The Prestige TV Podcast

“Heated Rivalry” Episode 5: Russian Phone Calls

Date: December 20, 2025
Hosts: Joanna Robinson & Mallory Rubin

Overview

This episode dives deep into episode 5 of Heated Rivalry, focusing on the emotional and narrative highs of the season’s penultimate installment. Hosts Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin break down key character moments, cultural context, the phenomenon of romance/“horny” TV, and the show’s growing cultural impact, particularly as a Canadian export. They discuss standout performances, the evolution of queer sports narratives, and set the stage for the finale.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Phenomenon of Heated Rivalry

• Show’s Impact & Buzz: Both hosts detail how Heated Rivalry has taken over their social feeds and real-life conversations, highlighting its status as a “phenomenon.”
  • “It's just driving conversation in my real life. Like, so many of the people I know, either our colleagues or pals of ours, are like, are you watching Heated Rivalry?” (Mallory, 08:51)
• Genre Boom: The hosts connect the show to larger trends in romance/“horny” television (e.g., The Summer I Turned Pretty, Bridgerton).
• Romantic & Sexy Appeal:
  • The show’s success reflects “people always want this...but TV is just finally brave enough to give it to us.” (Mallory, 12:01)
  • “There's so much misery in the world every day...It feels good to watch people, like, enjoy something that feels good.” (Mallory, 13:33)

2. Romance as a Cultural Antidote

• Yearning & Intimacy: The hosts discuss the appeal of yearning, longing, and genuine connection in a disconnected, post-COVID, digital world.
  • “That tangible expression of desire and then also the humanity of it…You can't do this with an algorithm. You can only do it with another person.” (Joanna, 15:48)
• Emotional Depth:
  • “It's sexy to see people, but, like, it's really sexy if the people who are fucking are embracing the totality of the person in their arms.” (Mallory, 16:18)

3. Trends in TV & Canadian Content

• Cancon (Canadian Content) Leap:
  • “This is just like a huge leap of bound to have Heated Rivalry...a huge deal for Canadian television.” (Joanna, 27:51)
  • The show’s breakout status on HBO Max in the US is discussed as significant for Canadian exports, alongside recommendations like North of North (29:13).
• Production Insights: The show is “expensive for a Canadian production, but dirt cheap for an American production,” but visually “quite beautiful.” (Joanna, 36:46)
• Time Jump Structure: The story spans from 2008 to 2017 in just five episodes, giving viewers a decade-long relationship arc (Mallory, 28:57).

4. Characters and Performances

• Connor Story (Ilya) & Hudson Williams (Shane):
  • Ilya is the “flashier character,” while Shane’s performance is reserved, subtle, possibly neurodivergent—both lauded by the hosts.
  • “His performance is really informed by this idea that Shane is neurodivergent…a lot that he does with a glance…really impactful.” (Joanna, 19:27)
  • “Hudson’s performance is the one that has really grown on me across the season.” (Mallory, 24:12)
• Star Ascents:
  • “It feels like this guy’s about to become...one of the most famous people alive.” (Mallory, 21:08)
  • Notable Instagram “rapid ascent”: “Two weeks ago, they had like 80,000 followers... now they’re both at half a million.” (Mallory, 21:57)
• Styling & Cultural Reference:
  • “They’re styling Connor Story as Ilya a bit like Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing…which then, of course, made me think about Keanu and Swayze in Point Break, which is, I think, one of the queerest movies that’s ever existed.” (Joanna, 25:26)

5. Queerness & Professional Sports Context

• Historical Parallels: Mallory details the scarcity and significance of out athletes—Jason Collins (NBA, 2013), Michael Sam (NFL, 2014), Carl Nassib (NFL, 2021), Luke Prokop (NHL/AHL, 2021).
  • “He became the first openly gay NBA player...the first active male athlete in any of the four major North American sports to come out while actively playing, 2013.” (Mallory, 44:12)
• Narrative Stakes:
  • The show grounds itself by exploring the obstacles for queer athletes, distinguishing between coming out as gay vs. bisexual, cultural tension (Russia/Canada/US), and nuances of passing, code-switching, and public pressure.
  • “It felt like we were gonna get this moment where Scott made this choice and it changed something about the league.” (Mallory, 50:19)

6. Episode 5 - Major Plot & Emotional Beats

a) Shane & Rose’s Dinner (Sophie Nélisse as Rose) (33:32–36:46)

