Feeling struck by an electric love in the air? That is because the highly anticipated sports romance drama Heated Rivalry has made its way to the US streaming platforms. The rivalry on the ice gives way to the love off it as the two hockey stars are torn between their careers and passion. With a well-paced release timeline, viewers might still need to be patient.

For those seeking queer romance with high emotional stakes, this might be the most-awaited series of the season.

In the US, HBO Max has the exclusive rights to stream the entire series of Heated Rivalry. The show was unleashed on Friday, November 28, 2025, instantly becoming the talk of the town. Viewers will be getting one episode every week, on Fridays, till December 26, 2025, which is the last day of its finale rollout. This release pattern is similar to that of the show's original streaming platform, Crave.

While HBO Max airs the show in the United States and Australia, Sky Neon offers the same in New Zealand, Crave in Canada, and Movistar Plus+ in Spain. Being the latest entry into 2025's plethora of LGBTQ+ shows, Heated Rivalry, with its current episodes, has struck a fine balance between the competitive hockey world, personal stories of self-discovery within the constraints of society, and just enough steam. 

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Mega stars appear fashionably late, which is why viewers must remain calm until they see the rivals-to-lovers again.

Heated Rivalry is a limited series consisting of six episodes. The episodes are each about an hour in length and are intended to express a very interconnected and emotionally intense narrative throughout a compact season. So far, Crave and HBO Max have released two episodes titled, Rookies and Olympians. The remaining episodes will arrive on December 5, 12, 19, and 26, respectively, according to its weekly release schedule.

Though not a true story, the show is based on Rachel Reid's Game Changers novel series and is directed by Jacob Tierney (Are You Afraid of the Dark?). The plot centers on the two hockey stars, Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Rozanov (Connor Storrie). At first, they are rivals on the rink; however, their bond eventually turns into a secret love affair, making them simultaneously deal with professional pressure, personal identity, and the deepening of their feelings. 

In this fictional adaptation, the six-episode series presents a fervent, romantic reimagination of the Game Changers' secrecy, ambition, and love's price in a world dominated by masculinity and competition. Each episode takes one step further to the finale, where the enemies-to-lovers transition guarantees drama, intimacy, team dynamics, and adrenaline-pumping sports action. Heated Rivalry is not a simple love story. With its Max streaming platform, weekly roll-out, and intriguing season ahead, it has already become a hotspot for LGBTQ+ drama fans among top-performing Netflix queer drops.

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