“Heated Rivalry” breaks the ice for queer media

“Heated Rivalry” first aired on television on Nov. 28, 2025. The show is an adaptation of Rachel Reid’s novel, “Heated Rivalry,” the second book in her series “Game Changers.” “Heated Rivalry” follows two star hockey players, Shane Hollander and Iyla Rozanov. Shane is known for his IQ on the rink plus his reserved nature and Iyla is a cocky, Russian man who is proclaimed as the “king of the ice.” 

The two meet during the summer of their rookie seasons. They play on different teams but end up finding ways to see each other and struggle through a long situationship. The show continues with showing both of their struggles both on and off the ice. Shane struggles with his own sexual identity while trying to stay professional, and Ilya struggles with his family who are living in Russia and constantly begging for money. He juggles these struggles while also trying to hide his relationship with Shane due to Russian views on same-sex relationships.

Queer media has been around for decades with some of the earliest representations dating back to 1895, specifically in “The Gay Brothers,” which depicts a romantic same-sex relationship on screen, dancing together to the music. The 1927 film “Wings” also included a same-sex kiss scene. 

With the rise of the internet in the 1990s, social media grew and some of the biggest apps like TikTok and Instagram have millions of users daily. They have been places for people to share their thoughts or express themselves as they prefer, either through stories, photos, videos, and more. Many are even open about their relationships and identity, using their platform to bring light to what may be deemed as different or unique. This goes for queer people and many in the LGBTQ+ community, expressing themselves with the way they dress or who they like without any hesitation.

Episode five of “Heated Rivalry,” titled “I’ll Believe In Anything,” is the most watched and highest episode, getting a 10/10 rating on IMDb and over 15% of viewers watching it five or more times. According to Newsrepublic and New York Times, from the week of its debut to the week of the season finale,  “Heated Rivalry” was streamed for 324 million minutes.

I feel as though the show really represents the reality of being someone who struggles with identity, especially since queer media has been frowned upon for years now. I have wanted to push away the struggles of not fully understanding who I am for years now. I and others put on this facade that feels like wearing someone else’s skin. Media like “Heartstopper” or “Brokeback Mountain” have been able to show how hard it can be to try and understand a person’s identity, whether it be sexuality, gender, or other things. In “Heated Rivalry,” another character in the show named Scott Hunter also struggled to come out as a gay man, and by the end of his episode, he plucked up the courage and kissed his boyfriend Kip in front of everyone on the rink, knowing that he could face backlash for it. 

Reid’s book has impacted so many in the queer community. Her book had inspired hockey player Jesse Kortuem, who plays for the “Cutting Edges Hockey Club”, to come out himself. 

“Never in my life did I think something so positive and loving could come from such a masculine sport. I’ve struggled the last few weeks to put these emotions into words, fearing the impact on team dynamics, etc.,” Kortuem said in an interview with “Out.” “I loved the game, but I lived with a persistent fear. I wondered how I could be gay and still play such a tough and masculine sport.”

Many users on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms have posted their own stories of being in a sport but struggled to come out in fear. Being in the spotlight can be such a blessing but also a curse as there will always be eyes watching every move. News can spread fast on social media and can forever alter someone’s platform or life. 

Trying to understand one’s identity can be such a difficult thing, it can take years for someone to learn and figure out the labels they want to use and even come out publicly about it. There are resources out there and people to talk to, organizations like “The Trevor Project” and “It Gets Better” can help queer individuals through hard times. If anyone you know may struggle to understand their identity, do not shut them down, offer them support as many may not have anyone to turn to. Queer people are not the ones to go after, we are human too, we all bleed red in the end.