The Heated Rivalry TV series, which premiered in November 2025 on HBO Max, continues to shape conversations and local events in Perth months after its release.

Streaming minutes leapt from 30 million in the show’s first week to more than 300 million by the season finale, reflecting the show’s surging popularity.

A recent YouGov survey found 15 per cent of Australians have watched Heated Rivalry, while a further 26 per cent say they are considering watching the hit series.

The six-episode adaptation is based on Rachel Reid’s 2019 hockey romance novel of the same name, following Russian-born player Ilya Rozanov and Canadian player Shane Hollander as they are drafted into the National Hockey League in the same year, and become on-ice rivals before a complex relationship develops over time.

University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management Assistant Professor Myriam Brouard says the rapid rise of the show’s fandom is highly unusual.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it quite as intense as this,” she says.

Dr Brouard describes the show as an example of an “accelerated fandom,” where a community of fans gather in a very short period.

“In my data, some people are watching the entire series every day,” she says.

“Some have watched it 20 or 30 times already. For something that just came out and isn’t a legacy or cult property, that’s really interesting.”

Dr Brouard says what sets the series apart is it didn’t have an established fandom before its release.

“This is why it’s more special than the Twilight phenomenon, or Fifty Shades of Grey, these books were not on anyone’s radar the way those books were,” she says.

“I have 600 data points for Heated Rivalry tattoos. People might get a Star Trek tattoo 10 years after watching it, but to get it so soon, I’ve never seen it get done so soon”.

Indie Realm bookstore owner Shannon Riley is bringing the fandom to life, hosting six-hour watch parties where strangers come together to binge every episode back-to-back.

She says the story’s success comes down to something rarely seen in queer media.

“Unfortunately, I think a lot of queer stories are traumatic; they have traumatic love story events,” she says.

“What’s different here is that it’s just joyful, and I think that’s really enjoyable for a lot of people.”

Ms Riley says she wanted to create something for local fans, and since December, three watch parties have sold out.

“I think events can make people nervous, obviously, I don’t know any of these people, and we’re going to watch it together, but I think people feel seen when they connect to a book series like this, and they want to connect with other people,” she says.

“There are some people tonight who haven’t seen it yet; they held out for this event to watch it with others.”

Indie romance author Ailson Clare attended a watch party event at the bookstore and says the story’s emotional depth is what draws audiences in.

“There’s a lot of emotional vulnerability between the male characters, and that’s something you don’t see a lot, especially in cis hetero relationships,” she says.

“That real availability to be yourself, how they connect and how they grow over the season is beautiful to watch unfold.”

Event attendee Katrina Esdale says the representation is just as powerful.

“I’m bi, and Wasian, and I see myself in both Shane and Ilya,” she says.

The series was originally available on the Canadian streaming platform Crave, with around 4 million subscribers, before being picked up for international streaming on HBO Max which has more than 130 million subscribers.

Dr Brouard says without global distribution, the fandom wouldn’t have reached its current scale.

“The story started as a Captain America fanfic. Some fans have been there since then. Some fans became fans when it was published, and now you have new fans,” she says.

“There’s a little bit of new fans vs old fans, who is the legitimate fandom?”

Dr Brouard says while romance is widely popular, this story sits within an increasingly narrow niche.

“Male-male romance is a niche, then sports male-male romance is even more niche, so adding hockey is a niche within a niche within a niche,” she says.

“You’re getting to a place where there’s a small amount of people who are generally there for the storyline, and instead for the craze.”

She says there’s a difference in what older vs younger fans take from the experience.

“Older fans appreciate the story; they were there before, and they’ll be there after. They are entrenched in the content, and a little bit less worried about the personal lives of the actors,” she says.

“But some newer fans are looking at the actors’ personal lives.”

Fans across social media are increasingly focusing on the actors’ personal lives, including their dating lives and sexualities.

At Connections Nightclub, the fandom gathers for Heated Rivalry-themed quiz nights.

Two events have already been held this year, each attracting 120 attendees and selling out within 48 hours. Another is scheduled for May 8.

Entertainment manager BarbieQ says the story’s appeal is simple.

“It’s a story you can root for, they’re in the closet, but they are working towards getting out of it,” he says.

“When we have these events, people just rush to the front.”

She also pushes back on online criticism surrounding the actors.

“I think the whole queer baiting issue is bullshit. As a gay man, I have no issue with actors playing a gay role that represents me, as long as they do it well, and actors are there to act parts.”

“Neither of them have said anything about their sex lives, and they shouldn’t have to, it’s not our business who they have sex with.”

Dr Brouard says the show’s appeal also comes from telling a story audiences don’t usually see.

“You know those stories where people pick up the girl and they spin around. You don’t normally get that in queer love stories,” she says.

“I think right now with what’s happening in the world, people want positive stories. You want positive stories, you want to see people from marginalised populations win, you want to see them happy and thriving and just knocking it out of the park,” she says.