Heated Rivalry

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.

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.

I was a big fan of the series by the incredible Rachel Reid prior to seeing this series so I recognise I may come into this with a bias.

My review to date (episode 5) This has been the VERY best book-to-series adaption I have ever seen. The script remains faithful to the book, adding only when additional context is needed. Every shot is well thought out capturing the magic of both couples, as was found in the books. The leads (Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams) have so much raw chemistry I could sit and watch them all day. Every episode gets better, keeping me emotionally invested, and hooked until the last seconds. Waiting a week for every new episode to drop is such a challenge. Honestly, a phenomenal show, with great representation of the LGBTQ+ community in a positive way. As a straight female in her 30's this has been my favourite show of the year. Long may it continue into season 2!

So unexpected. I guess we never expected to see these themes portrayed so perfectly. The acting is on a masterclass level, accurately portraying what so many of us have felt at some point, in some way, during our journeys coming out, or coming to self-realization. Dealing with society, with sex, with love, with self acceptance, with anger, with fear, with hope and joy. With all of it! It's so perfectly portrayed, seriously... what a gift for anyone learning to live authentically. Just think of the young people today, being able to see this love story, portrayed so honestly on screen.

So perfectly written. It's going to change so many lives. So many hearts. I know it will and it should. That's what the arts can do, and have done throughout time. Love, love, love, this series. These characters. This tale as old as time...

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.