We’ve given the women in the series lots of credit for being great allies but I’ve noticed that Shane, in spite of having spent an inordinate amount of time in locker rooms, takes offence at Hayden saying “Do you ever hit that?” Shane calls Hayden out on that phrase which is pretty dehumanizing. It does give Shane time to think up an excuse, but he seemed sincerely offended on behalf of not just Jessica but women in general.
Congratulations Jacob Tierney Brendan James Brady and Accent Aigu Entertainment; Crave| Bell Media; HBO MAX; Rachel Reid; Hudson Williams; Connor Storrie; Robbie GK; François Arnaud and the entire cast and crew of Heated Rivalry!
Hudson Williams briefly spoke in a video played at the Television Academy Honors ceremony in Los Angeles✨
“I don’t think there’s ever a wrong time to tell stories that involved marginalized [people] or groups that are prejudiced against.
It's a gift that a lot of actors don't get, which is quality storytelling, quality writing, directed by a great director, filled with a great cast and then its become this great gift for people who felt marginalized or unseen, or just want to experience joyous love"
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Jacob’s acceptance speech for Heated Rivalry at the Television Academy Honors, May 21, 2026
“You know when you option pornography… [audience laughs]
Uhhh this has been— I mean— I don't know why it's really hitting me tonight? I don't know if it's Padma Lakshmi talking about my show or just being here in this company? Uh it—
This show has been a surprise every step of the way, and I can safely say that the biggest surprise—and the one that I'll probably take with me the farthest and the longest and that means the most to me—is that I found a network at home in my country— Crave, a lot of my folks are here tonight—and they let me make a show.
And they did not note me to death, and they trusted me, and they let me make THIS show. And it's such a real pleasure to work with you guys. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for making this show with me.
Thank you to our friends at HBO for picking it up and showing it all over the world. Thank you to my two wonderful people in my life here—my agent and my lawyer.
[Joking] Like really, really? My agent, really? [audience laughs] You can say what you want about my agent, Matt Smith at CAA, but I've been to both of his weddings, and I've known him for decades.”
https://x.com/heatedrivalnews/status/2057402101450326332?s=20
One of the things that really stayed with me after watching HR is how well the show understood emotional vulnerability, not just physical intimacy. Yes, the sex scenes and kissing scenes in HR are very hot and realistic, and no joke, some of them even made me blush like I was intruding on someone’s private moments in real life. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like the show is so much more than just the sexual aspect. At its core, the story is really about two people with emotional issues, showing how those struggles affect their relationship and why it takes them so long to finally open up and communicate with each other.
Normally, the lack of communication in romance shows frustrates me a lot because the portrayals are always exaggerated. But somehow, that frustration didn’t happen with HR, and I think a huge credit goes to Hudson and Connor’s acting alongside Jacob’s direction. They didn’t portray the emotions in an overly dramatic way. A lot of it came through subtle microexpressions, pauses, body language, and the way they delivered their lines. It felt natural and very close to how people actually behave in real life when they’re scared, insecure, or trying to protect themselves emotionally.
For example, I grew up in a family where feelings and emotions were never openly talked about. Even when I tried to express mine, they were often treated like something ridiculous or embarrassing. Because of that, opening up emotionally is still very difficult for me even to this day. It made me connect so deeply with the way Ilya constantly guards his heart and tries to backtrack out of fear of rejection during the show’s emotional scenes. I’m super impressed by the way the acting and direction brought those moments to life, because it is uncannily similar to my own actions in real life.
I also found myself relating to Shane’s internal struggle to accept that he’s gay and why it felt like such a huge deal to him. It wasn’t only about fear of homophobia itself, but more about the fear of suddenly becoming “different” in a world where he was already under pressure to fit in. I know that feeling all too well. When I realized that I might be on the ace spectrum (something almost no one in my society understands, and if you mention it, people usually just turn it into a joke), I really didn’t want to accept it. I tried so hard to force myself to do things I obviously didn’t enjoy, just hoping I could fit in. That’s why watching what Shane went through in the show made me so emotional. Again, I’m amazed by how the direction and the acting in those scenes where Shane is conflicted and freaking out are so realistic that they remind me of my own experiences.
So, it was the emotional side of the show that made me fall in love with it, thanks to the writing, direction, and especially the wonderfully realistic acting. This is the kind of show that can make you emotionally invested even if the premise or tropes normally wouldn’t appeal to you. For example, I always avoid secret romance stories. No offense to authors who write them... it’s just one of my personal “no” tropes. But HR totally changed my mind because the production and performances were just that good.
That’s why, to me, HR is much more than just a hot romance show. Yes, the chemistry and intimacy are amazing, but what made the story truly memorable was how authentic the characters and their struggles felt. Beyond the romance, it captured emotional vulnerability in a way that felt painfully real.
Ok maybe I'm thick but after having reheated the series a redacted number of time, I realised I never noticed the second nod from Ilya in the shower.
I noticed it with that slowed version from that reel.
So Ilya first does the eyebrow thing when he sees that Shane is kinda interested down there, then starts to touch himself, and then NODS AT IT AGAIN like saying "how about you touch yourself too?"
