So have you seen the Canadian-made streaming series Heated Rivalry yet? It's currently taking the world by storm with its winning romance story about pro hockey players in love with each other. But the true sensation is the abundance of hot and pretty darn explicit gay male sex scenes in this mainstream-targeted series. I just watched all six episodes last week and LOVED IT!
(The show is carried in Canada on Crave TV, in the USA and internationally on HBO Max, in New Zealand on Neon, and in Spain on Movistar Plus+).
The main story follows two rival players on different teams in a fictionalized NHL setting, Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov, whose on-ice animosity conceals a passionate, secret romance. A sub-plot also involves an older closeted player Scott Hunter and his romance with Christopher "Kip" Grady, a smoothie shop barista.
The series does a great job of depicting the pressures of homophobic "alpha male" hockey culture and internalized homophobia, with all the standard fears about career derailment, financial loss, parental and family rejection, social exclusion and punishment, etc. The series does an equally great job of juxtaposing the competing human needs for love, intimacy, connection and an authentic life. And the story will continue in the series' just-announced second season.
Although the series was created, written and directed by Jacob Tierney, a leading light of Canadian film and TV production, it is in fact based on a series of gay male romance novels written by Canadian author Rachel Reid.
Wait . . . what? A woman writing gay male romance smut? WTF?
And this brings us to tomorrow's Part 2 of this post -- the cultural phenomenon of "M/M fanfiction" and why literally thousands of women are so involved in (and so good at) writing gay male romance focusing not only on hot sex but also deep emotions.
Oh, and P.S. -- this series has done wonders for the Ginger Ale market.
37 comments:
I have not heard about this series over here in Germany. The third answer from "the Onion" had me lol :)
@ Duni -- Germany's Leon Draisaitl is one of the best players on our Edmonton Oilers. He is fantastic!
Dont think its in the UK yet, far too advanced for us lot!
It is good to see this storyline finally! I wasn’t aware of the series.
...a quick question, are Canadians really born with skates on?
I get embarrassed watching sex scenes whatever the sexes!
@ Tom -- Yes, yes we are. That's one stereotype which is true.
I remember those ads Drink Canada Dry, to which NY friends would say I'm trying, I'm trying!
Something to watch on a cold winter afternoon.
No I haven't seen it, but I am very amused by the Onions take on it!
So, do I need to buy stock in Canada Dry???
I haven't seen it but plan on it. I watched "Red, White, and Royal Blue", a gay romantic comedy and loved it. The best part was the sex scenes, in the book and the movie. I think it's the longing that makes it even steamier.
@ Pixie -- Oh yeah, there's nothing like pining and a slow burn.
Yes!
OMG I loved the HBO series and I'm two books away from the book series (I'm in book 5 right now, that takes place in the same universe). I've watched the series twice now and probably a third time is in the future for me.
I love M/M romance! And I can't wait to see part 2 of this post. And I will be forever curious to know why is it that the sexiest gay sex is written by... women!
Love that illustration. You'll have to drop the name of the artist in my blog!!
XOXO
LOL. Love the Onion memes. Truly! And the final Canada WET.
Looking forward to the next two installments here.
I love your excitement! I have not seen this but did see SINGLE ALL THE WAY. A Christmas movie in my very, very, very long list of holiday movies watched this year. Likely shot in Canada to boot.
I just read about this series. Was it up for a Golden Globe? I'd for sure watch it but we don't have HBO.
@ Sixpence Notthewiser -- Foolishly, I did not make a note of the artist's name, sorry! If I run across that fanart again in my travels, I'll let you know who created it.
@ The Happy Whisk -- Yes, most Hallmark Christmas movies are shot in Canada. Our winters and small towns are exceedingly charming and picturesque, apparently. Plus it's cheaper to film here.
This one was of the best gay themed series/movies that I have ever seen. So well done and so proud of our Canada! ....and yes, it did a wonder for Ginger Ale and introduced the Loon (wolf bird) to the world, lmao.
@ Ms. Moon -- Unfortunately, Heated Rivalry does not qualify for the many categories of standard American television/film awards because it is virtually 100% Canadian made. The only category it can qualify for is the more limited "best international show" one. However, at the Golden Globes last weekend, both main actors of Heated Rivalry were presenters.
@ Ms. Moon -- By contrast, the Canadian series "Schitt's Creek" that cleaned up so big at the Emmys a couple of years ago had a lot of American participation in its production and so that show qualified for the regular awards under the rules.
@ CAAZ -- Oh yeah, that friggin loon, LOL!
I don't have HBO anymore. Would watch it.
This has been getting so much steamy press! I love the outtakes from The Onion!
I've heard of it but don't subscribe to HBO. We all know that representation matters so, go Hockey!
My ex, a true blue lesbian, absolutely loved gay male porn. Not sure why but... it takes all kinds. And, honestly, it seems women write the best smut of all.
The Onion explainer was hilarious, as to be expected!
Love "its illegal to impersonate a hockey player". Haven't heard of this series yet. Interesting that women are major men gay sex writers.
Heated Rivalry has been getting A LOT of media coverage, especially on CBC, CTV and GLOBAL. I haven't seen the series, but I think it's causing similar "cultural" shock waves as Brokeback Mountain, but with a much more positive reception!
We don't have HBO but I have heard all the chatter about this show.
Love the Onion take on the show, Debra.
I've not heard of this but that last picture is hilarious.
It's great that the filmmakers in Canada are brave/experimenting enough to make this series. Or perhaps they're just clever businesspeople who recognized a market gap. However: While there are many gay/lesbian "sidekicks" in series these days, they're often more like the comic couple in an operetta. Yes, and some are apparently elves or vampires, as I just learned 😉... Real love stories, especially in the masculine world of ice hockey, carry the drama and inner conflict within them and are therefore well-suited for highly emotional, highly erotic stories. Absolutely "straight" men (or those who want to portray themselves as such) will probably not want to watch, but I'm sure that aesthetically pleasing bodies, regardless of gender, and deep emotions always find a fan base...especially if the actors are talented.
I'd probably give the series a chance too—but I haven't heard anything about it here, and we don't have HBO, only Netflix and Prime... If the series ever comes to Austria, I might be too old to handle such concentrated sex 😅...
Warm winter greetings ❄️☃️ and all the best, Traude
I put that in my HBO watch list. If it's so steamy, then I need to watch it sooner rather than later.
Love,
Janie
I don't subscribe to HBO. Thanks for sharing this, Debra.
Which way to that alternative universe?
Not my kind of movie.
I don't subscribe to the channel that carries this, and probably wouldn't watch even if I did.
We cancelled Crave last month, so nope...but I too hope that any popular show with these themes positively impacts culture. Elf nobility, lol.
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