Heated Rivalry (Crave/HBO-Max)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t care how the show would’ve been received (or not) if it didn’t have smut. The fact is, it has smut and we like it. And that’s not something women need to apologize, justify, or explain. Newsflash: women like sex. Many women even watch porn. Gasp! Get over it.

Exactly. Not sure why posters are trying to insist the sex wasn’t a big part of what made it popular, or that it wasn’t central to the show, or that it isn’t smutty. It is all of the above and nothing wrong with that.

Tierney did an interview where he talked about how the show was written around sex as the sex was used for communication, to build intimacy, to show vulnerability / honesty and was the core of the relationship between the two leads. People who don’t get why the sex was needed in the show and so central to it missed out on 90% of the show!

Yes, I saw Tierney say that for him, physical chemistry is a necessary prerequisite to emotional chemistry, and imo, I think that’s the way it is for most people. So the sex is super important. But it isn’t the most important thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t care how the show would’ve been received (or not) if it didn’t have smut. The fact is, it has smut and we like it. And that’s not something women need to apologize, justify, or explain. Newsflash: women like sex. Many women even watch porn. Gasp! Get over it.

Exactly. Not sure why posters are trying to insist the sex wasn’t a big part of what made it popular, or that it wasn’t central to the show, or that it isn’t smutty. It is all of the above and nothing wrong with that.

Tierney did an interview where he talked about how the show was written around sex as the sex was used for communication, to build intimacy, to show vulnerability / honesty and was the core of the relationship between the two leads. People who don’t get why the sex was needed in the show and so central to it missed out on 90% of the show!

Yes, I saw Tierney say that for him, physical chemistry is a necessary prerequisite to emotional chemistry, and imo, I think that’s the way it is for most people. So the sex is super important. But it isn’t the most important thing.

A lot of men need sex to bond emotionally and women need emotional bonding to want sex. It was written by a woman for women so she made sure to wind that emotional bonding in so that women would want the sex.

These novels that are adapted are romance / smut novels. The main audience is middle aged women who are reading it for the smut. Harlequin romance novels aren't literary classics!

There are hundreds of thousands of comments online by women about how arousing the sex scenes were for them and comments on the bodies of the two leads. A lot of women are very into the smut aspect. The fact that the acting / directing / producing / lighting / editing was so well done made it far more watchable but at the end of the day it is just a really well made adaptation of a hockey smut Harlequin romance novel. There is going to be sex in season 2 as well - it is based on another of her books that is already written and it is the same genre - hockey smut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t care how the show would’ve been received (or not) if it didn’t have smut. The fact is, it has smut and we like it. And that’s not something women need to apologize, justify, or explain. Newsflash: women like sex. Many women even watch porn. Gasp! Get over it.

Exactly. Not sure why posters are trying to insist the sex wasn’t a big part of what made it popular, or that it wasn’t central to the show, or that it isn’t smutty. It is all of the above and nothing wrong with that.

Tierney did an interview where he talked about how the show was written around sex as the sex was used for communication, to build intimacy, to show vulnerability / honesty and was the core of the relationship between the two leads. People who don’t get why the sex was needed in the show and so central to it missed out on 90% of the show!

I think it’s because there are so many people reducing the draw to JUST sex/smut.

Yes, absolutely. I’m the first PP quoted who said I honestly don’t care and it’s ok for women to like smut. I like the smut AND I like the intimacy AND the chemistry AND the yearning…it’s just a good show. And if some people only watched it for the smut, that’s ok, too. Because we’re allowed to do that without having to explain it. Liking smut is not a moral failing.

+1. This show gave viewers continuous dopamine hits in the form of playful banter, yearning, and yes, very hot kissing and sex scenes. The story worked well, the actors are amazing and very attractive too. Other movies and shows in this genre are jammed with filler scenes, uninteresting secondary characters and unnecessary conflicts. No wonder HR has been so wildly successful. It is storytelling in a league of its own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t care how the show would’ve been received (or not) if it didn’t have smut. The fact is, it has smut and we like it. And that’s not something women need to apologize, justify, or explain. Newsflash: women like sex. Many women even watch porn. Gasp! Get over it.

Exactly. Not sure why posters are trying to insist the sex wasn’t a big part of what made it popular, or that it wasn’t central to the show, or that it isn’t smutty. It is all of the above and nothing wrong with that.

Tierney did an interview where he talked about how the show was written around sex as the sex was used for communication, to build intimacy, to show vulnerability / honesty and was the core of the relationship between the two leads. People who don’t get why the sex was needed in the show and so central to it missed out on 90% of the show!

