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Television

Heated Rivalry: Fans are having a thirst meltdown over the gay romance’s spicy sex scenes

WORDS BY JORDAN ROBLEDO

28th November 2025

Grab your water and fans! Heated Rivalry’s sex scenes are causing a thirst epidemic on social media (rightfully so!).

*Warning* major spoilers and NSFW content ahead!

On 28 November, LGBTQIA+ TV enthusiasts were finally treated to the first two episodes of the gay romance hockey series.

Based on Rachel Reid’s hit novel, Heated Rivalry follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two elite professional hockey players and captains of their respective teams whose careers have been defined by their fierce on-ice rivalry.

Behind the scenes, however, the pair have a secret romantic connection — one full of clandestine encounters and complicated feelings.

The official synopsis adds: “What begins as a secret fling between confused teenagers at 17 evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, as they chase glory on the ice, they struggle to navigate their feelings off it.

“Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there’s room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile – and powerful – as real love.”

Unsurprisingly, Heated Rivalry‘s two-episode premiere has been a hit with LGBTQIA+ viewers, with many lauding the writing, direction and absolutely electric chemistry between Williams and Storrie.

In addition to the aforementioned praises, fans have expressed their shock, delight, pleasure, and ecstasy over the show’s first batch of passionate sex and nude scenes.

Wasting no time, the first episode revs up the sexual tension with Shane and Illya’s very sweaty, innuendo-filled workout. Viewers are then treated to close-up shots of the characters’ bums during a tense shower scene, further driving their chemistry and undeniable attraction.   

By the 17-minute mark, the episode goes full NSFW by introducing Shane and Illya’s first of two explicit sex scenes, which, of course, leaves very little to the imagination. 

The second episode has a similar format, with each sexual encounter not only delivering the heat but also peeling back more layers of the characters’ deep and intricate romantic connection.

Since the episodes’ release, fans have flocked to social media to share their thirsty reactions to Shane and Illya’s illicit trysts.

One viewer on X/Twitter wrote: “This is a lot freakier than I thought it would be.”

Another fan on Reddit echoed similar sentiments, writing: “I can’t be normal about this??? that was HOT.”

A third viewer on BlueSky commented: “Oh, Heated Rivalry is soft core porn, holy shit.”

Fortunately, the steaminess of Heated Rivalry is only beginning. Over the next few weeks, fans will be treated to the next four episodes, with the season finale scheduled to air on 26 December.

Check out more fan reactions to the first two episodes below.

Well, there are naked butts on my Tumblr dash again. Thanks to Heated Rivalry, nature is healing.

— Ash T. Thief (@ashtraythief.bsky.social) November 28, 2025 at 12:22 PM

heated rivalry show of the century

— thomas (@fnthomas.bsky.social) November 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM

Holy shit, I just watched the first episode of Heated Rivalry and I fear I need a day or two to recover before I can watch the next one. Fuck, that’s how you do a book-to-TV adaptation, the vibes are captured immaculately!!

— Whimsy (@fire-and-whimsy.bsky.social) November 28, 2025 at 12:08 PM


https://bsky.app/profile/chel-c-cam.bsky.social/post/3m6poo2glts2o

Heated Rivalry airs every Friday on Crave (Canada), HBO Max (US and Australia, and Sky (New Zealand).

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