and body language. He deliberately represents Shane’s autism without stereotypicality, conveying authenticity and sincerity of heart, turning him into a fan-favourite for viewers who each find a shred of relatability in his story.
Williams’ acting is rivalled only by Connor Storrie’s portrayal of Boston Raiders player Ilya Rozanov, which he delivers with such lamenting grace that I still remain stunned. Storrie mastered both the Russian language and accent, leaving viewers flabbergasted at his natural American lilt. Ilya’s character is one imbued with torment as he struggles to reconcile his growing affections for Shane with the rigidity of his Russian family, while Shane seeks love curiously and openly. Storrie’s facial control completely transforms Ilya from scene to scene, his eyes filling with gentle adoration at one moment and hardening into daggers at the next. This fluidity of character enables a tumultuous relationship with both Shane and the audience.
The chemistry between Storrie and Williams is undeniable, displayed both through physical intimacy and the brief glances exchanged between them. Observing the actors in interviews makes it crystal clear that they have forged a beautiful warmth for one another.
Not to be overlooked is the work of Canadian actors François Arnaud (Scott Hunter) and Robbie Graham-Kuntz (Kip Grady). Scott and Kip emerge as a secondary romantic entanglement in episode 3, the resulting hour becoming a masterpiece all on its own. They navigate their own struggle of “right person, wrong time,” straining their relationship. Everything is right, but Scott isn’t ready to come out publicly, and Kip can’t keep being pulled back into the closet. Both actors work synergistically to create a memorable relationship that enamours viewers, making their hardship all the more devastating. Their chemistry skyrockets in episode 5 with a globally public coming-out kiss that inspires the main protagonists.
The true magic of Heated Rivalry lies in its impact on audiences. In an interview with SiriusXM, Williams revealed that numerous closeted athletes have anonymously reached out to him, expressing their gratitude for the show.
“This is a fun show, and it’s celebratory, but also sometimes it’s just hitting people right in the nerve,” Williams said.
This show is a moment of representation, a hand reaching out to anyone who might feel alone or afraid. It encourages everyone, regardless of who you are or who you love, to never stop reaching for connection.
