HBO’s Biggest Smash Hit of the Last 5 Years Is Quietly Climbing Charts on Another Streamer

Eight months after its premiere on Crave and HBO, Heated Rivalry continues to climb streaming charts, including on the Apple TV Store. Based on the second book in Rachel Reid‘s Game Changers series, Season 1 follows the years-long secret romance between rival NHL players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Since the show dropped its Season 1 finale back in December, it has only continued to grow in popularity on streaming, both from first-time viewers and avid fans revisiting.

Whether you’re watching Heated Rivalry for the tenth time or catching up on the Game Changers books ahead of Season 2, you can rejoice in the news that the series is slated to begin production on Season 2 next month. There will still be a wait for Heated Rivalry‘s official return, but there is a lot to look forward to based on the source material.

What Can Fans Expect From ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2?

Heated Rivalry Season 2 will primarily follow the events of The Long Game, Book 6 of the Game Changers series, and the second book dedicated to Shane and Ilya’s story. A few years after the events of Heated Rivalry, Shane and Ilya are in a committed relationship, but they still have to keep it a secret from most of the world. Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) certainly changed the game by coming out publicly, but there is still homophobia in the NHL to contend with, and Shane and Ilya are still playing on rival teams. As the two continue to get more serious, they start to consider the possibility of going public with their relationship, even though it could cost them everything.

Season 1 of Heated Rivalry was about the buildup of Shane and Ilya’s romance, ending with them officially declaring their love for each other and committing to making their relationship work. Still, being together doesn’t mean “happily ever after,” and keeping their relationship a secret will likely weigh on both of them in Season 2. The Long Game also explores Shane and Ilya’s respective mental health issues, as well as their relationships with the other characters in their lives.

‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Will Introduce Fan-Favorite Characters

Fans of the Game Changers books know that the other players on Ilya’s new team, the Ottawa Centaurs, play an important role in The Long Game. Scott and Kip Grady’s (Robbie Graham-Kuntz) love story was given some focus in Season 1, adapting their story from their book, Game Changer. Similarly, the main characters of Book 5, Role Model, will be introduced in Season 2, as confirmed by series creator Jacob Tierney during a BookCon panel back in April. Role Model tells the love story of Centaurs player Troy Barrett and the team’s social media manager, Harris Drover.

As filming for Heated Rivalry Season 2 rounds the corner, fans can look forward to some highlights from the later Game Changers books. While Shane and Ilya will be in an even deeper and more complex relationship, there are obstacles that they still have to face after becoming an official couple — both together and separately. Ultimately, like Heated Rivalry, The Long Game is about Shane and Ilya at its core. As such, their romance, as well as their individual character arcs, will continue to be at the heart of the show in Season 2.