'Heated Rivalry'

[Sylvia]

Starting a separate thread in OTBT with this Associated Press article today (Jan. 22, 2026) - ‘Heated Rivalry’ stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie to be torchbearers for Winter Olympics:

'Heated Rivalry' stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie to be torchbearers for Winter Olympics

The actors co-starring in the hit hockey romance TV series “Heated Rivalry” are set to be among the torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame on the way to the Opening Ceremony for the Milan Cortina Games.

apnews.com

The series based off “Game Changers” books has captivated viewers with the fictional story of a Canadian and a Russian hockey player sustaining a decade-long secret relationship.
The first season became the the No. 1 series on HBO Max. Originally developed for the Canadian streaming service Crave, the show scored a distribution deal with HBO and has already been renewed for a second season, and it will broadcast in Italy beginning next month.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Quite a lot of fans are hoping the two stars will do their torch relay in the fake Team Canada jacket from episode two. And according to the Toronto Star Tessa Virtue is encouraging her hockey player husband to watch the show. ‘Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly has “Heated Rivalry” on his “to watch” list after getting rave reviews from his wife, Olympic champion figure skater Tessa Virtue.’

 

[Desperado]

Quite a lot of fans are hoping the two stars will do their torch relay in the fake Team Canada jacket from episode two.

But one of them is an American playing a Russian?

I assume they'll wear a neutral torch bearer kit.

Just finish the series. It is very sexy, but also sad, corny, and heart warming.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

But one of them is an American playing a Russian?

I assume they'll wear a neutral torch bearer kit.

Just finish the series. It is very sexy, but also sad, corny, and heart warming.

I’m pretty sure there are official torch bearer outfits without any kind of country affiliation. And your assessment of the show is pretty accurate.

 

[manhn]

There’s a TikTok of a reporter interviewing Tessa and Scott. The reporter mentioned HR. Tessa gasped and asked Scott if he’s seen it. He said he plans to but is busy with the Games. She said he should watch it on his flight to Italy and then stopped, realizing that is not a good idea. LOL!

 

[Sylvia]

Here’s the clip :

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014425806634725466

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

There’s a TikTok of a reporter interviewing Tessa and Scott. The reporter mentioned HR. Tessa gasped and asked Scott if he’s seen it. He said he plans to but is busy with the Games. She said he should watch it on his flight to Italy and then stopped, realizing that is not a good idea. LOL!

Hah, I recommended the show to a beer-league hockey player friend. He said he might watch it on the plane on his way to the Caribbean and I told him that watching the show on a plane was a very bad idea.

 

[Winnipeg]

The show sounds corny but I have not watched it so my comments are not valid/true but just an assumption. Seems like it is very popular but..........

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

The show sounds corny but I have not watched it so my comments are not valid/true but just an assumption. Seems like it is very popular but..........

It's bit corny at times but it's mostly sweet (and sexy). It's meant to be a romance story with a happy ending. It's set in a kind of Ted Lasso type sports fantasy universe, except the universe is very Canadian, R-rated, LGBTQ-centred. It's also very extremely well-done despite a small budget - the direction, the lighting and cinematography, the music and the acting are all excellent. It's also has tons of "easter eggs" and in-jokes in it but you have to watch really carefully to catch some of them. It's not a show to watch while playing on a phone. The first 2 episodes are smutty setup and subtle character development, the 3rd is a bittersweet rom com, the 4th is all about conflict and plot twists and the 4th and 5th are most about happy endings and happy tears. That said, the show definitely isn't for everyone. It does help if you happen to like quirky Canadian shows. I personally found it to a really lovely antidote to how terrible much of the world is right now. I saw someone on Bluesky call it the "hockey smut and cry show" and that's a good one line description of it. Also, almost everyone in it is extremely hot and good looking.

 

[fan]

I'm a straight woman and I didn't think it would be my thing, but I loved it. It's sexy and smart and funny and heartbreaking. I can't get it out of my head.

 

[MsZem]

The show sounds corny but I have not watched it so my comments are not valid/true but just an assumption. Seems like it is very popular but..........

If you strip away the sex (though why would anyone do that, it's integral to the plot and characterization), HR is about people finding love and sunshine, and what it takes for them to get there despite loads of personal trauma and bullshit societal expectations. I'm not sure if that fits you definition of corny; as a romance reader, I'm aware that perceptions of corniness can vary widely.

I still like Role Model best out of all the books and will be extremely disappointed if Chiron isn't worked into S2. Who doesn't want to see Ilya playing with a puppy, right?

 

[canbelto]

I finally watched it last week. I'm obsessed with it. I've been bullying everyone in my life to watch it. My biggest "win" was I got my very straight co-teacher (a guy) to watch it.

 

[Amy L]

I started reading some of the books but they are very fanfic coded. Not trying to be demeaning to fanfic writers, but a lot of the style and tropes are kind of glaring. The one that the TV show was based on is ok and their sequel is decent too, and I tried a different book with a different pairing but it was meh so I gave up on it halfway through. The TV show really elevated the story IMO. The show isn't that corny, especially if you compare it so a similar story and adaptation, like Red White and Royal Blue. That was corny as hell but still pretty fun. I just saw that a sequel started filming so that's why I was thinking about comparisons.

About the sequel, I wonder how much they're going to change or keep for example

Spoiler: book spoilers

How are the scenes with Galina going to work? That is a LOT of Russian dialog and since the therapy goes on for months, that's just a lot for Connor to get through, and that could really be a slog if it's not done right.

 

[Sylvia]

2 clips from Olympics' Instagram channel earlier today:

The Olympic Games on Instagram: "#HeatedRivalry stars made a quick stop at @milanocortina2026 before heading over to the cottage! 🏡🏒 📹: @milanocortina2026"

140K likes, 808 comments - olympics on January 25, 2026: "#HeatedRivalry stars made a quick stop at @milanocortina2026 before heading over to the cottage! 🏡🏒 📹: @milanocortina2026".

www.instagram.com

The Olympic Games on Instagram: "Admin is unwell. 🎥: @milanocortina2026 #Olympics #HeatedRivalry #HudsonWilliams #ConnorStorrie"

7,234 likes, 101 comments - olympics on January 25, 2026: "Admin is unwell. 🎥: @milanocortina2026 #Olympics #HeatedRivalry #HudsonWilliams #ConnorStorrie".

www.instagram.com

Also 4 photos from Feltre (province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy):

Milano Cortina 2026 on Instagram: "🏑🔥 Olympic Flame + @hudsonwilliamsofficial & @connorstorrieofficial as torchbearers = ABSOLUTE CINEMA 🎬 #MilanoCortina2026 #Olympics #TorchRelay2026"

218K likes, 1,979 comments - milanocortina2026 on January 25, 2026: "🏑🔥 Olympic Flame + @hudsonwilliamsofficial & @connorstorrieofficial as torchbearers = ABSOLUTE CINEMA 🎬 #MilanoCortina2026 #Olympics #TorchRelay2026".

www.instagram.com

 

[canbelto]

I can't believe Connor learned a Russian accent and Russian within a month.

 

[allezfred]

Am on a second rewatching.

 

[fan]

Am on a second rewatching.

It’s called “reheating”

 

[manhn]

New Yorkers with a library card can access HR the book on e-books free during the snow storm. Stay heated!