REVIEW: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Episodes 1-2

Heated Rivalry, based on the series Game Changes by Rachel Reid, wastes no time establishing just what this series is. Anyone expecting a sports drama will be disappointed—there’s virtually no actual hockey on display here. If you’re looking for that sweet, sweet longing, passionate gazes, and thighs, this Crave original, airing on HBO Max, is just for you. 

Jumping through time, the series begins right on the cusp of two hockey players’ professional careers. There’s the golden boy, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), the rough-around-the-edges Russian player. Following a stalled-out introduction where Shane tries to introduce himself to Ilya, the two are drafted to different teams: Shane to Montreal and Ilya to Boston. 

That said, Heated Rivalry is hardly concerned with the logistics of the sport. There are vague mentions of the actual games, but otherwise, we only get brief interludes. Moments of the two shooting a promo on the ice and mentions of brand deals and of Shane’s importance for Asian kids looking to see better representation in sports. Episodes 1-2 take place from 2008 to 2014, and we rarely get more than snippets of the actual game itself. 

Things get steamy quickly in Heated Rivalry.

What the series does prioritize is the romance. Or, rather, the magnetic attraction the two feel for one another. It’s all about the passion. Shane has never been with a man before, but, refreshingly, doesn’t hesitate or deny his attraction to Ilya, the latter of whom declares he “likes trouble.”

Ilya is the one to make the first move, though. By the end of Episode 2, it seems Shane has found himself feeling more than what secret hookups should necessitate. It’s their passionate nights spent together that the series devotes the most time and energy to.

Here is where the characters come alive as they learn about one another in increasingly intimate exchanges, both of them having to reckon with their identities and what it means as professional athletes. Not to mention the stigma each faces, stemming from their careers and backgrounds.

The story is thin, but it can afford to be.

Heated Rivalry offers pretty straightforward writing, but at least it understands how these bouts of physicality help bring their personalities to the forefront. At least a little bit.

Shane, so far, is an unfortunately thin character despite hints at greater depth. Moments with his mom, who controls everything from his brand deals to his diet, suggest deeper, unexplored tension. But, two episodes in, it’s an area that remains hollow.

While Williams has moments of effortless charm, he is the clear weak link of the leading duo, lacking a necessary naturalism in front of the screen. Considering it’s his first onscreen credit, there’s definitely room for growth. The chemistry between him and Storrie is intense and undeniable; it’s just that Williams can’t carry a scene on his own for too long. 

Storrie oozes charisma in Heated Rivalry.

Meanwhile, Storrie oozes charisma. From the heat of his lingering looks to his playful delivery, he embodies the brooding mystique of the character while, infrequently, showing greater depth and even vulnerability. 

Created, written, and directed by Jacob Tierney, Heated Rivalry Episodes 1-2 suffer the most due to half-baked characterization and clumsy writing. While there’s no denying the on-screen tension between Williams and Storrie, the narrative itself is weak and offers little to work with.

The two hooking up due to mutual attraction is perfectly fine. But anything more than that is going to need stronger writing that goes beyond the built-in heat of competition and adrenaline-infused rendezvous. 

Heated Rivalry Episodes 1-2 show definite promise despite a thin narrative.

Some of the writing is also just plain silly. Things are either over-articulated or underserved, adding to that sense of inauthenticity. It’s fine, but there’s promise in the premise, parts of the performances, and the overarching narrative that makes one wish for more while watching. 

That said, the story itself clearly isn’t worried about the details. It’s the love scenes, the moments of shared intimacy, that the story revolves around. Heated Rivalry expertly brings to life the big, over-the-top emotions of escapist romance literature. Where, frankly, we don’t always care about the details or the worldbuilding in favor of the how and when and please let it happen of the will/they, won’t/they of it all. 

Heated Rivalry Episodes 1-2 show definite promise despite a thin overarching narrative. The chemistry is fantastic, and there are pockets of charisma in the performances – and the camera knows it. Sometimes that’s all you need, and the series clearly knows it. 

Heated Rivalry Episodes 1-2 streaming now on HBO Max.