Heated Rivalry

WOW Yo, I love Heated Rivalry so freaking much. I feel so healed and seen after watching this show. Me, myself, have not seen, honestly, any true **** representation in media that was authentic and whole growing up and really up until recently. And, societally, there hasn’t been nuanced conversations where I feel like I could talk about these things. I myself struggle with my own **** and have a difficult time being open about it to others. But dang, what I can already see Heated Rivalry doing for so many people, young and old, is so miraculous. I’m grateful this show exists. To destigmatize the one-note notion of what being gay is and just sharing that this journey can be crazy and topsy turvey as it comes, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Learning to accept who you are through it all to open yourself up to love and happiness - that is what this show is about. There is so much depth and intricate layers to the few yet impactful main characters we meet from the backstories, motivations, stakes - everything up to this point in their lives is so fleshed out that they really do seem like real people. The WHOLE arches each one of them goes through is done with such grace, patience and impeccable timing that from where they start, points in between to now are such completely different people. Yet, you wholeheartedly understand how they got there. Their inner worlds are also so picturesque that I just know what their inner circles and their dynamics are to a T. That they have a whole life outside of their relationships, and that’s so difficult to do. When so much of what we see in **** characters are as solely being defined as their sexuality nothing else. This proves to the audiences that **** people are at the end of the day, just people like us, who have a multitude of struggles in their own daily lives. The only difference is that we love the same sex or simply have a wider net. I love how they have shown a light to a very rarely discussed, egregious homophobia in Men’s Sports, which is reflected in the culture at large. There are very few out men’s athletes, and it’s directly because of the untalked about toxic masculinity in place. I already know that there are athletes that have thanked the show for the awareness and the ability to feel seen in such a tough climate. I just know that, just like the characters in the show, feel much more empowered that there is, if not, a space for them to be able to be out someday than it has been before. This is what Heated Rivalry has done - create real change and leave the opening for lives to be impacted for the better. That is no small feat. I honestly believe this show is a definitive paradigm in society. You could clearly tell there is such an attention to detail made in this show that can only be formed through the earnest love and care poured in to get this right. Too many times we have seen half-hearted attempts to add LGBTQIA+ storylines for the sake of a quota, but not actual storytelling. And, they have fell flat. Not this show. The superb acting and sizzling chemistry, on all levels, is out of this world. Particularly, the relational progression of our leads is a sight to be seen. I was squirming in my sight throughout from seemingly mundane things, chuckling to myself at ridiculous everyday interactions to my heart infinitely swelling in the tender moments. Heated Rivalry has a great mix of comedy and drama, all wrapped into a pure realistic blend. You can truly believe these scenes can exist all around us. Despite the show’s seemingly tight budget, it doesn’t at all feel that way. The cinematic shots are intentional, and even beautiful at times, perfectly capturing the mood needed for each scene. This show moves at such a good pace weaving through time periods effortlessly. The show is so concise. It knows what to focus on, for how long, with great degree. It doesn’t feel like your own couch time has passed until you’re instantly done with an episode as you’re swiftly on to the next. The writing and dialogue is done so right. It doesn’t feel forced or contrived. Just, real. Plain and simple. I absolutely can’t wait for the next two seasons, as Iliya and Shane’s relationship grow and as their careers continue. For me, Heated Rivalry has provided me with more confidence and hope to one day live a full authentic life, out and proud. I can’t sing the praises of this show enough. Just watch it. You won’t regret it.

Perfect series. Acting, directing, cinematography. Loved it all. Piece of art.