How Much Longer Can Heated Rivalry Keep This Going?

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At the 2026 Golden Globes on Sunday, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams were seated at a table with Charli XCX and the stars of Hamnet, Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. They presented the award for Best Supporting Actress in a TV series, making a memorable entrance with a playful bit involving UFC fighters acting as their security while Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” played. Staying true to their style, they joked about their nerves and being unprepared, connecting with the show’s core audience of mothers, daughters, and fitness enthusiasts – even if the humor didn’t quite resonate with the film stars nearby. Timothée Chalamet likely won’t get a chance to watch Heated Rivalry until at least April.

It was expected to see Storrie and Williams at the Golden Globes, even though they weren’t nominated. Their show, Heated Rivalry, is currently a huge hit. The fact that it finished airing on December 26, 2025, doesn’t seem to matter – many fans are already rewatching it multiple times. On TikTok, clips from the show are constantly playing. Both the HBO series and its stars are experiencing the kind of positive media attention that’s rare and long-lasting in the entertainment world.

Looking back, it seems surprising to think the gay hockey romance wouldn’t have been a success. The show launched over Thanksgiving weekend, when people were relaxed and looking for entertainment, and it offered a welcome dose of optimism amidst a lot of negativity. The creators, Storrie, Williams, and showrunner Jacob Tierney, actively promoted the show, starting with Canadian media like CTV’s ETalk—they didn’t get major network interviews or magazine features initially, as it premiered on Canada’s Crave and HBO Max—and then expanding to publications like Teen Vogue and Buzzfeed. Soon after, lots of short, easily-shared videos of the actors playfully interacting flooded social media.

What stood out most was how down-to-earth Storrie and Williams were, even as their popularity soared. The book the show was based on took time to find readers, and HBO only secured the rights for the U.S. and Australia shortly before the premiere. Honestly, no one—especially Storrie and Williams themselves—expected so much excitement over the show’s charming leads. They might have even wondered if Heated Rivalry could stay popular without directly addressing the characters’ sexuality. But those worries likely disappeared when the series became HBO Max’s most-watched acquired show since 2020. During the week of the finale, viewers streamed the show for a massive 324 million minutes.

Even the renewal video for the show’s second season was fairly low-key. Just eight months ago, Storrie was waiting tables, as he mentioned when announcing the SAG Awards nominees—or, as he corrected himself, the “Actor Awards.” And Williams recently pointed out on CNN that the whole situation is “crazy.” Now, both actors are being photographed at premieres in New York and dinners in Los Angeles, and bars across the country are hosting viewings of their show. Last week, Williams appeared on The Tonight Show and showed the host how to stretch. Storrie will make his debut on Late Night With Seth Meyers tonight. With two months still left in awards season, there are countless opportunities for red-carpet appearances and photoshoots.

Don’t expect to see them at the Oscars ceremony itself, but they’ll almost certainly be at the Vanity Fair after-party. Soon – within a few weeks or months – filming for the second season will begin, and the internet will be buzzing with set photos and fan theories. While they might avoid major interviews for a while, they’ll likely reappear on shows like Hot Ones and SubwayTakes around Thanksgiving, assuming the show returns in early 2027. It would be a good strategy for the show to stay connected to the holiday season, giving viewers plenty of time to rewatch and enjoy it during their time off.

Every TV show anticipating a new season is probably keeping a close eye on Heated Rivalry and hoping its grip on viewers’ attention will eventually ease. Shows like Bridgerton and Industry, while popular, can only wish for the same lasting appeal and relatively smooth ride. What makes Heated Rivalry stand out is its ability to stay engaging without becoming overly sensationalized – and to largely avoid the kind of negative attention and cast rumors that plagued The White Lotus. This is largely thanks to the willingness of its stars, Storrie and Williams, to consistently acknowledge and play into the genuine excitement viewers are experiencing while watching a steamy, LGBTQ+ show featuring relatively unknown actors – a show that manages to avoid controversy and even impress figures like Gayle King. As with any competition, staying power is key.

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2026-01-12 21:55