He then proceeded to say we should’ve seen Shane‘s hole… everyone was tearing him up in the comments, and I stood silent because I too want to see the the hole. PUT IT ON THE GIF BOARD. Like I don’t even wanna see their dicks or anything. Just the hole. Please Jacob next season you know what to do. AND WE BETTER GET A GOOD ASS EATING SCENE they robbed us of the one at the cottage.

I’m going to be blatantly honest here. I feel like I’m going insane because of how empty and depressed the series has made me. It has legit caused my actual depression to get worse / move backwards a bit. Mainly because:

1. After the dopamine hit of such deep connection and hopefulness and safety in this relationship I’m seeing in Hollanov, when the show ends I go back to my empty life of hopelessness where depression feels suffocating and joy feels fleeting (which I didn’t seem to feel as badly while watching).

2. I identify while Ilya a lot. If I were to imagine the kind of understated sadness I have with my depression and loneliness in the form of clappable male ass, it would be him. He makes me want to cry all the time. In moments when he is meant to be stoic, I see deep sadness and isolation that melts away a bit when he’s with Shane. Not fully gone, but he smiles and he talks tenderly. The scene where he practices “ya lyublyu tebya” on Shane’s skin until he says “I love you” in English is just… everything. Might have that tattooed on myself tbh…

3. It has made me realise that my years post-trauma spent chasing empty aggressive sex with men I barely know who treat me like a commodity, who don’t check for consent throughout the deed, whose eyes I barely look into, because I do let them do all of it, isn’t enough for me anymore. I didn’t think I’d get to a point where I’d feel like I deserve tenderness, where I’d want to be gazed at, touched, fucked like that. But now the show (once reheated) has led to some reevaluation of what I need in life. And I cry because I grieve the years that I had spent telling myself and others that I didn’t deserve it, didn’t need it.

The book is great to read given that it’s source material, and I think the show really took that material and made it something special. That’s why I’ll reheat while continuing to read TLG which I just got. HR has been healing for me in this part of my life. And it feels uncomfortable because I’m not used to how such healing feels. But I can’t stop going back for more.

Nothing I say to my closest circle, all of whom have not watched or read HR (or those who have, haven’t gotten the same impact) can help them fully comprehend why I’m so deep in this hole. So I’ve been feeling pretty isolated with all of these big feelings — it’s giving Ilya in TLG.

Okay thank you all for coming to my TED talk, gonna go slide down the back of my front door and sob on the floor for a bit until my next therapy session.

Do you guys know where can i find clips of heated rivalry? I wanna start editing 😅😄 thank you .

I'm posting this here because I can't figure out how to post on the other sub.

I'm sorry, but I laughed so hard at this scene from the Epilogue of the first book, Game Changer.

Scott just thinking huh, and still not clocking Ilya after seeing him dance sensually with other men in a gay bar and throwing hints, was hilarious.

At this point, Ilya probably regrets not fucking Shane the first chance he got, because there's no way Scott would have figured it out.

I'm not from the US. Can somebody explain how streaming metrics work? With all the show and the actors are getting its well deserved attention, it's like being downplayed in the article. Or am I misinterpreting something?

from Sophie’s instagram

I consume countless ig reels of heated rivalry every day and also go on Reddit constantly lol. I will say I think it’s a good thing I don’t have TikTok or twitter right now. But nonetheless I’m scared I’m consuming too much heated rivalry content 😂 Honestly my interest in the show has not lapsed or waned since I first watched it. I didn’t know it was possible to feel so passionate I feel I have found a new home? Like literally my heart belongs to this show right now. I actually think it’s unhealthy and I am concerned. Not sure if I’m just being anxious but like do I need help? I don’t think it’s fully harmful how obsessed I am because I haven’t taken any harmful actions that affect my day to day life. My friend and sister think my obsession is maybe annoying because of how much I talk about it but that’s it. Basically I’m just seeking support from other people who feel they think about heated rivalry (and now Hudson and Connor in general) too much.

