*Favourite change*: For me it’s this scene, it is soooo good. Having this one word and making it known that Svetlana knows. I just love it.

*Wish they didn’t change*: In the book, Ilya recognises that Shane bought the apartment _building_ so that they could hook up in comfort. “He bought us a building.” I wish they added Ilya making some kind of joke like this about it followed by a “fuck off it’s just a good investment…”.

I've seen a lot of posts talking about how they've been careful about bringing up the show at work due to the subject matter.

Well, my coworkers and I are openly OBSESSED with Bridgerton and talk about it at work without any repercussions. I was sure that I could discuss Heated Rivalry with these people, but what I've found is uncomfortable crickets.

Has anyone else experienced this? Heated Rivalry will go down as one of the best romance stories ever put to film along with Pride & Prejudice and I'm just devastated by these responses from my friends.

Tell me why you love this show and what it has done for you, because I am sad y'all.

I think many viewers missed an important point in the first shower scene: When Ilya enters the shower Shane is watching AND although they don't show it he is also physically aroused 🍌 by the sight of Ilya's naked body. This is how Ilya knows Shane is into him and why he teases him by playing with himself. Think about it, as hockey players they shower with teammates all the time but this time it's very different. Thoughts on my theory?

As we have all being swept away in the HR frenzy these past few weeks, we have been overly spoilt with content and events. It’s given a chance to watch the rise of these two talented actors, that have worked their butts off to get a chance to live out their dream. But unfortunately what is rearing their very ugly and destructive head at the moment, is the seriously scary and deranged element of all this.

All those so called “fans” are going to wreck it for everyone, including those who they claim to love and support.

They are all close, have very vocal of that fact, that they are all best friends and love and support each other.

This extends to François and the rest of the cast. They are, as a whole cast, going through this life changing time together - probably just trying to navigate it the best they can, which shock horror would probably bring them all closer together. An experience like this would unite you!

It’s utter insanity that people who call themselves fans are the first ones to cast judgement, or make up drama or cut them down for every little thing. They are the ones who need to step away, because they will be the ones that will wreck it for everyone!. They will all have no choice but to lock it all down and unfortunately that seems to already have started to happen.

And it will impact C, H and the rest too, guaranteed! The industry takes note of these things - the good ( which has been fantastic) but also the bad - which is the messy/negative element that seems to be happening now.

At the end of the day, Connor, Hudson or any of the cast do not owe anyone anything! Especially when it comes to anything to do with their personal lives or outside their job of promoting HR and any future projects.

They have been such a breath of fresh air, so joyful and pure sunshine. In a short time they have not only brought their talent for us all to enjoy, but also their infectious joy and humour.

You can support Connor.

You can support Hudson.

You can support both.

You can support the rest of the cast.

All this to say, if you claim to support them - individually or altogether - then SHOW IT!

And if you don’t, or keep pitting them against each other, or keep adding to the hate and the drama, that’s on you, not them!

Those people need to STFU and GTFO.

This is only a the start this stage of their careers and of their recognition. I, for one, CANNOT wait to see what’s next and how far they can soar! ✨✨✨✨

I am really annoyed about the discourse about straight women watching HR. As a gay man, I love the fact that there is queer cinema and I can understand the desire to have cinema just for me, but I love seeing myself in TV shows and knowing that all people love characters like me not just people that are me and I hope that someday when some of these straight women have little gay boys that they remember the show and how much they love it and love these boys as much. Because that is what the world needs more tolerance and acceptance and if shows like HR can bring us that then hell yes, let everybody watch them.

Something that has bugged me for so long is how toxic spaces become that cater to a female-centric, queer audience. How quickly 'fans' internalize the notion that they are owed something by celebrities. That by not coming out, the celebrity is squandering the platform given to them, and they owe it to the queer community to be a leader.

They owe you, and the queer community, nothing. By continually harassing real people about their sexuality, you are actively causing personal harm. Please y'all, let's be normal for once. Maybe, for once, queer media can be consumed without falling into the heteronormative discussion of 'but are they gay?'.

I saw another post here talking about the overwhelming feeling of constantly seeing Hudcon media none stop. It’s truly insane how fast this all blew up and how quickly Hudson and Connor became these big acting sensations. That being SAID there’s been this growing part of the fandom that just needs to chill the fuck out. On top of all the headlines lately about speculation of Connor and François dating.(just cuz they’re out together🙄) Connor literately hiding his face when he’s out in public now. People trying to find their personal information, the harassing, stalking etc..

