Heated Rivalry

Not much to say, this is a perfectly directed adaptation of an incredible book. Jacob Tierney, as a gay man, really knows how to bring the heat of the book to screen, there's no director better than him for that as of now.

This show is a huge step forward for society. Gay men in sports are underrepresented and I hope this traces a path towards the end of homophobia in sports.

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.

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.

I devoured the book in a day and I binged the first two episodes as soon as they came out a few hours ago. I didn't expect it to be so steamy (although I'm not complaining because it adds to the story buildup and character development that's in the book), but it exceeded my expectations with how well the actors were cast. With only two episodes and early in the story we already understood who these main characters are and why they are drawn to each other. The first two episodes were so good I'm encouraged to read the book again just to get more of the yearning that makes mm romance so appealing. It's going to be a long week until episode 3.

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.