‘Heated Rivalry’ Episode 3 review: “Hunter”

Heartbreak hits the ice on Crave’s steamy hockey series, Heated Rivalry. Instead of our main enemies-to-lovers pair, “Hunter” introduces a new romance dealing with the pressure of hockey.

We only got a tease of the New York Admirals’ Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) on the series premiere, relegating him to a friend of Shane Hollander. This time, it’s all about Scott’s little secret and a heartbreak that tugs on all the heartstrings. Seriously, poor Kip! Poor Scott!

Smooth like a smoothie.

Scott and Kip’s journey is an experience many can relate to in the queer community. No, I don’t mean about dating a professional hockey player in secret. (Though some people do date athletes in secret, so know we see you and we care about you!) I mean, about dating in the closet, or in some cases, having to go back into the closet when one partner isn’t ready yet.

It’s an emotionally and mentally tough situation; one that can involve a lot of sacrifices and secrets, and a loss of being one’s full self. No decision is ever easy, and the wants of both partners are valid because it’s their life and something they must decide upon themselves.

“Hunter” is a fascinating episode that takes us on an emotionally heartbreaking journey. While Scott and Kip’s relationship was short, we still experience the roller coaster highs and sad lows to the end. The happiness of the honeymoon phase that sweeps us up in joy, and the reality where life becomes real outside of the bubble.

Heated Rivalry can’t only be about the sexual tension and allure of Ilya and Shane’s hookup. “Hunter,” and by extension the Scott/Kip dynamic, is needed to show how a relationship can be affected by the weight of real-life concerns, not just professional hockey.

The star and the secret.

Scott has the most control over the situation, but it came from a place of fear and power. He’s the professional athlete with more to lose, so he’s in a position to set the rules. What I appreciated is that Heated Rivalry didn’t approach this with toxicity; the story honored both Scott’s and Kip’s parts in the relationship.

It could’ve been easy for the story to fall into the stereotypical trope of the athlete forcing their will onto their partner. Instead, their dynamic seems so happy and freeing (for a time). This could be due to following the source material, the Game Changers book series by Rachel Reid.

From the first flirtation at Kip’s work to their living situation, you could tell that Scott was so happy to be himself. Kip made him feel light and relaxed; he experienced a dynamic that he probably never shared with anyone before. I will give him credit for communicating his wants and boundaries with Kip. This allowed Kip to make the decision himself, instead of it being forced on him. Healthy communication, especially in a closeted relationship, is essential for them to reassure each other and be on the same page.

“Hunter” does a good job of showcasing how vast the partners’ comfort level is in the real world. For example, their light flirtation at the juice bar was fine since it was an intimate scenario, but for something like the art gallery or the gala, that was too far into the “real world.” Scott wasn’t ready to even approach that part of himself. In situations like this, Kip’s friend Elena said it best that he needed to figure out his intentions because they couldn’t be stuck forever.

Surrounded by love.

Speaking of Elena, Kip has great friends and a strong support system. They give the type of direct love to foster their friend’s delusions. Most thought Kip only had a burning crush on his customer, but still, they were there pushing him to believe in Scott’s crush. Also, they watch sports for him in a bar – that’s love right there! Hopefully, Heated Rivalry expands on his friendships and gives us more of the group; we only got a small taste of their history.

The same goes for Kip’s dad. Their dynamic seems so loving; his dad truly cares about him and was worried. Maybe Kip should’ve confided in him, not just with Elena? His dad wouldn’t have been judgmental; he probably would’ve understood and helped him through any doubts. Instead, it’s a shame that Kip felt so alone in his situation.

But the big question at hand: was Elena right about saying something to Scott? I can see both sides of it. On one hand, it’s not Elena’s relationship, and she needs to let her best friend make his decisions, even if it hurts him. On the other hand, she came from a place of love and confronted a person who, unknowingly to him, was hurting her best friend. Kip would’ve never brought it up; instead, he’d let it fester until it broke him.

Let’s take this from a position of theorizing Kip and Elena’s tight bond. They seemed like extremely close BFFs, so she could be right to step in and ask. Sometimes it’s just asking the question to know if your loved one is being cared for and treated well.

The bubble bursts.

Are you sad to see Kip and Scott break up? It’s an emotionally tough scene because they love each other so much. I’m glad they had the tough conversation about the real reality. Scott could’ve been fine to live in secret for years, but if Kip wasn’t, he’s equally as valid to not want it. Scott can live his life the way he wants, and Kip can as well. The important thing is that they needed to be on the same page.

But the real heartbreaking moment is knowing that Scott still yearns for Kip. Seeing the birthday party through the window, and his wearing of the banana socks, hurts you right in the heart. Why, Scott? Why?! Just go to him and make it work.

Overall.

“Hunter” is a nice segue for Heated Rivalry to expand their cast of complicated relationships. The rise and fall of Scott and Kip’s relationship is an emotional roller coaster filled with love and heartbreak. Compared to Ilya and Shane’s first couple of episodes, Scott and Kip serve as the more grounded pairing. This is where Heated Rivalry gives us the reality of the burning secret. “Hunter” is an essential episode that can’t be missed.

Heated Rivalry airs new episodes on Fridays on Crave and HBO Max.