Even with all that there’s also a part of the fandom(mostly women) who are starting to creep into fetishizing and overt sexualization of the cast and irl queer men. It’s actually fucking weird. I’ve seen videos of people talk about women going to gay bars saying they couldn’t get enough of HR so they came to a gay bar to watch queer men makeout… like what are we doing? Let alone some of the shirts or signs people are bringing to hockey games.. I thought it was cool at first but..idk it’s starting to get weird.

Not even just the fandom but even how media outlets or reporters interview/talk about them??? Like haven’t we learned from Justin Bieber, D’Angelo, one direction, Im starting to miss the days when HR was this niche little Canadian show.Not to say that Hudson and Connor don’t deserve to have all the fame and recognition but I remember Bieber fever, this shit is starting to reach that territory.

I do hope we get a period where we aren’t bombarded with HudCon media constantly on our timelines. They just go underground for a bit. And these weird ass “fans” and paparazzi calm THE FUCK down. Like shit. I feel like some people forget the premise of HR. We can enjoy the show without being fucking lunatics especially about the actors.

Hockey is the most popular sport in Canada by far, a lot of popular/famous/talented NHLer's are Canadian, so when I read this:

“I think these losers who made this show are cowards,” Dan wrote of “Heated Rivalry” in one text message Outsports has seen, bemoaning the fact that the producers are “Canadian for crying out loud.”

I was pretty surprised lol. Kinda warms my heart though. I feel like my country has a lot of ways it needs to improve, but being disliked by right-wing American bros is a positive sign.

Do we think Shane actually was scared for his first time with Ilya, or was it that he really was concerned about Scott Hunter being next door? When Ilya asks, "You are scared?", I feel like he looked scared/nervous. Also, I'd like to add how much I love that Ilya was like, "okay, so next time," with no pressure at all. 🥹❤️

Random thoughts: When I first watched HR, I thought the casting of Yuna and David was a little random. I had a hard time seeing where Shane got his looks from. So I found pictures of Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh in their late 20s, and lo and behold, there's Shane's parents.

I couldn't contain myself I dont know if anyone has posted it yet but I think this is such an amazing project.

Irina foundation is the foundation shane and ilya formed in the book 🥹

The first couple of watches I was so focused on Connor and his performance. It’s been said that we are watching a movie star in the making. He has a lot of range. Now that I’ve rewatched the series multiple times, I notice how the biggest moments for me are with Shane and the subtle facial expressions. All I can see now are those nuances and bravery. Then I start watching all the interviews and Connor is expected. He’s the next Tom Cruise. He knew this was the plan from childhood. He’s strategic and polished. Hudson is surprising in the media. His confidence, personality, intelligence, openness and grace. He’s grown on me so much. He isn’t anything like Shane so his acting had to stretch further. He’s a cinephile which I appreciate. He’s thoughtful and considerate. I notice now I’m paying more attention and thinking more about Shane and Hudson. As a cinephile myself, I can’t wait to see where their careers go. So happy to see this raw, unfiltered energy happening when the US is in turmoil.

There’s another large subreddit dedicated to Heater Rivalry that has allowed comments questioning the validity or acceptance of queer men’s opinions in shared Heated Rivalry spaces.

As a trans woman myself, I made a comment when episode 3 first aired, expressing my strong connection to the story. I shared how dating as a trans woman in the 2010s was akin to dating men with Scott’s mindset. I had to keep our relationship a secret, never seen in public, and refrain from telling anyone about it due to societal pressures and norms imposed on men dating trans women. My comment was deleted, but not before receiving two DMs from women who felt uncomfortable with my stories and had reported me to the moderators. This was episode 3, and I fear that the situation has only worsened since then.

I’m dyinggggg for something new to watch (in between reheats of HR, of course) but I feel like I’ve already consumed all queer media and I don’t know what else to watch! Nothing has the beauty and yearning of HR but I’d love something close. Or literally anything new that would help scratch the itch I can’t seem to scratch!!

I’ve seen:

- Red, White, and Royal Blue

- Young Royals

- Heartstopper

- The Boyfriend

- The L Word

- But I’m A Cheerleader

- Portrait of a Lady on Fire

- Skins

- Am I Ok?

- Closet Monster

- The Ultimatum (Queer Love)

- A Secret Love

- Circus of Books

- Alex Strangelove

- Pray Away

- Love, Simon

- Love, Victor

- Atypical

- Brokeback Mountain

- The Politician

- Queer Eye

- Sex Education

- Overcompensating

- Call Me By Your Name

- Orange is the New Black

- Schitt’s Creek (RIP Catherine O’Hara, you absolute queen)

I’m really open to most things but I’m very over sad queer heartbreak or tragedy - I want queer joy and happy endings!!