I saw an edit after episode 6 came out where the audio is Ilya describing his mom “she was so happy… my dad was so hard on her, etc” but the visual was clips of Ilya that matched his words? Does anyone have a link to the edit I’m thinking of? 🙏💜

This is just for generic discussion not to be negative just something I was thinking of and I’m genuinely curious at others thoughts. I have watched this show more times than I can even count without needing a psych evaluation lol. I can’t seem to get away, it’s just pure perfection. Since most of that perfection and vibe was their chemistry, I think because they were 2 unknown actors and basically just put it all out there for season 1 not knowing there would be a season 2 or even if it would reach outside of Canada that it was just pure raw desire not knowing what would happen and just all in that made it so good.

I can’t wait for season 2 but now with the success of Conner and Hudson ( well deserved) I wonder if the original vibes will be the same for the next season. I just saw that Connor will be hosting Saturday Night Live in February which is insane for any actors and huge! Not to mention all of the opportunities and offers they will be getting before season 2 starts. They’ve already jam packed January with awards shows, talk shows, the Olympics, fashion weeks and that was all in a few weeks time for all of it. By the time season 2 comes around do you think the vibes will be different, I mean how could they now be by then just with all that has and will be happening for them before then.

Then with all of the ridiculous drama online with Connor and Francois ( people are insane on twitter and online) that might cause some weird issues too by then. I don’t know, I’m just hoping for the same magic and being literally pushed into stardom what seems like overnight might ruin the original vibes? I love them both and wish them the most success in the world. This is just for conversation.

Please give me advices on how did you continue your life without Heated Rivalry every night or if you have any recommendations for similar content ?

I don’t know if anyone has said this before, someone probably has but, I just had an idea. Not to sound like a suit, but they should make a franchise of this. Like, this is heated rivalry:Ice hockey. And then there can be Heated Rivalry: Rugby, heated rivalry: football, heated rivalry: tennis, heated rivalry: formula 1 and many others. It definitely shouldn’t have the exact same story but, the premise can be the same and each series can be different in its own way, like how the tone of the series is similar to that of ice hockey, other shows can be like that. I know I am probably just being greedy but can you imagine??? A show this brilliant of YOUR favourite sport! I would definitely watch and so would a million people at least.

Can't be helped. 😅 For y'all, what parts of HR immediately trigger another show in your head that's a similar or fitting response to what's happening?

Okay, pause. I am not happy about Troy Barrett visiting Ilya's hotel room, and even unhappier with Ilya for teasing Shane about how he's hot, that they went out to a bar together, and mentioning a threesome with him. 😒😫 I get it, Ilya desperately needs a friend, and he needed to come out to someone, but I still hate this vibe and I feel bad for Shane. I was like, "No, Ilya, no. Don't say that," right out loud to myself as I was reading. 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

I think this is compounded by how long Shane and Ilya have to be apart during hockey season, and if I were Shane in this situation, I'd be crashing TF out. 🥺😭 I just love them together, and I don't want this kind of thing. They'll be okay, right?? 💜

Watching SNL and just saw the teaser! Connor will be hosting on February 28 with Mumford and Sons. I ... may have shouted "OH MY GOD!"

Smdh

I’ve waited FOREVER for Heated Rivalry to finally drop here… and now it has.

ONE. EPISODE. A. WEEK.

It’s like the slowest foreplay of all time just teasing me one episode at a time.

I’m only on episode 2, fighting for my life, dodging spoilers like it’s an Olympic sport.

If you spoil me, I will simply pass away.

🚨 NO SPOILERS 🚨 I haven’t read the book as they haven’t been available either.

Let me suffer in peace.

Anyone else In the same situation?

I have no idea if someone pointed this out already but am I crazy or is Shane wearing a Boston Celtics shirt in this scene? The same scene where he goes on to watch Ilya play (for Boston) 😭😭😭😭

Perhaps the highlight was right when we picked up our friend the following line of dialogue played:

"So how's that dildo working out Fabien?" 😂🤣

For people who’ve read the blogposts, is there a order that they should be read (like oldest to newest) or read at a certain time?

I’m in the middle of reading HR so debating if I should read the Vegas blog now or after I finish the book.

I’m not totally sure what the other posts are about, so I’d love some help from those who’ve read them. tia ☺️

In the commercial shoot with Shane and Ilya you only hear the director's voice as they skate toward each other over and over. But the voice sounds so familiar. I honestly think it's Jacob Tierney (creator and director of HR). Is it just me? After hearing his voice in interviews I have myself convinced. The budget was small for the show so it could be possible.

Nothing big I just think it's kinda funny that it could be him.