Heated Rivalry

10/10 - no notes. The acting, the story, the yearning, the desire, the guilt, the roller coaster of emotions; it's everything people go through growing up in their 20s and seeing it showcased in such a beautiful way is pure perfection. There aren't many shows out there that can draw such an emotional response out of its viewers so this is special.

Having reviewed the whole Game Changers series when it was originally published, I've been a big fan of Rachel Reid's writing ever since and I was delighted to hear Heated Rivalry had been picked up for a TV adaptation.

Having now seen both this opening episode and the second, I have to say I'm seriously impressed.

Not only is the casting spot on, but under Jacob Tierney's sensitive direction, the book has been brought to life beautifully.

Important scenes that drive the plot in the book are visually recreated in such a way that you can see the internal thoughts reflected on and through the actors faces and behaviour.

It's not slavishly the same though and the unique touches have only added more depth to what's already a genre classic.

For the longest time, never had I seen a show wherein the two leads are oozing with god-tier chemistry. WE NEED 5 MORE SEASONS, 2 MOVIES, AND A HOLIDAY SPECIAL MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!! I'm serious when I said that Ilya and Shane has consumed every thought in my daily life. I AM OBSESSED AND I HOPE THERE'S MORE TO COME!!!

This show is beyond my expectations!

I really love the book, and at first I kept my expectations in check because "usually" in my opinion, book adaptations tend to end up worse than the source material. But this one completely surpassed my expectations. Most of the scenes I pictured in my head when I first read the book actually came to life in the series and somehow they're even more satisfying than what I imagined.

Jacob Tierney. What a director. He stayed so true to the book, and even improved several scenes to the point where they're far better than the original material. A masterclass in storytelling and direction. Give him all the flowers!

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. Wow. Truly breathtaking performances. The chemistry is absolutely wild. I kept grinning awkwardly to myself whenever the two of them shared the screen. And the sex scenes? WTF? It's like they were translated straight from the book. Super hot and exactly how they should be, because sex is a core part of their journey.

Connor absolutely nailed Ilya Rozanov: his accent, his cocky attitude, his entire presence is perfect. And Hudson embodies Shane Hollander so beautifully: anxious, shy, innocent, the microexpression masterclass, totally the "beautiful, neurotic flower" we know from the book. The ensemble cast is also incredible. So believable and perfectly integrated into the story.

I'm gonna appreciate Hudson and Connor because they might be the co-stars with the best on- and off- camera chemistry in series history. Watching them doing interviews and making contents are joy, completely different energies that match flawlessly when they come together.

I'll forever treasure watching this show week by week. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! Thank you for accompanying my daily life since November 28. This show has genuinely become part of my daily life. Shane & Ilya Forever. Hudson & Connor Forever!

All in all, I can confidently say this is one of the best book to series adaptations I've ever seen. Amazing! And can't wait for Season 2!!! THANK YOU.

This is shaping up to be the most faithful book to screen adaptations I've ever seen. Not only do the actors embody the characters perfectly, but they also clearly convey the characters internal monologues despite there being no voice over narration. The cinematography is on another level. The moodiness of the lighting and camera angles, the editing choices from quick jump cuts to long uncut scenes, and the integration of on-screen text messages- it all works together to craft a visually stunning narrative.

Book fans will also be incredibly happy with the adaptation, as it sticks so closely to the source material. The additions that have been made so far in the first couple of episodes have all been incredibly intentional and have served to expand or highlight certain aspects (such as conversations about Shane's ethnicity and cultural identity) which only add more depth to the characters and the overall story.