Heated Rivalry Took A Risk In Season 1 That I Might’ve Hated, But I’m Really Glad They Did It

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I know I’m a bit late to the conversation, but I finally watched Heated Rivalry. All the hype – especially after hearing Riley Utley from TopMob talk it up – made me curious, and Season 1 is now streaming on HBO Max. I binge-watched all six episodes incredibly quickly! While I expected to enjoy it, I was really surprised by a bold move the show made in Episode 3 – and it totally paid off. That’s all I’ll say without giving anything away. From here on out, be warned: major spoilers for Heated Rivalry Season 1 are coming up!

I’ll attempt to avoid making too many corny hockey jokes and puns—though I can’t promise I’ll succeed! (Just like how exciting this show is.)

Just so you know, I haven’t read the books this TV show is based on – Rachel Reid’s Game Changers – so all the characters and their stories are completely new to me. I’m pretty familiar with how romance series usually work, though. Often, each book (or season, in this case) focuses on a different couple, like we see in Bridgerton, which also keeps us updated on previous couples. But Episode 3 of Heated Rivalry did something different, and I think it was a bold move that really paid off. You could even say it was a game changer! (Pun intended.)

The first two episodes of Heated Rivalry are all about the growing relationship between Ilya and Shane, showing how their initial competitive dynamic turns into romance over months and years. But then Episode 3, titled “Hunter,” switches gears completely, leaving Ilya and Shane’s story behind to focus on Scott and Kip for an entire episode.

I know Scott and Kip are the central couple in the first book of the Game Changers series, and we’ve met Scott before. But it was a surprising choice to dedicate an entire episode to a completely new romance, barely featuring them at all. If I hadn’t liked these new characters, I would have been really annoyed! I was really into Shane and Ilya’s story, and then suddenly I’m expected to invest in a whole new couple and not see what’s happening with the ones I already care about. It felt like starting a different book in the middle of the one I was enjoying, only to be given my original book back later. Luckily, this detour turned out to be just as good as the main story.

I was worried this could have been a really disappointing experience, but I quickly fell in love with Scott and Kip. I especially loved watching their playful, flirty connection develop into a real romance, and then I felt genuinely heartbroken when they broke up. While I was glad to see Ilya and Shane’s story continue in Episode 4, I kept hoping for news about Scott and Kip too.

I was really hoping to see Scott and Kip get back together, but nothing could have prepared me for what actually happened! After winning the championship, Scott skated over and kissed Kip, both as a romantic gesture and a public announcement that they were a couple. It was a completely unexpected and wonderful moment, and because we’d seen their relationship develop earlier in the show, it felt even more impactful.

This stunt wasn’t necessarily something every show needs to do, but I really enjoyed how it unfolded. François Arnaud also offered some insightful thoughts on how the episodes featuring Shane and Ilya differed from the storyline with Scott and Kip, and I think that’s a big reason why it was successful. I’m hoping future episodes of Heated Rivalry deliver similar moments as effectively as they did in the first season.

Honestly, I’m hoping other romance shows see what this one’s doing and try it too! It’s a bit risky to shift focus away from the main couple, but when it works, it’s fantastic. It lets their story build naturally while we get invested in other characters and their relationships. Then, when those side characters come back later, it creates these really powerful, satisfying moments. I’m totally here for it!

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2026-01-19 22:08