Yes, I saw Tierney say that for him, physical chemistry is a necessary prerequisite to emotional chemistry, and imo, I think that’s the way it is for most people. So the sex is super important. But it isn’t the most important thing.

A lot of men need sex to bond emotionally and women need emotional bonding to want sex. It was written by a woman for women so she made sure to wind that emotional bonding in so that women would want the sex.

These novels that are adapted are romance / smut novels. The main audience is middle aged women who are reading it for the smut. Harlequin romance novels aren't literary classics!

There are hundreds of thousands of comments online by women about how arousing the sex scenes were for them and comments on the bodies of the two leads. A lot of women are very into the smut aspect. The fact that the acting / directing / producing / lighting / editing was so well done made it far more watchable but at the end of the day it is just a really well made adaptation of a hockey smut Harlequin romance novel. There is going to be sex in season 2 as well - it is based on another of her books that is already written and it is the same genre - hockey smut.

you seem to be working overtime to prove a smut point. people can like it for different reasons

[Anonymous]

Sexiest, most passionate kissing I have ever watched in my life. The way they pull at their hair and touch their faces!! And the little moans of delight and desperation! Those alone warrants a rewatch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The club scene with TATU’s hit song playing in the background, esp when Ilya is scanning the club for his man (“this is not enough” on repeat as they are both hooking up with women); the phone call confession in Russian; and the All Star weekend in Tampa are some of the best scenes I’ve watched on TV in recent years. It’s no surprise that these particular episodes are rated near a 10 on IMDb by tens of thousands of reviewers.

+1. These are beautiful scenes and very moving. I re-watch the end of Ep 4 till the end of Ep 6 multiple times a week. This show soothes my soul and stirs my heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t care how the show would’ve been received (or not) if it didn’t have smut. The fact is, it has smut and we like it. And that’s not something women need to apologize, justify, or explain. Newsflash: women like sex. Many women even watch porn. Gasp! Get over it.

Exactly. Not sure why posters are trying to insist the sex wasn’t a big part of what made it popular, or that it wasn’t central to the show, or that it isn’t smutty. It is all of the above and nothing wrong with that.

Tierney did an interview where he talked about how the show was written around sex as the sex was used for communication, to build intimacy, to show vulnerability / honesty and was the core of the relationship between the two leads. People who don’t get why the sex was needed in the show and so central to it missed out on 90% of the show!

Yes, I saw Tierney say that for him, physical chemistry is a necessary prerequisite to emotional chemistry, and imo, I think that’s the way it is for most people. So the sex is super important. But it isn’t the most important thing.

A lot of men need sex to bond emotionally and women need emotional bonding to want sex. It was written by a woman for women so she made sure to wind that emotional bonding in so that women would want the sex.

These novels that are adapted are romance / smut novels. The main audience is middle aged women who are reading it for the smut. Harlequin romance novels aren't literary classics!

There are hundreds of thousands of comments online by women about how arousing the sex scenes were for them and comments on the bodies of the two leads. A lot of women are very into the smut aspect. The fact that the acting / directing / producing / lighting / editing was so well done made it far more watchable but at the end of the day it is just a really well made adaptation of a hockey smut Harlequin romance novel. There is going to be sex in season 2 as well - it is based on another of her books that is already written and it is the same genre - hockey smut.

you seem to be working overtime to prove a smut point. people can like it for different reasons

I also like it for all kinds of reasons but the idea that the smut / sex / physical intimacy is irrelevant to the show is just nonsense. Pretty much everyone involved in the show has talked about the sex as the foundation of the entire show!

Yes - the great casting of new actors (who are real people with imperfect looks) who did an amazing job, great directing and giving freedom to the actors to make it their own, the two leads hitting it off so well as friends off screen, the lighting, the videography, the producing, the editing, the musical score, the simplicity all were critical to the success but none of that would have been noticed if it wasn't a smutty romance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t care how the show would’ve been received (or not) if it didn’t have smut. The fact is, it has smut and we like it. And that’s not something women need to apologize, justify, or explain. Newsflash: women like sex. Many women even watch porn. Gasp! Get over it.

Exactly. Not sure why posters are trying to insist the sex wasn’t a big part of what made it popular, or that it wasn’t central to the show, or that it isn’t smutty. It is all of the above and nothing wrong with that.

Tierney did an interview where he talked about how the show was written around sex as the sex was used for communication, to build intimacy, to show vulnerability / honesty and was the core of the relationship between the two leads. People who don’t get why the sex was needed in the show and so central to it missed out on 90% of the show!

Yes, I saw Tierney say that for him, physical chemistry is a necessary prerequisite to emotional chemistry, and imo, I think that’s the way it is for most people. So the sex is super important. But it isn’t the most important thing.

