Heated Rivalry: When a Queer Show has the Female Gaze Decoded
The internet sensation and the pop culture moment of the year, Heated Rivalry is a smut hockey romance when seen on paper, but its execution has made the show a nuanced portrayal of desire, sexuality and queer happiness. Who would have thought that the next obsession of the world would be a low-budget Canadian queer romance featuring two unknown names portraying the roles of fictional NHL stars who are arch-rivals in the eyes of the world, but actually are involved in a decade-long secret sexual relationship? Or is it more than just a hookup? To our pleasant surprise, this book adaptation has turned out to be way more than just another queer romance; not only does it have people from the LGBTQIA+ community represented and hooked, but also the massive audience of women around the world, obsessed, and for all the right reasons. But why are women feeling this seen and resonating with a show that has no female lead, at the same time has feminine desires decoded to a T. Let's discuss! A...
