‘Heated Rivalry’ May Be Steaming up the Charts, however Reddit’s #1 Netflix Romance Nonetheless Hits More durable

December 19, 2025

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Since its premiere on November 28, 2025, Heated Rivalry has turn into HBO Max’s newest streaming hit. At present at #2 within the US, the collection, which relies on the 2019 novel by Rachel Reid, follows two opposing hockey gamers, Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie), as their antagonism on the ice blossoms right into a steamy romantic connection. The collection has a scorching homosexual romance at its coronary heart, and is actually one of many first exhibits of the style to obtain this a lot consideration, however one other queer romance collection from Netflix has been trending too.

In 2021, Netflix launched Younger Royals, a collection that, in keeping with Tv Stats, is the #1 talked-about TV present on Reddit proper now. Heated Rivalry, for comparability, is at #3, with Stranger Issues because the odd one out between them. So, whereas Heated Rivalry continues to reign supreme on HBO Max, it appears viewers need to Younger Royals for extra steamy, same-sex romance.

‘Younger Royals’ Has Even Increased Stakes Than ‘Heated Rivalry’

Picture by way of Netflix

Very like Heated Rivalry, which follows the forbidden romance between two opposing ice hockey captains, Younger Royals additionally follows a connection that’s frowned upon, but too electrical to withstand. The collection tells the story of Prince Wilhelm of Sweden (Edvin Ryding) as he is despatched to an elite boarding college, named Hillerska, and is straight away drawn to his working-class classmate, Simon (Omar Rudberg). As their connection turns romantic, the collection sees Wilhelm coming to phrases along with his personal sexuality, whereas dealing with the pressures of being a royal underneath the steerage of his inflexible mom, Queen Kristina of Sweden (Pernilla August).

However whereas public scrutiny and homophobia are tackled in each exhibits because the {couples} hold their relationships hidden as finest they will, Younger Royals has Wilhelm and Simon experiencing younger love at even greater stakes. In spite of everything, Wilhelm begins the present with a bad-boy fame, and is taken to Hillerska to get his act collectively. However, after his older brother, Crown Prince Erik (Ivar Forsling), dies in a automotive accident in Episode 4, and turns Wilhelm into the inheritor to the throne, Wilhelm’s rebellious perspective turns into much more dangerous, even along with his relationship with Simon nonetheless underneath wraps. From at some point to the subsequent, he goes from being the “spare” to the longer term king, and his relationship with Simon actually jeopardizes it. So, whereas Shane and Ilya consider their rising careers may crumble if their relationship was found, Wilhelm’s secret popping out may smash his possibilities of turning into King and even threaten the monarchy as an entire.

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie facing each other in the official poster for Heated Rivalry

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‘Younger Royals’ Is A lot Extra Than a Romance

Whereas Younger Royals‘ synopsis highlights fundamental characters Wilhelm and Simon, the collection, which has acquired a median 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, is rather more than only a story about how the 2 of them join. In actual fact, an ensemble of sophisticated, layered characters makes the story as profitable as it’s. Amongst a few of them are Wilhelm’s cousin, August (Malte Gårdinger), who takes Wilhelm underneath his wing on the college, however slowly reveals himself because the villain, and Simon’s sister, Sara (Frida Argento), who lives with Asperger’s and struggles to slot in.

Plus, even with Wilhelm and Simon themselves, the story goes a lot deeper than their connection. Coming from completely different household conditions and polar reverse backgrounds, the present tackles clashing social class divides, anti-monarchist sentiments, and generational trauma. Subsequently, whereas the three-season collection will at all times be described as a romance, the collection’ multidimensional characters carry layers to the story, and is not only a simple romance with steamy moments, not like Heated Rivalry in some ways.

Total, as Heated Rivalry continues to get all the eye on HBO Max, it appears viewers are curious to see what different homosexual titles are on the market, and praising ones that match the identical style. In spite of everything, whereas Heated Rivalry and Younger Royals aren’t precisely rivals given their completely different platforms and far-apart launch dates (Season 3 of Younger Royals on Mar 18, 2024), each exhibits result in one resounding conclusion: queer and homosexual romances make for some TV gold.