When you think of hockey, the first thing that comes to mind wouldn’t be a slow-burn gay romance between two rival players. Yet, HBO Max’s “Heated Rivalry” is just that.
Originally a book from the Game Changers series, the show boasts over 10.6 million viewers in the US, making it the streaming platform’s most-watched acquired scripted show. Audiences were compelled to watch it because of its wild scenes between two men, but the six-episode series is much more than that.
The hockey romance represents the multifaceted aspects of queer relationships, rather than reducing them to a trope or a gimmick. Other queer, specifically gay media only explore the potential tragedy of queer relationships, like “Brokeback Mountain” or “Call Me by Your Name”, while others center upon just the sweet and innocent aspects, like “Heartstopper.”
The hockey romance includes and goes beyond these cliches, finding a balance that makes the relationships in it realistic and complex.
Scott and Kip are both older characters compared to Shane and Ilya, the main couple in the show. They have more maturity and experience than the primary pair, yet coming out to the public has effects on their mindsets.
Sophomore Bianca Blake talks about queer joy in relation to the characters Scott Hunter and Kip Grady, a secondary couple in “Heated Rivalry.” “Being out, you have this secondary adolescence going on. It’s everything that you didn’t get to do as a child that you’re trying to do now,” Blake said.
Second adolescence is a developmental stage that LGBTQ+ adults experience after growing up in an unaccepting environment. Scott undergoes this, as his relationship with Kip intensifies. He progresses in his hockey career, and moves on from the poor treatment he experienced as a queer teen.
Senior and co-president of GSA Gordon Morris notices how Shane and Ilya’s relationship was strained because of their statuses as professional athletes. It took them ten years to find the bravery to fully pursue their partnership.
“It’s very hard to be out and queer and open with that, so it’s not a normal gay relationship,” Morris said.
With Ilya specifically, he has to deal with other issues besides just being queer. He struggles with attending to his ailing father, along with making enough money to send back to his brother, Alexei. He has to juggle these and handle keeping up with his hockey career.
“Ilya’s struggles are more family-oriented,” Blake said. “I don’t think Ilya actually likes hockey. It’s just something that he’s good at, and it’s something that he uses to take care of his family.”
Along with taking care of his family, Ilya tackles mistreatment from Alexei and the fact that his home country of Russia is unsafe for queer people.
On the contrary, Shane is very passionate about hockey. He has to navigate being thrust into the public eye and maintain his reputation. While not explicitly said, he is likely portrayed as neurodivergent, which changes his approach to these issues.
“Heated Rivalry” shows complexity beyond surface-level, one-note queer relationships.
“I think that this show has done so much for queer media just by showing that it can be successful on the main stage,” Morris said. “I imagine this is our generation’s ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ where it’s pushing stereotypes, pushing new norms, and just showing the more emotional, moral side, while also showing the physical aspects of a gay relationship.”
Along with moments of sweetness and tragedy, the show is not afraid to display the more intimate side of queer relationships, which is not something audiences see everyday. Along with this, the hockey romance emphasizes the importance of queer and ally community through Kip and his supportive friend group.
This depth accurately represents queer people, and makes the show just as profound as it is entertaining.
“Heated Rivalry” is also able to cover the hardships of gay relationships and simply dating in general, with Shane and Ilya’s text messages being their primary way of communicating since they were primarily long-distance.
Because of its realism, the show is encouraging real-life queer athletes to come out. “Heated Rivalry” broke the ice on talking openly about homosexuality in hyper-masculine sports like hockey, giving them the courage to share their experiences.
Along with this, the show is an in-your-face, unapologetic portrayal of two gay couples. This is especially impactful considering recent bills passed against the LGBTQ+ community.
“It is a queer story in a time where queer stories are not being told, and that’s what makes it so good, because it is showing a side of queer culture that is shown very little,” Morris said. “Queer representation, especially with athletics, at a time when queer voices are being suppressed, is very important.”
Each opinion represented in The Panther Press is the view and voice of the writer. Opinions, as the selection and curation of content by the editors, do not represent the views of the entire Panther Press staff, the adviser, the school, or the administration.
