‘Heated Rivalry’ series premiere review: Fire on and off the ice

Someone please check the temperature because it’s steamy on the ice. I mean … wow, the sexual tension! Crave’s (and HBO Max’s) passionate hockey romance, Heated Rivalry, kicks off its series premiere with plenty of fire and ice.

Based on the Game Changers book series by Rachel Reid, this 2-episode premiere captures the magic of its’ enemies-to-lovers trope. And more importantly, the premiere doesn’t waste any time! The pacing jumps right in. You want hockey-themed romance? Well, slap on those skates because we’re in for a fun ride.

It’s the time of the (hockey) season.

One aspect about Heated Rivalry to prepare yourself for is that the show is told in short time snippets. This isn’t a case like Cruel Summer, where each episode focuses solely on one key moment or year. Instead, both “Rookies” and “Olympians” jumps forward in time, by months to years, within several minutes.

One moment, we’re watching Ilya (Connor Storrie) and Shane (Hudson Williams) get recruited to the MLH (Major League Hockey), the next we’re seeing them face off in the playoffs. The same is done to their romance, as their encounters and text messages are used as the anchor points for the narrative.

This structural decision will take some getting used to, especially for casual viewers. The time periods are essential to show how Ilya and Shane progress in their hockey careers, as well as in their romance. We’re bypassing all the struggles of training and playing; instead, focusing on the milestones of the narrative hidden beneath that. However, we’ll need to consistently do a mental catch-up to figure out what has happened in the time since.

Have Ilya and Shane seen each other before this latest scene? Have they hooked up or dated anyone else in the time since? How have they changed? The jump points are light in background information, but the characters do provide enough exposition to get you caught up. “Rookies” and “Olympians” do a good job of filling most of the gaps; the big questions get answered for the story.

The golden boy next door.

More importantly, Ilya’s and Shane’s individual growth is also highlighted to showcase their personal struggles. Heated Rivalry sets the stage perfectly for how and why these two rookie hockey players keep crossing paths. In this case, they’re the top two newbie stars that everyone – from the media to family to players and even to governments – are pitting against each other. I love how Heated Rivalry presents them in the same category as professional rivals and colleagues.

On one side, you have Shane Hollander, the golden boy who has been trained and forced into his picture-perfect persona. Think of a clean-cut athlete on all the sports sponsorships and cereal boxes. From the way he keeps folding his clothes, you can tell that he deals with a lot of structure and rules, especially from his ‘momager’ parents, Yuna and David. Shane keeps to a regimented life, and out of the two, he seems the most afraid of getting caught together.

The 2-episode series premiere shines by capturing Shane’s naivety and innocence. The show wants you to feel the most connected to him. Partly because his wide-eyed journey into this new world is relatable, but mostly because of his growing connection to Ilya. Everything is a first for him, so we, along with Heated Rivalry, are joining him on this adventure as he learns and grows.

Under pressure.

On the other hand, we have competitive dynamo Ilya Rozanov, the Russian-born bad boy whose stare says more than any words. Firstly, it must be said how great a job Storrie does with articulating Ilya’s Russian accent. Storrie isn’t Russian, and both “Rookies” and “Olympians” have several scenes of Ilya speaking Russian. Kudos to Storrie and his dialect coach; he embraces the role and character fully to blend effortlessly into the scenes.

Regarding Ilya’s narrative, there’s a strange mystery around him. It’s almost as if he’s hiding something. Not just from Shane, but from us as viewers. Part of Ilya’s struggles stem from his complicated home life back in Russia, how his family uses him for money and glory, and places pressure on him to succeed. His past with his friends and secret double-life are catching up with him. Ilya is so determined to win, but his stoic coldness makes him sound and act like an asshole. (Which, let’s be honest here, he is. Ilya is a walking red flag of emotional unavailability in the series premiere.)

It’ll be interesting to see how much he changes as the series progresses. Will he fully let Shane in, or are his walls too strong to tear down? But the real trouble could be from his family. Heated Rivalry teases that his father has early-onset dementia, so that could weigh on Ilya’s heart. However, it’s his brother Alexei that we need to keep an eye on – that guy doesn’t care about Ilya at all. He’ll sell any secrets for a quick payout or drugs. Mark my words, he is trouble!

From fling to flame.

Now, this positive note is for the rom-com and romance book readers out there. Heated Rivalry is packed with heat and chemistry. Plenty, lots, a motherlode … il y a beaucoup de tension sexuelle. Storrie and Williams radiate off the screen whenever they’re together, capturing the growing connection that bonds them. And the editing choices, from every longing look to well-placed camera shot, emphasize the building tension between them. The show thoughtfully makes us feel how the characters feel, as well as look where they’re looking.

As mentioned above, Heated Rivalry wastes no time in getting Shane and Ilya together in their first hotel hook-up. “Rookies” establishes their chemistry quickly; the first encounter happens within the first 10-15 minutes. I do want to preface that there is a mix of intimate scenes and erotic passion. They build their connection with flirtation and foreplay, which are then intercut with clips of their sex scenes. Heated Rivalry doesn’t shy away from nudity or the intimate scenes, so a light forewarning if you’re a bit shy … or who you might be watching it with.

Overall.

The 2-episode series premiere of Heated Rivalry was every bit the enemies-to-lovers story that we need. “Rookies” and “Olympians” are jam-packed with plenty of emotionally gripping character moments that will have you rooting for these hockey rookies. And their romantic and intimate chemistry will heat the screens, keeping you hooked to how this relationship develops over time. The time jumps take some getting used to, but once you’re settled in, the pacing is fast and brings you along on the journey.

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