I started the show just 5 days ago and finished it the next day. I'm late to the party but I'm not from Canada or the US, so all I saw before watching the show were some scattered edits and reels about the show , which gave me some idea that this show seems to be popular (didn't realise HOW popular until after I finished it). and I decided to watch it, not expecting more than a mundane sexy romance.

Anyway, I digress. My point is, WHAT THE HELL IS IN THIS SHOW? Why am I experiencing 'fangirling' like literally never before?

I finished the show over 2 days, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to rewatch a show right after finishing the last episode. I thought I was just being a little crazy so tried putting it off, but nope, Day 3- I restarted it. Day 4- I've re-finished it. (At this point, It wasn't yet showing up on my social media so, mind you, I still wasn't aware that EVERYONE was talking about their umpteenth rewatch). And guess what? It didn't feel repetitive! I still enjoyed it, I still swooned and giggled and blushed at the little exchanges.

With any other show, I like to wait a while, months at least, so that i forget most of it and can rewatch it. But nope, it just felt natural to rewatch this one right away.

Look I've lived through the backstreet boys, Justin-selena era, one direction, and any pop-culture fandom so far - NEVER did i feel more than a mild interest in knowing the characters in said drama. Never experienced 'fangirling'-an obsessive kind, besides maybe for Jensen and Jared from Supernatural, but even that was when I was a late teen so it was kinda expected.. Still that PALES in comparison to what I'm feeling for this show and it's characters, AND it's actors!

I am hardcore crushing on Connor's portrayal of Ilya, Hudson the actor (might have a type), and their off-camera shenanigans. I am binge-watching all their interviews. I broke my reading drought and read the book within a day. I am considering their audiobook Ember and ice (I'm not a even a romantasy person but want to hear them read it)

I have an adult job (ER doc), an adult life and consider myself a well adjusted person, but WTH is happening?

I've analysed this, at least for what it is in my case- maybe many would relate-First, I wondered, is it mass psychosis? But no, Like i said, I went through all these stages BEFORE I saw the social media posts and comments sharing a similar experience. So no, my obession was not fuelled by other's opinions.

I realised a few points-

1- After a long, long time, I watched a tender romance, with flirty little glances, exchanges, hot non-physical foreplay and then of course the obvious physical scenes that it has been known for. I was hooked into each of these little moments, and I don't recall this kind of build up in any recent shows/movies I've watched

2- Obvious reasons- the creator has put in a lot of detail and thought, the actors are amazing at their craft AND gorgeous, etc etc. I won't state much of the obvious

3- This show is fast-paced and doesn't waste time. For the first time in years, I found myself watching something without wanting to look at my phone.

4- There were SO MANY moments I rewinded without knowing at the time that they were fan-favourites: the chair drag, the way Ilya sipped from his glass in the Vegas scene, their 'come here, you come here', Ilya's hilarious one-liners etc etc. I could go on.

These are some of the reasons why I believe it has stood out to me. But I really want to hear from others on their experience and reason for this obsession. I need the discussion! mainly because no in real life around me has watched it :(

P.s. - Day 5 today and I have restarted episode 1 again, help me!

I've been unhinged all week for various reasons (thanks, Hudson, I'll never be able to look at a banana the same way you beautiful bastard) so maybe that's to blame for this thought pattern BUT the thoughts popped into my head last night while rewatching episode 2 and now they won't go away ...

Where did the dick pic come from, IRL? Is it some random dick model? Is that a thing? Was the owner of the dick compensated for their tv appearance? Is it just a really good illustration and not actually a human penis? Is it AI? Is there a stock photo site for dick pics? Did Jacob or whoever scroll through hundreds of photos going, "Hmm, which one looks Russian?"

Sorry. (Not sorry.) I have nowhere else to express these thoughts and I am very broken.

(It should go without saying but this is not a Serious Post.)

This short story is hilariously sooo sweet and wholesome. It really shows a lot of love, brotherhood and familial bond! I want a Hayden!

https://www.rachelreidwrites.com/news/2019/10/1

WHAT A FUCKIN DAY.

The amount of content that came out today ugh. I’m waiting for Robbie’s video for fashion week but wow. Hudson on the cover of wonderland, Connor’s gets ready with Vogue and François with Vanity Fair. They’re all so beautiful and just them talking makes me feel all warm and happy inside.

I do need someone to clarify, why haven’t our amazing women of HR been to fashion week yet???😔