• Coming Out Scene: “I think that was one of the best scenes that Hudson has delivered inside of the season. The reluctance and shame and I think actually fear...and then the palpable weight lifted that he has finally been able to say this to one person.” (Mallory, 35:09)
• Memorable Line: “‘The thing is, I kind of prefer being the hole rather than the peg.’ Just such a great scene.” (Mallory, 36:19)
• Editing highlights flashbacks of Shane and Ilya, juxtaposing physical passion with emotional intimacy.

b) The All-Star Game & Their Growing Connection (54:48–56:05)

• Public Intimacy: “They get to be teammates for one beat here instead of rivals...Ilya assists on a Shane goal, and they get to celebrate together...The kiss on the side of the helmet.” (Mallory, 55:22)
• Subtle Progression: “They are less worried about who's watching...because there’s a magnetism and pull to each other.” (Mallory, 55:38)

c) “Russian Phone Call” Climactic Scene (58:13–60:30)

• Most Impactful Moment: Joanna calls the Russian-language phone call “a really beautiful piece of television…the Fleabag Season 2 effect, where I just lean closer and closer to the TV screen.” (Joanna, 59:34)
• Emotional Highlights:
  • “There is nothing in the world more important to him than being present in that moment for Ilya, in the way that is right for Ilya, who is the person in need right then. I just thought was like lovely.” (Mallory, 61:02)
  • “Can you feel the truth for the other person, right? Can you sense what they are thinking and what they want and what they need even if they haven’t said it to you?” (Mallory, 62:02)

d) Scott & Kip’s Cup Win

• “What a powerful thing. And it would be a powerful thing for anybody of any age…It felt like we were gonna get this moment where Scott made this choice and it changed something about the league.” (Mallory, 50:19)

7. Anticipation for the Finale

• Speculation: Both hosts predict the finale (“The Cottage”) will involve significant emotional and romantic movement, likely not an immediate public coming out.
  • “We should be on every surface, indoor and outdoor of the cottage and surrounding grounds. I expect to see sex.” (Mallory, 65:40)
• Parental Themes: Joanna speculates on Shane coming out to his parents and how the business pressures (his “momager”) might play in.
  • “I believe his dad already, definitely already knows and I think his mom probably knows, but…his dad is going to be fine and his mom is going to have…the business issue with it.” (Joanna, 69:31)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Romance TV’s Success:
  • “TV is just finally brave enough to give it to us.” (Mallory, 12:01)
  • “People like sex, people like watching sex, people like reading about sex.” (Mallory, 13:12)
• On Character Chemistry:
  • “It's crackling, the chemistry between them in all respects.” (Mallory, 12:02)
  • "It’s sexy to see people, but...it’s really sexy if the people who are fucking are embracing the totality of the person in their arms.” (Mallory, 16:18)
• On Canadian TV:
  • “This is just like a huge leap of bound to have heated rivalry...a huge deal for Canadian television.” (Joanna, 27:51)
• On Queerness & Sports:
  • “There are plenty of terrible people out there every day who make you feel like you can't be who you are.” (Mallory, 51:43)
• On Narrative Devices:
  • “The show is sexy in a lot of ways outside of just the sex scenes...what can pass in a look or a whisper is also, like, electric.” (Mallory, 13:33)

Key Timestamps

• Intro & Podcast logistics: 01:05–03:16
• Phenomenon of Heated Rivalry, romance TV, and genre trends: 06:16–18:00
• On actors, performances & character archetypes: 19:27–27:00
• Canadian television context & Cancon, business talk: 27:51–29:31
• Narrative, timeline, time-jumping structure: 28:57–30:20
• Queerness and pro sports context/historical cases: 41:24–48:19
• Dinner with Rose, coming out, editing choices: 33:32–36:46
• All Star Game & relationship progression: 54:48–56:05
• Russian phone call scene, closeness, performance: 58:13–61:02
• Speculation for Finale (“The Cottage”): 65:40–70:12

Final Thoughts & Outro

The hosts express both anticipation for the finale and a bittersweet “pre-mourning” for the end of this chapter, yet excitement for season 2. They tease forthcoming coverage and the potential for a “House of Reeds” book club.

• “Just can't wait for the finale. But also sad it's ending. So that's the familiar push-pull of the end of the TV season that we've loved.” (Mallory, 67:30)

[End of Summary]