In entertainment, we talk a lot about the importance of representation. There’s a lot of power in seeing yourself on screen, and especially in seeing yourself do things that you never really envisioned someone who looks like you doing. A woman superhero. A Black man as President of the United States. And even more ordinary things, like a Latina teenager coming out as queer and being accepted by her Catholic family. When you see yourself on TV, it unlocks something in you.
Of course, representation alone cannot change things. But it can, however, give hope and in some cases, even courage to the people who take the steps that ultimately do change things. And that’s why Heated Rivalry Episode 5 is so important, as it showcases in real time the true power of representation.
When Scott Hunter stands in the middle of the ice after what is, arguably, the biggest moment of his career, he’s happy. He’s at the top of his game. But he is not fulfilled because he has no one to share it with. He can’t kiss the man he loves, just like his teammates can celebrate with their families. And that’s when Scott decides to call Kip down and kiss him.
Let’s be clear, he doesn’t do it for anyone else. He does it for himself and for Kip. He does it because he gets the thing he wanted most, and he realizes it doesn’t mean as much as he thought it would without Kip. Scott’s decisions are about Scott, which is exactly the way it should be.
But his decisions still change the game for others in a tangible way.
When Scott kisses Kip, Shane and Ilya are at a crossroads in their own relationship. Because they’ve been hooking up for years, but now the cards are on the table. Shane understands that what he feels for Ilya is bigger than just lust. Ilya knows that what he feels for Shane is more than he ever imagined it could be. And that means they cannot keep just having sex, because now it matters too much. And it hurts too much.
To Shane and Ilya, there’s no other possibility. They can’t be together, because that would mean losing everything. They can’t be together because the hockey world would never accept it. Because Ilya would not be able to go home again. They can’t be together because, despite how much they love each other, being in a same-sex relationship could ruin their lives and their careers. And then… then Scott Hunter kisses a man in the middle of the rink after winning the Stanley Cup, and the game changes.
It feels silly, in some ways. Why would Scott’s bravery change anything? Why would someone doing the thing you’ve dreamed of doing for years in public be the thing that allows Shane and Ilya to believe that they, too, can do it? And why should it be the thing that allows them a measure of hope for the first time?
Because representation matters.
It really is that simple. Scott didn’t do anything for Shane and Ilya. But Scott Hunter still changed Shane and Ilya’s story by making his decision to come out as public as it was. Because seeing other people be loud and proud about who they are allows us to believe we can also be loud and proud about who we are. Because, in a league like the NHL, with over 700+ players and no openly gay ones, there’s a lot of power in the knowledge that you aren’t alone.
For Ilya, it means that he can let himself have a week or two with Shane down at his cottage. For Shane, it means that he can open his doors to Ilya and permit himself to feel what he feels, at least for a while. And for both of them, it means that once they experience what it is to be together, they can dream of a future where they could also be out together. It can happen, because it has before.
Sure, their situation is a little more complicated than Scott’s. It’s not just about coming out. It’s about Ilya being Russian and about the rivalry they’ve had on the ice for so many years. Scott Hunter can kiss an unknown man in the middle of the rink, and the big story is “Scott Hunter is gay.” For Shane and Ilya both, the big story won’t just be their sexualities, but the relationship they have. So, Scott hasn’t solved all their problems. Representation isn’t a cure or a fix.
But that doesn’t mean we can underscore its importance. Scott Hunter and Kip Grady’s book is called Game Changer for a reason. The universe Heated Rivalry is set in understands the power of representation. The one we live in has frequently spoken about this very idea, too. And yet, it often tries to downplay what a big role it plays.
As I mentioned before, the NHL has no openly gay players. Can a romance set in this world change that? Maybe not. There’s so much more that goes into any decision to come out, and the environment that exists in the NHL cannot and will not be changed by just one show. But that doesn’t mean that putting it on screen won’t bring joy, and perhaps a little hope to someone in hockey, or perhaps in another sport, who has thought about what it would be to stand in the middle of the rink (or the pitch, or the field, or the diamond) and be able to be open about who they love.
One day, we’ll get that game changer. In hockey, and in other major sports. And Heated Rivalry won’t be the reason we get them, but it will have contributed positively to an environment where, for us, that is something to be celebrated and supported.
Heated Rivalry Episodes 1-5 are now available to stream on HBO Max.
