The Prestige TV Podcast – “Heated Rivalry” Midseason Check-In
Host: Joanna Robinson
Guest: Richard Lawson
Date: December 8, 2025
Main Focus: HBO's Heated Rivalry, a Canadian-imported “spicy gay hockey romance,” midseason check-in (Episodes 1–3)
Episode Overview
Joanna Robinson welcomes Richard Lawson to discuss Heated Rivalry, a Canadian TV adaptation (recently acquired by HBO) based on Rachel Reid’s book series. The conversation centers on the show’s meteoric, word-of-mouth rise, what sets it apart from other queer television, performances, memeability, and an in-depth look at the midseason’s pivotal third episode.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Heated Rivalry: A Surprise Breakout
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Unexpected Phenomenon:
- The show's buzz was built almost entirely on organic word-of-mouth after a “late in the day” HBO pickup.
- Social media “algorithms” caught fire as fans, particularly in queer and romance circles, latched on (Joanna, 02:21).
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Publishing World Ripple Effect:
- Original paperbacks sold out; publishers are rushing reprints due to sudden demand (Joanna, 03:52).
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No Stars, Just Chemistry:
- Lacks marquee actors, is Canadian, about hockey—a seemingly niche topic—yet resonates widely.
- “This is becoming, I think, a mini phenomenon on its own.” (Richard, 02:49)
Subverting the “Gay Romance” Playbook
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Mature Queer Storytelling:
- Unlike Heartstopper or Love, Victor, Heated Rivalry isn’t about chasteness or teenage firsts (Richard, 05:07).
- “At least some of them have a complicated history with their gayness rather than it being brand new for everyone involved.”
- The sex scenes are direct and “honest,” not sanitized for straight or mainstream audiences.
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Not Watered Down for Straight Audiences:
- The show avoids “softening” queer storytelling for broader (especially straight female) appeal.
- “It doesn’t feel like it’s that kind of softening…for a straight audience.” (Joanna, 07:10)
- Discussion on the “Boy Love” genre and who creates/writes/publishes gay romance—Heated Rivalry stands out by being helmed by a queer man, Jacob Tierney.
Artistic Merit & Performance
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Smart Directing & Acting Elevate the Material:
- Jacob Tierney brings experience from Letterkenny and Shoresy, infusing genuine Canadian hockey culture and queer perspective.
- Both leads—Hudson Williams (Shane Hollander) & Connor Story (Ilya Rozanoff)—deliver deeply felt, nuanced performances, especially in non-verbal moments (“camera lingering on someone’s sweaty neck…” Joanna, 10:17).
“You can make stuff that is pulpy and fun and sexy and romantic…but also pay attention to what the camera’s doing, what the performances are doing.” (Richard, 11:27)
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Supporting Cast Standouts:
- Episode 3 shifts to Scott (Francois Arnaud) & Kip, exploring closet pain and found family with emotional delicacy.
“I kept expecting the big blow-up…that never arrives…It’s a much quieter kind of self-denial...that felt so much more credible to me.” (Richard, 21:12)
Memeability, Clippability, and Modern TV Fandom
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Virality by Accident:
- The show’s success is buoyed by viral clips and memes, reminiscent of White Lotus or Schitt’s Creek.
- “You can’t buy publicity like what Heated Rivalry has achieved in just the last week and a half.” (Joanna, 14:11)
- The show’s success is buoyed by viral clips and memes, reminiscent of White Lotus or Schitt’s Creek.
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Industry Impact:
- “Sometimes it just hits, and sometimes it doesn’t…A lot of the shows that have been like, ‘who saw that hit coming?’—it’s a good show!” (Richard, 17:12, 17:53)
Thoughtful Handling of Queer Sports Narratives
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Time & Setting:
- By placing Scott’s storyline as a quasi-period piece (2013–2015), the closet’s pressures in pro sports are believable and potent (Joanna/Richard, 29:13–29:59).
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Avoiding Cliche:
- The show sidesteps cheap “villainous homophobe” archetypes; homophobia is an atmospheric tension, not an explicit antagonist (Joanna, 51:37).
“If the hockey world was portrayed as this relentlessly awful thing…there would be other people. There’s a gradient, and athletes are not a monolith.” (Richard, 48:05)
Interpersonal Dynamics and Emotional Authenticity
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Complex Relationship Progression:
- Shane & Ilya’s bond is believable—not just a will-they/won’t-they, but a nuanced, evolving attachment stretching over years (Joanna, 44:32).
- Texting scenes are remarkably effective (“makes it feel like a conversation, a facet of modern acting…” Joanna, 41:11).
“What if a…fuck buddy you see every six months…is someone you’re actually deeply in love with? …I like that the repressive part…is more just like, well, our lives are intersecting, but also…veer in a different direction.” (Richard, 45:58)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Why This Show Stands Out:
“It’s almost more than I wanted…There have been a fair amount of gay shows, but a lot are pitched younger. This one’s about grownups and complicated history…” (Richard, 05:07)
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On Avoiding Stereotypes:
“All experiences are coming to bear on it…It feels like it’s coming from a place of lived experience and authority, which I haven’t always felt with other shows.” (Richard, 10:17)
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On Memeability/Marketing:
“No one really ever seems to know why it broke through, except…It’s good.” (Richard, 17:53)
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On Direction and Nuanced Performance:
“What is the look of the show? There’s a real authorial, authoritative—no, what am I trying to say?—there’s a real authorship behind the camera, in the writing, in the way it’s shot, in the way it’s performed…” (Richard, 11:27)
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On Scott & Kip Episode as Standout:
“It’s rare that you’d get a love interest character like this, in Kip, where…the episode is almost like, well actually, this is more his story in a way…” (Richard, 24:10)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [01:22] Joanna & Richard reconnect and intro Heated Rivalry phenomenon
- [02:43] How the show came on their radar; first impressions
- [05:07] Comparison to other queer series, show’s mature, honest depiction
- [07:38] Publishing world dynamics—queer stories for straight audiences
- [10:17] TV adaptation’s lived-in authenticity; early reaction to leads
- [13:01] Show’s aesthetic quality compared to “cheap Netflix romance”
- [14:11] Importance of memeability, viral moments in show’s rise
- [20:21] Episode 3 shift: Scott & Kip focus, Francois Arnaud’s performance
- [26:13] Depiction of age, career pressure, and the costs of the closet
- [29:53] Discussing the reality/period accuracy of the “closeted athlete” story
- [36:02] Analysis of lead performances: Connor Story (Ilia), Hudson Williams (Shane)
- [40:21] The difficulty and success of texting as narrative device
- [44:32] Relationship progression—believability of “stretch” across years
- [47:44] Highlight scene: Sochi Olympics & incremental queer progress
- [50:49] Joanna’s standout scene: The post-stage bathroom moment
- [52:33] The show’s choice to avoid overt homophobic “villain” characters
Thematic Motifs & Closing Thoughts
- Heated Rivalry is lauded for balancing sexiness and depth, fun and serious artistic intent, meme-friendliness and authentic queer storytelling.
- The show’s “quiet radicalism” lies in who’s making it, how it’s told, and what it doesn’t do: it doesn’t sanitize queerness, nor does it hammer trauma or vilify its world unduly.
- Both hosts are fully invested, expressing rare faith that the back half of the season won’t revert to stereotype or mediocrity.
Final Word
The episode concludes with mutual enthusiasm not just for Heated Rivalry as a romance, but as a marker of how adult, textured queer stories can break out in today’s fragmented TV landscape. Both Joanna and Richard urge listeners/viewers to “keep watching,” echoing the organic momentum that got the show on the radar in the first place.