Let’s Talk About The Women Of Heated Rivalry
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or have been off social media these past couple of months, chances are you’ve heard of a little show called Heated Rivalry. Ever since the Canadian gay hockey show premiered in late November 2025, the series has captured the world’s attention with its steamy scenes, interesting characters, and captivating narrative that is equal parts sexy and emotionally deep. Fans have followed the love story of rival pro hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). It’s a hype that’s even reached the Philippines, with Filipino fans making fan edits and hosting viewing parties. It’s been a true pop culture moment, with the show’s two lead stars becoming certified stars overnight and many waiting in anticipation for season 2.
It’s safe to say that many are still in the cottage, but among the show’s many praises, the spotlight also needs to be on the women of the series. With the way they are written, they eschew being the stereotypical sidekick love interest and instead play important roles in the story. Not only does Heated Rivalry feature two emotionally available male leads who slowly open up to each other, but also women who stand on business with their unconditional love and support. In a time when women’s representation in the media can still be one-dimensional, these ladies are showing how it’s done. See even more reasons why the women of Heated Rivalry deserve their flowers below.
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Svetlana – Ilya’s Best (And Realest) Friend
As Ilya Rozanov’s best friend and occasional partner, Svetlana (Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova) is the definition of a rock and a figurative shoulder to cry on. She’s the only person in Ilya’s life back in Russia who sees him in a way almost nobody else does. She understands what he’s going through, even if she doesn’t say it out loud.
Despite their shared history, Svetlana has that quiet maturity to understand and respect where Ilya is most happy and knows that what Ilya feels for Shane is bigger than what she and Ilya have. Svetlana is that constant Ilya needs in how she cares for him, but doesn’t hinder him from finding his happiness.
Yuna Hollander – The Caring Momager
For most of the season, we come to see Yuna Hollander (Christina Chang) as a momager who gave Kris Jenner a run for her money by securing Shane endorsement deal after endorsement deal. But it was during the season finale when she learned that Shane was gay that her heart truly shone.
For many Asian families, there’s pressure on kids to not disappoint their parents, with topics like sexuality often seen as taboo or too shameful to properly discuss. Shane was scared that he kept his secret from his parents all these years, yet Yuna was the one who apologized to her son and asked for forgiveness if she ever made Shane feel uncomfortable opening up to them. Not only did she accept her son, but she also stepped up to apologize in a selfless and loving act that is the true meaning of being a parent.
Rose Landry – Shane’s Safe Space
To some, the concept of coming out and opening up about your sexuality might seem like a nightmare scenario. However, Rose Landry (Sophie Nélisse) demonstrates that you can handle the situation with the kind of love and respect it deserves. After a night out with Shane, Rose suspects that Shane might be gay. But instead of confronting him about it, Rose gives Shane a safe space to be comfortable talking about it, which leads to him coming out to her.
She gently pushes him out of his comfort zone so he can be honest without pressure. It’s a kind of emotional safety that can make people feel at ease when talking about something that can be deeply personal and complicated. Rose essentially became the first person who Shane told that he was gay, and it was a reveal she respected. And even when Rose knows Shane’s truth, she tells Shane that she still wants to be a genuine friend with him.
Elena – Kip’s Protector And BFF
If ever there was a Friend of the Year award, we’d argue Elena (Nadine Bhabha) would be one of the nominees. She is one of the first people to catch on to and learn of Kip (Robbie G.K.) and Scott’s (François Arnaud) secretive romance. More importantly, she is a voice of reason and protector for Kip.
Her care for what’s best for Kip didn’t come off as controlling or judgmental, but was one rooted in genuine honesty that someone would have for their best friend. Elena respected her boundaries to let Kip decide for himself, but also knew when to step in when she saw how being kept a secret was taking a toll on Kip. Her care even extended to Scott because she knew that Kip’s happiness in the relationship was tied to how Scott treated their relationship.
If you want to catch these women in action, you can stream all six episode of Heated Rivalry on HBO Max.
Photos: KSENIA DANIELA KHARLAMOVA (via Instagram), CHRISTINA CHANG (via Instagram), THE MARY SUE (via Website), MAKEUPXALUN (via Instagram), HEATED RIVALRY CRAVE (via Instagram)
The post Let’s Talk About The Women Of Heated Rivalry first appeared on MEGA.
Let’s Talk About The Women Of Heated Rivalry
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