It's Been a Minute The secret to Heated Rivarly's success
Dec 12, 2025
Join pop culture commentator Glen Weldon and TV critic Michelle Ghanem as they dive into HBO Max's beloved series, Heated Rivalry. They explore the significance of its bold portrayals of gay romance and the unexpected fanbase among straight women and gay men. The duo discusses how explicit sex scenes become instrumental for character development, while also tackling issues of fetishization and representation in queer storytelling. With insights on audience demand for authentic intimacy and the influence of female authorship, this conversation is both playful and poignant.
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Sex Scenes As Character Work
- Heated Rivalry uses explicit sex scenes as character work rather than titillation alone.
- Michelle Ghanem and Glen Weldon note sex scenes map relationship changes and serve characterization.
Built-In Romance Audience Boost
- A pre-existing romance readership (mostly women) made this gay hockey romance primed for mainstream uptake.
- Jacob Tierney's gay perspective in adaptation reassured fans and kept the story authentic.
Seeing Yourself In Hypermasculine Worlds
- Many queer viewers respond because the show lets them imagine themselves in a traditionally hypermasculine setting.
- Glen Weldon calls it a fantasy that lets queer audiences feel seen inside that world.