Have I been so blinded by all this gorgeousness to not see it before?????? My god this show is killing me
I know whatever they go with will be amazing, but what do you think would be a good opener for the season? I was thinking the “hold on to something, Rozanov” scene from the books would be a good re-entry point.
One of the most passionate kisses I've seen in a long time
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t want to play on the same team together? Feels like they have (obvious) great chemistry, but also then it would get rid of the rivalry aspect, so no one would suspect anything if they saw them together?
That is creating the green-yellow cast? I thought it was my screen but I realized it’s not.
Picture: Ilya swimming in the lake in episode 6, the water has a green yellow semi-circle on top of it.
Anyone else notice that Ilya taught Shane about pec play during a blow job?
“Let me show you how to do this, kid.”
Ilya squeezed Shane’s pec during his first blowjob, and Shane reciprocated in Ilya’s hotel.
I want what they have so bad
Hello! I posted this on the r/heatedrivalry subreddit, and I was told this sub would appreciate my photos/experience ☺️
I live in Toronto and decided to take a solo HR pilgrimage to Hamilton on Monday! Possibly the most fun I’ve had in a long time, and it was lovely meeting fellow loons - one of them handed me a Sharpie, so I was able to leave my own quote in the Pink Tunnel!
Locations visited:
#1 The Pink Tunnel in Shamrock Park: I took photos of every single HR reference on there (grouped to the best of my ability), so now I have 178 photos - worth it! I’ve also done a terrible job of hiding myself so if any irl friends recognize these from my IG stories - heyyyyyyy 👋🏽 pretend you didn’t see me here
Song(s) I listened to: Moonlight Sonata, Two Souls
#2 Le Tambour Tavern: I had lunch here, and sat at the exact booth as the scene pictured! They had two HR-themed cocktails, Russians Don’t Blush and Episode 4. I had both, they were delicious and I was def tipsy afterwards. They also had themed wine options (Rose and Roselana). Finally, the side door had a sticker of the Vegas rooftop scene from Ep 1 🥹
Song(s) I listened to: Prendre soin du beau
#3 Relay Coffee: They had some really cute decor here! A Skip tote bag, Ilya quotes on hearts stuck to the wall, and HR-font brand merch. I obviously took 5738953885 photos of everything 😄 the menu had a Shane Hollander hot chocolate (which I would’ve gotten if it wasn’t 32C/90F outside) and an Extra Banana latte, which is what I got and it was yummy!
Song(s) I listened to: I’ll Believe in Anything
#4 Dundurn Castle: The castle was closed for tours, but the grounds were open. I got to walk around the exterior, so I was able to retrace both Ilya’s and Shane’s running paths. I also sat on a park bench in front of the castle and re-read TLG for an hour in the sun ❤️
Song(s) I listened to: mangetout, My Moon My Man
#5 Ciao Bella: Sadly the restaurant hadn’t yet opened when I got there, and it was my last stop before heading home and I was exhausted. I did manage to get a photo from the outside though, but I’d like to go back and actually eat there next time!
Song(s) I listened to: Bad Things (since it was the end of the pilgrimage)
Missed places:
- I went to McMaster U, but I wasn’t able to find the exact first meeting spot (*lighter clicks*)
- Mansion (All The Things She Said) is only open 10 pm onwards on weekends, and yesterday was Monday
- I walked past FirstOntario Concert Hall (MLH Awards), but couldn’t enter the building without a ticket to a show (which I absolutely wasn’t planning/dressed for anyway)
This is hospital issue Shasta. We also sell Schweppes in the vending machines. My favorite flavor/brand is Canada Dry cranberry ginger ale. I like a little extra berry flavor sometimes.
I never get tired of these two
I listened to the latest Long Game podcast yesterday where they were talking Tuna Melt. Silvan asked Declan if he thought Ilya or Shane had a higher self drive. I knew this question had to be brought to my fellow Loons here on reddit (if it hasn't 20,000x already?).
I honestly think Shane might have a higher sex drive as he is a hungry little coyote in heat. Since he only really gets a chance to be with Ilya and is SO regimented and controlled in the rest of his life, whenever he's around Ilya it's the sexual equivalent of fireworks, dams bursting, volcanoes erupting, tsunamis rolling in.
Ilya has plenty of outlets and is so casual about his sex life, but Shane is SERIOUS and he's going to WIN at sex, but also he cannot help it and he wants EVERYTHING from Ilya, every part in every hole, to be filled to overflowing and gushing out the other side 🌊🌋🌊🌋🌊🌋🌊 😅
No right or wrong answers, I'd love to hear your thoughts on if either is a bigger freak, which is freakier, if they match each other's freak, or anything else. Queers, horndogs, kinksters, and vanilla folks alike—let's get to the Bottom of this (or the Top)!
P.S. I saved way too many gifs and each was found through a Google search, hope this doesn't get my post taken down 😬
P.P.S. There are MANY gifs I missed, feel free to include any you find as *hard evidence.* I couldn't find a gif of the Tuna Melt SPIT anywhere which is perhaps just as well seeing as many of you remain deeply horrified on a soul level about that 😜