A lot of men need sex to bond emotionally and women need emotional bonding to want sex. It was written by a woman for women so she made sure to wind that emotional bonding in so that women would want the sex.

These novels that are adapted are romance / smut novels. The main audience is middle aged women who are reading it for the smut. Harlequin romance novels aren't literary classics!

There are hundreds of thousands of comments online by women about how arousing the sex scenes were for them and comments on the bodies of the two leads. A lot of women are very into the smut aspect. The fact that the acting / directing / producing / lighting / editing was so well done made it far more watchable but at the end of the day it is just a really well made adaptation of a hockey smut Harlequin romance novel. There is going to be sex in season 2 as well - it is based on another of her books that is already written and it is the same genre - hockey smut.

you seem to be working overtime to prove a smut point. people can like it for different reasons

I also like it for all kinds of reasons but the idea that the smut / sex / physical intimacy is irrelevant to the show is just nonsense. Pretty much everyone involved in the show has talked about the sex as the foundation of the entire show!

Yes - the great casting of new actors (who are real people with imperfect looks) who did an amazing job, great directing and giving freedom to the actors to make it their own, the two leads hitting it off so well as friends off screen, the lighting, the videography, the producing, the editing, the musical score, the simplicity all were critical to the success but none of that would have been noticed if it wasn't a smutty romance.

Why so angry? Not sure what your definition of smut is but plenty of people could love this series because of the reasons already stated and done without the extended sex scenes. I don't know why you're hell bent to insist otherwise. It's obvious it's found its audience - whoever they may be and for whatever reasons.

[Anonymous]

This show really took me by surprise 🥰
Loved it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This show really took me by surprise 🥰
Loved it!

Same. It felt like porn at first—but definitely necessary to the development of an outstanding, award worthy production. I cried during the phone call scene. I cried during Hunter’s acceptance speech. Episodes 5 and 6 are phenomenal but the whole show was exceptional. And I’m not gonna lie—Connor Storrie made me wish just a little bit that I was born a gay man. -signed, 40 something straight mom

[Anonymous]

NHL not sad about this. Where all my DCUM ad were HBO/Heated Rivalry are now adds for NHL on HBO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was aware of the books having a big following and am so glad this show is so wildly popular. The first four shows span years of the relationship, that's mostly conducted by text, it seems. I'm enjoying it a lot!

The actors are posting a ton on social media and they seem to have a great rapport.

Anyone else watching? I know people who wait up until midnight when the new episode comes out!

I need someone to explain the appeal of this show to me like I am five. Or rather, why are females swooning over it so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was aware of the books having a big following and am so glad this show is so wildly popular. The first four shows span years of the relationship, that's mostly conducted by text, it seems. I'm enjoying it a lot!

The actors are posting a ton on social media and they seem to have a great rapport.

Anyone else watching? I know people who wait up until midnight when the new episode comes out!

I need someone to explain the appeal of this show to me like I am five. Or rather, why are females swooning over it so?

Tell us you haven’t watched it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was aware of the books having a big following and am so glad this show is so wildly popular. The first four shows span years of the relationship, that's mostly conducted by text, it seems. I'm enjoying it a lot!

The actors are posting a ton on social media and they seem to have a great rapport.

Anyone else watching? I know people who wait up until midnight when the new episode comes out!

I need someone to explain the appeal of this show to me like I am five. Or rather, why are females swooning over it so?

It is just one of those things that goes viral. People needed something positive and lighthearted in the midst of all the ICE and darkness and this was the thing that went viral. You can’t really explain why some things just take off.

The books already had a big fan base of women who are into Harlequin romance / gay erotica / hockey smut. It has hockey and men on men action and is a Harlequin romance.

The show was well made and that helped too. It’s a good piece of TV but the crying and swooning and fandemonium is just people being a bit crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was aware of the books having a big following and am so glad this show is so wildly popular. The first four shows span years of the relationship, that's mostly conducted by text, it seems. I'm enjoying it a lot!

The actors are posting a ton on social media and they seem to have a great rapport.

Anyone else watching? I know people who wait up until midnight when the new episode comes out!

I need someone to explain the appeal of this show to me like I am five. Or rather, why are females swooning over it so?

It is just one of those things that goes viral. People needed something positive and lighthearted in the midst of all the ICE and darkness and this was the thing that went viral. You can’t really explain why some things just take off.

The books already had a big fan base of women who are into Harlequin romance / gay erotica / hockey smut. It has hockey and men on men action and is a Harlequin romance.

The show was well made and that helped too. It’s a good piece of TV but the crying and swooning and fandemonium is just people being a bit crazy.

Is it a safe fantasy because the characters don't pose any threat to them?