Review of Fierce Rivalry
This film, picked up by HBO Max for U.S. and Australian audiences, originally debuted on Canada’s Crave service. It’s based on a popular book series, which seems to have fueled its early buzz.
Opening scene: A young man stands outside a hockey rink, struggling to light a cigarette in the frigid air. Another guy approaches, expressing admiration for his hockey skills.
Key details: Canadian hockey star Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) looks up to Russian talent Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storey). They both compete for their countries at the 2008 International Prospect Cup in Saskatchewan. Even though Canada lost that year, it’s just the beginning of their story.
Fast forward a few months, and we see their paths intersect again. Rozanov is the first pick in the MLH draft, while Hollander follows closely as the second pick. During a hotel gym training session, an undeniable chemistry sparks between them.
As their professional careers kick off, the competition continues—Hollander in Montreal, Rozanov in Boston. At the next International Prospect Cup in Ottawa, Canada wins this time. Six months later, they find themselves filming a commercial together, and Rozanov invites Hollander to join him. After an unexpectedly eventful shower, they reconnect at the hotel.
Throughout the season, the press hails them as fierce rivals. Yet, amidst all the competition, their intimate encounters happen whenever they find themselves in the same city. However, there are complexities at play. Hollander struggles with the pressures of his own family, and Rozanov is not aware that Hollander’s mother, Yuna (Christina Chan), is also his strict manager.
What comes to mind? Created by Jacob Tierney, the show draws inspiration from Rachel Reid’s book series. While it carries bold themes, the explicit scenes might be more reminiscent of an adult film than a thoughtful romantic drama.
Our perspective: The first episode feels a bit thin on plot. It covers their initial meetings, moments of attraction, and a series of sexual encounters. It rushes through the initial two years of an eight-year narrative, showing their intimate moments every few weeks or months.
The show seems somewhat stagnant, mainly because the glimpses we catch of their lives outside of their steamy encounters are fleeting and don’t fully develop their personalities. Essentially, we only know that they’re both rising hockey stars making a mark in their leagues.
Even a pivotal moment, where Hollander wins Rookie of the Year, lacks emotional weight beyond their physical attraction.
While the series aims to explore a deeper relationship over time—despite being fierce competitors in an environment not yet accepting of openly gay athletes—the foundation of their connection feels underexplored. I wonder if it will evolve as the series progresses, but by the end of the first episode, any emotional depth feels lacking.
Featured performance: Neither Williams nor Storey convincingly convey the complexity of their characters; it almost slips into adult film territory rather than romantic drama.
Sexual content: There are plenty of explicit moments, though full nudity is mostly avoided. You do see a lot, though.
Final moments: After an awards ceremony, Hollander attempts to draw Rozanov out, but Rozanov seems more interested in flirting in public.
Unexpected standout: Dylan Walsh portrays Hollander’s father, David, who appears uneasy about how much pressure his wife puts on their son.
A line that stands out: During their first sexual encounter, Rozanov delivers a line that feels surprisingly adult film-esque—it’s hard to ignore.
In conclusion: My advice? Skip it. While the theme of fierce rivalry is intriguing, the first episode resembles something more suitable for late-night cable rather than showcasing well-developed characters with genuine romantic chemistry.
