More Than a Game: Why Heated Rivalry Resonates Beyond Sports Drama

Since early December, it has been increasingly hard to go anywhere without hearing a reference to Heated Rivalry, the smash sensation TV show that sat on HBO Max’s ten most-watched list for five consecutive weeks. Even with only two episodes out in the first two weeks, fans online raved about the show and took to social media to express their appreciation for its representation of the LGBTQ+ community. Created by the underdog Canadian streaming service Crave, the six-episode series follows the relationship between two closeted rival National Hockey League (NHL) hockey stars, from secret hotel room meetings to promises of lifelong love.

After Heated Rivalry exploded in popularity overnight, hockey’s popularity surged, and tickets to games increased. The increased traction of Heated Rivalry has led to current and former closeted athletes coming out to the public, despite the homophobic reputation of hockey. Hockey player Jesse Kortuem, inspired by the positive representation, revealed his own stories as a closeted member of the LGBTQ+ community. Kortuem acknowledges the fear of coming out and that many similar experiences do not end with the romantic, successful conclusion shown in TV shows. He aims to become a role model for future athletes.

Heated Rivalry’s fame grew and attracted a broader audience through public events. Many theaters and public places host “Heated Rivalry Nights” where they play episodes of the show. These nights offer opportunities to form new relationships, as they have become a source of community for watchers, linking people across cities with diverse backgrounds and identities. Heated Rivalry has thus created physical communities, connected by sports, pride movements, and pop culture.

Most notably, Heated Rivalry overshadowed nearly everything else in one key area: social media. TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter have been buzzing with activity, including praise and criticism of the show and its actors. In addition, the show has sparked numerous new online trends. One of these trends involved many closeted LGBTQ+ athletes showing pictures of themselves as teenagers, captioned, “He/She would have loved Heated Rivalry.” A more comical trend that emerged from the lead-up to the release of the finale on Christmas night saw fans mixing a popular phrase from the show, “I'm coming to the cottage,” with a trap beat, and then dancing to it. This trend quickly evolved into a widely used signal of “I watched the show,” as people asked their friends if they had “gone to the cottage” as a stand-in for whether they had finished the show.

There is simply nothing more inspiring than creativity that produces inspiring real-life change. Beyond the social consequences this show has had, it is an impressive testament to the ideal of free artistic expression. The show was made with a comparatively small budget, a little-known production company, and actors who are new to the industry. The showrunners were able to maintain much of their creative vision without much oversight from a major streaming platform, and it paid off. Their success proves that even with minimal financial investment, a series can help spark social movements that speak up about issues that might otherwise receive little public attention.