The new Heated Rivalry show, streaming now on HBO Max, is more than a steamy sports romance. While the series is a close adaptation of Rachel Reid’s popular book, it makes smart changes that add depth to its main characters. One of the most meaningful improvements is how it handles the cultural identity of Shane Hollander. In the book, Shane’s background is a detail, but in the show, it is a central part of his story. This change makes his personal struggles feel richer and more complex.
Shane, played by actor Hudson Williams, is a star hockey player for the Montreal Metros. In the story, he is half-Japanese on his mother’s side. Showrunner Jacob Tierney explained why he chose to focus more on this part of Shane’s character. He felt it was important to make it clear for the audience.
“I felt like needed to be said out loud because his name is Shane Hollander, so you can whitewash him in your brain really easily when you’re reading a book,” Tierney told Teen Vogue. “I don’t want to with this show.”
This choice changes how viewers understand the pressure Shane feels, not just about his secret relationship but about existing in a sport where he doesn’t always fit in.
How The Show Builds a Richer Background for Shane
In the book series, readers know Shane’s mother, Yuna, is Japanese, but it is not a major part of the plot. The television series expands her role and the family dynamic significantly. On screen, Yuna Hollander, played by Christina Chang, is more than a supportive hockey mom. She is intensely involved in managing her son’s career, adding another layer of expectation for Shane to manage.
The show also includes new scenes that explore Shane’s life at home. In one early moment, Shane explains YouTube to his father, talking about watching videos of unlikely animal friendships. This quiet scene does more than show a family moment. It subtly reflects Shane’s own hidden relationship with his rival, Ilya Rozanov, which also seems like an unlikely connection from the outside.
Furthermore, the series introduces small but pointed comments from other characters that come across as microaggressions. These moments highlight the subtle, everyday challenges Shane faces in a predominantly white sport. They build a clearer picture of why Shane might feel extra pressure to be perfect and to keep parts of himself hidden, including his sexuality.
Comparing Other Key Changes in the Adaptation
The focus on Shane’s identity is one of several thoughtful changes the show makes. While staying very faithful to the heart of the book, the adaptation adjusts certain elements for television. These changes help condense the story, add visual drama, or deepen other characters.
Scott Hunter’s Awareness
In Rachel Reid’s books, fellow hockey star Scott Hunter has no idea about Shane and Ilya’s secret relationship until many years later. The show hints that Scott might suspect something much earlier. In one scene, the camera focuses on Scott’s reaction after Ilya whispers his hotel room number to Shane. This small change could make Scott’s role in future seasons more involved and could provide Shane with a potential ally who understands his struggle.
Expanded Roles for Ilya’s Friends
Two characters from Ilya’s life in Russia get bigger parts in the show. Sasha, who was only briefly mentioned in the book as Ilya’s first male partner, appears on screen during the Olympics storyline. Ilya turns down Sasha’s advances, showing how his feelings for Shane have changed him.
Similarly, Ilya’s friend Svetlana is given a new background. In the book, her father was a hockey player. In the show, she is the daughter of a Russian minister, yet she keeps her deep knowledge of the sport. The series also establishes that she and Ilya are childhood friends, making their bond stronger from the start.
Practical Production Changes
Some differences were simply practical. The book’s fictional NHL teams, the Montreal Voyageurs and Boston Bears, were changed to the Montreal Metros and Boston Raiders for the show. Because of this, Ilya’s described bear tattoo, representing his team, does not appear.
A notable plot point from the book also had to be cut. In the source material, Shane buys an entire apartment building just to have a secret place to meet Ilya, showing his extreme caution. This was removed from the show, likely for budgetary reasons, and they instead meet at Shane’s actual apartment.
How Fans Are Reacting to the Series
Since its premiere on November 28, 2025, Heated Rivalry has quickly become a major topic on social media and a hit for Crave and HBO Max. Fans of the books have largely praised the adaptation for keeping the intense chemistry and emotional heart of the story intact. Many are excited to see Shane and Ilya’s decade-long journey unfold.
The decision to deepen Shane’s cultural storyline has been noticed and appreciated by viewers. It adds a modern and relatable layer to his character, connecting his experience of hiding his sexuality to the experience of navigating multiple identities. Actor Hudson Williams has also spoken about the personal importance of this aspect. He shared that his own mother, who is of Asian descent, initially worried his background would limit his acting roles. Bringing this reality into Shane’s story gives it more authenticity.
The series was intentionally produced in Canada without early international deals. The producers wanted to protect the show’s explicit queer content and honest storytelling without outside pressure to change it. This gamble paid off. The show was picked up for global streaming and was quickly renewed for a second season in December 2025.
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Where to Watch and What’s Next
The first season of Heated Rivalry has six episodes. It premiered with two episodes on November 28, 2025, and released new episodes weekly every Friday. The season finale, titled “The Cottage,” is scheduled for release on December 26, 2025.
For viewers in the United States and Australia, the series is streaming on HBO Max. In Canada, it is available on Crave. Other international distributors include Neon in New Zealand and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.
The first season covers the story from Reid’s second novel, Heated Rivalry, which follows Shane and Ilya from 2008 to around 2017. The show also incorporates elements from the first book, Game Changer, which focuses on Scott Hunter and his romance with Kip Grady. The upcoming second season is expected to adapt the sixth book, The Long Game, continuing the complex relationship between the two hockey stars.
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