The third episode of HBO Max’s hockey romance series Heated Rivalry changes the game by focusing on a new couple. The episode shifts away from the main story of Shane and Ilya to explore a heartbreaking romance between team captain Scott Hunter and barista Kip Grady. Actor François Arnaud, who plays Scott, explains his character’s difficult choice and the emotional toll of living a double life.
A Whirlwind Romance That Moves Too Fast
Episode 3 of Heated Rivalry, which released on Friday, December 5, follows a classic romantic comedy structure. Scott meets Kip, played by Robbie G.K., at a smoothie shop where Kip works. Their chemistry is instant, and their connection escalates quickly. After just one date, Scott impulsively asks Kip to move into his luxury apartment.
“It’s cute, but I think he just goes along with it because he is emotionally ready for that,” François Arnaud said about his character’s fast-moving relationship.
For Scott, a closeted professional hockey player, this romance represents a chance to stop pretending. Arnaud notes that Scott is “tired of wearing this mask” and that hiding his true self is making him physically sick and harming his performance on the ice. Kip represents an open, authentic life that Scott deeply craves.
The Heavy Price of Staying in the Closet
The central conflict of the episode is Scott’s inability to publicly acknowledge his relationship with Kip. While Scott wants to have a private relationship, Kip has already lived openly and is hurt by being asked to hide. Scott realizes the unfairness of his request.
“He can’t do it anymore. It’s making him sick, it’s killing him, and making him a bad player. So, everything he sacrificed for hockey actually ends up costing him,” Arnaud explained.
Arnaud describes Scott’s dilemma as “heart-wrenching”. Scott understands that by asking Kip to go back into the closet, he is forcing the man he loves to “regress as a person,” which is a cruel thing to ask. This realization forces Scott to make a painful decision by the episode’s end.
A Cautionary Tale for the Main Characters
While Episode 3 feels like a separate story, Arnaud confirms it is “integral to the story of Shane and Ilya,” the show’s main couple. He describes Scott and Kip’s romance as a “cautionary tale” for the younger players.
“It’s like, this is what happens—it’s kind of cute at the beginning, but it’s actually not that. It takes a really heavy toll, and this is what it looks like 10 years later if you haven’t [come out],” Arnaud stated.
The episode shows the long-term emotional damage of staying closeted, providing a stark contrast to Shane and Ilya’s ongoing secret affair. Arnaud believes this story deepens the show’s exploration of sexuality in professional sports.
A Different Style of Intimacy On Screen
Fans of the first two episodes, known for their explicit sex scenes, will notice a change in tone. Arnaud joked that his episode is “a different kind of porn category,” focusing more on romantic emotion than physical intensity. He wanted the intimacy between Scott and Kip to feel “sweet, sometimes clumsy, joyful, and easy”.
Despite the different feel, Arnaud revealed they actually filmed a significant amount of content that did not make the final cut.
“We shot a lot, like two days of sex scenes. I don’t know, maybe they’re saving it for later,” he said.
The actor praised his chemistry with co-star Robbie G.K., which was confirmed during a brief Zoom test, and credited intimacy coordinator Chala Hunter for creating a “respectful but not precious” environment on set.
Also Read:
What’s Next for Scott and Kip?
The episode ends with Scott standing outside a bar, watching Kip celebrate his birthday with friends. Unable to enter and publicly claim their relationship, Scott lets Kip go. While this concludes their initial romance, Arnaud hints that this is not the end of their story.
“There’s more to come,” Arnaud teased, noting that the emotional climax of the season will involve all the main characters.
He also clarified that while the characters’ stories are “intimately connected,” fans should not expect a crossover in the form of a foursome. The series continues to release new episodes every Friday on HBO Max in the U.S. and on Crave in Canada.
Also Read: The Abandons: Why Miles Alderton’s Face Is So Familiar
