By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Secret gay ice hockey romance Heated Rivalry is so groundbreaking because it uses sex as character development in worlds where homosexual relationships are taboo.

• Read on for reasons including everything we know about season 2

No titillation here although plenty of toned butt cheeks as we meet autistic Canadian Shane Hollander and bad boy Russian Ilya Rozanov in 2008 as the former expresses his admiration and introduces himself to the latter who is smoking a cigarette.

1. Intimacy driving story and character development

The sex may be for many the focus of their warmth towards Heated Rivalry but what is perhaps unusual is how the intimacy matures from instant gratification to something far deeper including complete submission – and bottoming even – over decades.

2. Radical elite sports world framing

Building on the similar but more bisexual tennis film Challengers, it’s the elite sports world framing that is so radical. It proves the sight of hot sporty guys exploring their sexuality with each other even when they are apparent arch rivals can be a ratings hit.

3. A love story across decades where even a shoe touch means everything

The best love stories really put their couples through it and Heated Rivalry is a romance set across decades where sometimes even an unseen shoe touch below a desk at a press conference can mean everything when you’ve spent months dreaming about being back in each other’s company.

4. Opposites attract including a delicate portrayal of autism

Connor Storrie as Ilya gives us exhibitionism in the gym shower when this couple meet but it’s Hudson Williams as the autistic Shane who, contrastingly, folds his clothes neatly ahead of physicality despite years of patient waiting that perhaps will strike more of a chord.

5. The difficulties of being gay in Russia but also sport

Heated Rivalry is at its strongest when it explores why men might struggle with intimacy. Ilya is Russian and can’t come out because of the shame it would bring his family but both he and Shane are excelling in a sporting world that pokes fun at same-sex relationships rather than attempting to offer any understanding.

They are 2 people who shouldn’t be together but, despite everything, can’t bear to be apart.

6. Not 1 but 2 gay ice hockey love stories

There are at least 2 extremely moving moments in Heated Rivalry and the 1st is the secondary romance (see clip above) that provides the spark for Ilya to make good on the invitation from Shane for a closer relationship.

And, finally, there can be few scenes more moving than Ilya expressing how he feels about Shane in a language that the latter can’t yet understand.

Heated Rivalry has been such a success that it’s been renewed for a 2nd season. It’s based on the Game Changers series of novels by Rachel Reid although filming has yet to start.

• Main pictures and clips by Heated Rivalry courtesy Crave Watch on NOW in the UK
• Have you seen Heated Rivalry and what did you think of it? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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