I have spent many years watching LGBTQ+ representation across media—from film and television to the Broadway stage. In all these years, there have been a select few productions that have deeply moved me. “Heated Rivalry” tops my list.
I wrote about this show back in January 2026, when I first watched the eight-episode production, written and directed by Jacob Tierney, adapted from a series of hockey-romance novels by Rachel Reid. I was immediately struck by the chemistry between the two leading actors: Connor Storrie (as Ilya Rozanov) and Hudson Williams (as Shane Hollander). The intensity expressed in the intimate scenes between these characters is, for lack of a better word, scalding.
But something happened as the series progressed, as viewers are catapulted into an exploration of the ways in which various cultures impact the lives of the principal characters—whether it be the repressive, homophobic culture of Russia or the stultifying culture of conformity in professional sports.
There is a marked sensitivity depicted in the ‘coming out’ process of the various characters, as each embraces their authenticity. The series transforms into a profoundly romantic love story that dramatizes the very human facets of yearning and desire.
There are so many commentators who have written articles or posted YouTube videos about this show, engaging in interesting analyses of its subtexts, nuances, cinematography, lighting, acting, and its use of music. It’s even more remarkable that the series has hit so hard at this particularly divisive cultural moment, a testament to the universality of its themes and storytelling.
It is a shame that the rules of the Emmy Awards prohibit the nomination of anybody connected to this series—because it was produced in Canada. Yes, it appears on HBO Max, but it was produced by the Canadian Crave Network. That said, the show received a Television Academy Honors Award in May 2026 for its socially conscious content. And it broke all records with 16 wins, awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
That said, I’ve watched the first season multiple times, noticing something new and surprising with each viewing. It has resonated with me in such a profound way and I look forward to the second season, which has been in production this summer.
With the Primetime Emmy Awards airing tonight, today’s song is dedicated to the show that doesn’t qualify, though it should be eligible for the International Emmy Awards.
Song of the Day #2345: All the Things She Said, words and music by Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Valery Polienko and Elena Kiper, is an English translation and reworking of the writers’ Russian-language song, “Ya Soshla s Uma”. The original version was recorded by the Russian music duo t.A.T.u. for their first English-language studio album, released in 2002, “200 km/h in the Wrong Lane“. The song was later covered by English musician Harrison and a mashup of the two versions is used to great effect in “Rose“, Episode 4, Season 1 of “Heated Rivalry“. Jacob Tierney knew that the song carried a level of controversy of its own, but wanted to keep it intact for the scene in which it was used. Check out the original version, the mashup remix, and a partial scene from the series [YouTube links].
This post also appears on Medium.
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