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Heated Rivalry is horny, lusty, and real

Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

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Imagine this: Two of the best hockey players on the best teams in the NHL are rivals on the rink, but off the ice, they're lovers. That’s the premise of a new series on Crave called 'Heated Rivalry' – adapted from a popular series of romance novels by Rachel Reid. Lainey Lui and former pro hockey player Brock McGillis join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about a show that might be the steamiest on TV right now.

Thumbnail photo: Bell Media

Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.

Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
Instagram: Instagram: commotioncbc

#podcast #popculture #heatedrivalry

20 Comments

@heyoitslysso 9 months ago (edited)

My thing too is that like yes the show is hot. Obviously. No one is arguing that. But it really is also sad. And I feel like you totally get that in the book as well. Which makes me sad that people are like “this is smut and nothing else” like no, actually there’s a hell of a lot there. Like Brock said, they can’t be themselves and have to hide and have so many walls up because of it. I think that’s also very obvious if you’re not just watching/reading for the spicy moments. Anyway, loved this interview, so glad you’re talking about the show!

@Rosula_D 10 months ago

Brock's comment is so important. I'm very grateful that he could share his experience. And his behind the scenes knowledge. As someone who has loved this novel for years, I'm happy to see that it's not as ~unrealistic as some people insist it is.
And Lainey was spot on the character driven! I'm so sick of people acting like this story is just about them going at it. We got 2 episodes that were full of information about what's going on in the background and what these two guys might be thinking.

@MoonCoffeBean8545 10 months ago

Hearing Brock share his story and how seeing the show is triggering is proof, imo, that this show, and this topic, needs to be addressed. People need to understand that this is reality for people out there and, as sexy as it can be, there's a point where having a secret like this is just too much to go through. This story is about 2 people finding each other and loving each other in dire circumstances. I'm glad you gave him the space to share his views on the subject and I really hope we'll get to a point where professional athletes will feel they can be who they want to be, with whom they want to be.

@millie57525 9 months ago (edited)

I hope Brock reads The Long Game and sees the summer camp scenes.

@ryanemiliolargo3548 10 months ago

Dang Brock! You gave us hope to be out and open ❤❤❤❤❤ Ty

@McBobaa 10 months ago

This was so insightful, I love hearing about Brock's experience. It's so sad he had to go through stuff like that, and unfortunately it looks like things haven't improved at all since them. Let's hope things will change for the better not just in hockey but in all sports!

@constancep7632 10 months ago

I'm really sorry Brock had to hide who he is. Love from the inimitable MTL! ✌️

@Nyederman 10 months ago

i loved this interview, it's nice to know that the show is alot more realistic than alot of people think.

@andre_p 9 months ago

Elamin, Laney, Brock: three intelligent, articulated, open-minded people discussing a very important topic. That makes this video so interesting and, yes, engrossing: another commenter mentioned it should have been twice as long. I agree. Kudos to Elamin for hosting Laney and Brock through such an intelligent discussion.

@Fanfanviewer 9 months ago

Really appreciated this piece. The series is clearly so much more important than some are giving it credit for, while at the same time being just wonderfully entertaining.

@mejomonster989 9 months ago

Lovely discussion. I appreciate Lainey's pov as a watcher, and Brock's perspective as someone who's been in the game and is working to make it more open. I watched an interview with Jacob Tierney and he mentioned a lot of their backup skaters in scenes were also in professional hockey, and that fact made me so happy because it meant at least some pro sports players accept queer people enough to be a part of depicting queer existence within hockey. That is huge to me, that is showing some pros want the sport to be more inclusive.

@haligal3588 6 months ago

Author is Rachel Reid (not Heather Reid)

@mannlaura 9 months ago

Tell me you didn't read the book and have no idea what is going to happen. When you say there is no plot...

@_reveux 9 months ago

super interesting to hear both brock's and lainey's views on the show! what i find particularly lovely about the show is that i find it so genuine. both actors are doing such a good job and they're both playing their characters with nuance and allowing them to be a bit complicated and stilted, while also showing real kindness and care. it's something you don't see a lot of in (men's) sports stories and especially not like this. i didn't expect the show to get the hype it's getting and it's insane to see how well received it is. i think thecombination of "this is real, it is thrilling and it is sad" gives it a heart that really shines through. props to tierney and the team!! (would love a bit more hockey in it tho lol)