Heated Rivalry- A therapist’s review

Still from Heated Rivalry S1 E1: Rookies

Slight spoilers ahead. 

Heated Rivalry. We’ve all heard about this show by now. A six-episode Canadian series streaming on HBO Max. It is based on a novel series, Game Changers by Rachel Reid and was developed for TV by Jacob Tierney.  

The show has been dominating pop culture since its release in the US in late 2025. It is all over social media. If you’re like me, you’ve probably seen tiktoks or reels referencing how this show has awoken something in people. People are obsessed with this show. People want to talk about this show. People are consumed by this show. After all, art is meant to invoke feelings, questions, and even obsession.  

I won’t break down each episode, but I do want to address the feelings of obsession that some people, including myself, feel about this show. I can speak from experience that this show caused me to have a sleepless night after finishing the series. I found myself consumed with what the characters were going through.  

As a counselor, I am naturally empathetic, and the feelings in this show were very intense. The eroticism aside, the mental health of these characters was extremely fascinating to view from a therapist lens.  

The show prompted one important issue that is often missed in our society:  

The sexuality of male professional athletes.  

Can you think of any fully out, gay male professional athletes that are not retired? Maybe there are a few, but I can guarantee that many are closeted due to sports culture and toxic masculinity that thrives in our country. I am sure there are many male athletes that are in the exact same circumstances as the show’s main characters: 

Having to hide their sexuality from everyone including themselves, masking, dealing with intense shame, fear, isolation, secrets, and most of all, not being able to be themselves and to experience love in a public manner. The topic of closeted gayness in Canada and the USA compared to Russia is poignant and worth mentioning. The series cannot even be shown in Russia due to their anti LGBTQ laws.  

This is what gave me a sleepless night. The thought that there are people in professional sports that cannot truly be themselves. Am I saying that these athletes need to or should publicly come out? No absolutely not, that is a personal choice impacted by many variables. How the characters in the show portrayed their intense feelings surrounding coming out was eye opening for me, and probably for many others, and we a society need this reminder.  

I see many LGBTQ+ clients in my practice. I can absolutely understand the struggles of coming out, but I will admit I did not think about how this process must be for professional athletes.  

I focus on male athletes here because I think there is more acceptance of female professional athletes being gay. This is my perception, and it could very well be wrong. Of course, I do not downplay any struggles that gay, female athletes face. This is a prime example of covert toxic masculinity in our culture. Lesbians are perceived to be more accepted in sports and maybe even expected to be gay.  

But gay, male athletes are not.  

I invite you to think of this question: What would it mean if more male professional athletes came out?  

Would they receive hate? Most certainly. Would it impact their career? It might. Would it force some people to face their cognitive dissonance regarding men and sports? Absolutely.  

Being able to love freely and openly without judgement is the core of this sadness for me. We live in a heteronormative society, whether we like it or not. This show smashes that point in.  

Overall, the series and actors portrayed (excellently, I might add) the nuances and struggles of coming out in an environment where it could be destructive. The range of emotions we are meant to feel can be overwhelming and over stimulating. Those of us who are empaths feel it even stronger.  

Seeing how the characters felt pressure to hide, isolate, and deprive themselves of happiness and love was absolutely heartbreaking, and I am certain this a regular occurrence. Male athlete or not this is something that can affect anyone who is LGBTQ+ and struggling to accept themselves or fearful to come out.  

This is not new. This is not unusual and we need to be reminded of this. So, keep talking about it. Keep sharing with others. Keep challenging social norms.  

And when it comes down to the final buzzer, our main goal is love.  

Rachel Tice, LPC www.NewMoonCounseling.LLC