Yes, I am obsessed with Heated Rivalry. Yes, there are a lot of sex and spicy scenes. There will be spoilers so don’t read on if you don’t want any.
However, there is a beautiful love story between two people that develop over years of knowing each. Through rivalry, yearning and eventually love. Oh and there is some hockey played in there as well.
I read the book after watching the tv show but the show does do justice to the book. Which I am very glad to see as that doesn’t often happen. But I will be talking about the show here.
It starts with Ilya, who can’t light his cigarette until he meets Shane, total ‘spark’ between them.
In the beginning Ilya has more confidence in himself and his sexuality. After Shane meets Rose that changes.
I thought Shane would be the first to say I love you. The fact that it is the confident, dominant Ilya who falls first and says it first is perfect. He clearly cares so much especially the first time they have sex, and he keeps to checking in on Shane to make sure he is okay.
The more time they spend together the more they start to mirror each other in words in actions. Especially that Scott Hunter notices it, but the only one too. It is interesting that they put in Scott and Kips story. But considering the moment Scott takes him onto the ice and kisses him is a pivotal moment for Shane and Ilya. We therefore need some background into Scott and Kip for it to make sense.
Then we get jealous Ilya. Anything to do with Rose and Ilya is set off. The scene in the Montreal club as soon as he sees Miles and just knows Rose is there and maybe Shane. The look on his face as he searches the club. The intensity. Oh, and the music underneath, perfect, especially as it changes into a remix of the song, changing the feel of the scene. Then the almost panic, or fear when Shane realises Ilya might be there, and when he sees him. Shane can’t help himself. But the two just staring at each other in club, not moving while everything goes on around.
The hope though in Ilya’s eyes when he sees Shane at the All-Star game then to find out he isn’t with Rose. You can almost see Ilya trying to hold himself back.
The whole way through the show are the looks. When they hope no one is watching. Especially Ilya as he has already fallen. The pain when Shane runs in Boston, hurt to watch. But he still wants him. The looks, the touching. Even during the All-Star game with everyone watching, Ilya is still watching and trying to touch Shane. Fascinated by everything he does. Reading his expressions, watching him fold his clothes. Letting Shane take his time while he runs off ahead. It is so beautiful and romantic to watch this man, whose family would disown him. The man who lost his mother, lost everything. Find someone so pure who wants to take care of him. It’s what we all dream about. It brings greater depth to Ilya and his feelings. It shows a vulnerability Ilya has never been able to show.
After his father’s death, it is like Ilya can finally let himself be. Let himself admit his true feelings to Shane. The delivery of that monologue in Russian. Connor Storrie deserves all the awards just for that one scene.
My favourite scene I think is when they are at Shane’s cottage. He has just woken Ilya up with his idea of how to move forward. Ilya is kissing Shane all over, whispering what I am pretty sure is I love you in Russian before looking at Shane and saying it In English. Will always be my favourite.
Other scenes that live in my head. Ilya pulling the chair to the bedroom in Vegas after winning MVP. His power and dominance just shining through. Very sexy. Then the ‘stupid Canadian wolf bird’ moment. Pretty much everything at the cottage. For them to be completely at ease with each other and have the time. Sharing clothes. Shane taking care of him. Even to the acceptance of Shane’s parents. Which grows into the next book about these guys, and I can only assume will also happen in the show.
There are some also very awesome side characters. Rose, number one. She eases Shane into his feelings and is there for him for all of it. Hayden, brilliant. Some comic relief and something grounding for Shane. Svetlana is up there too. She reads Ilya so easily. I am sure she figured out who ‘Jane’ was. She even says to Ilya she knows ‘Jane’ is he. It’s interesting because she doesn’t appear nearly as often in the books as she does in the show. I like that she has more of a place in Ilya’s life. Someone who cares about him. It makes him so much sadder in the books because she isn’t in there as much. I hope we still get to see her in the next season. Then Yuna. Ah, best mum ever. Even if she questions Ilya’s loyalty. As soon as she understands Shane’s relationship with Ilya, she is completely there for it. Already planning for the future, for them both. The next book Ilya moves to Ottawa and spends a lot of time with Shane’s parents. They pretty much adopt Ilya into their family. I think the next season will be much harder for Ilya. I have started reading that book, The Long Game. I will be very interested to watch that play out.
What I do hope is that season two maintains the same essence as this season. Season one is done on a low budget. It feels small and honest, true to the books. Now that there is a lot more around them, I assume more money for them as well. I hope they don’t use that to go all out and spoil the intimacy of season one. I love the show has taken off across so many demographics. I love how it has helped a lot of young men in the same situation to come to terms with who they are. It is such a special show and special story. I just hope it doesn’t get lost along with the fame it now sits with.
If you have HBO Max, I highly recommend watching this show. It has been written so well, and the actors do such an amazing job. It has given my little dead heart some hope for the world. Just from a little Canadian made tv show that could.