First time watcher
Realised after watching it this past week that the majority of Heated Rivalry fans must just be straight women who fetishize gay men cuz oh my god that show was NOTHING like what TikTok and Twitter made it out to be. It was so gut wrenching and powerful and beautiful. I sobbed multiple times. Like going into it based soley off what I saw people online saying I was expecting a show that was lowkey ao3's porn without plot tag come to life. But instead I was met with intensely deep characters with so much heart. I found myself crying more often than not and smiling and clapping and rooting for these characters. I put off watching the show for so long because of the way everyone was talking about it. I didn't want to watch a queer show made for straight women but wow it was so much more than that. As a queer person I was so so moved by it. I hope the fanbase doesn't keep people like me away forever because I was definitely missing out.
(not gonna delete the post but I am gonna mute it. the people who understood, understood and the people who didn't, never will. hope y'all have a great day and enjoy the show. I'm gonna go read some bagginshield fanfic on ao3. bye!!!!)