All of this is so true. I can't remember the last time I was actually invested enough in a TV show for it to be appointment television. Also worth saying is that HR is an adaptation of a Romance novel and that Tierney et al completely understood the assignment. Romance novels get a lot of flack despite being a hugely successful genre with voracious readers who buy more books than readers of other genres, so to see one of my favourites books so superbly adapted and given the respect it deserves is just wonderful. The sad thing is that I'm sure all the big studio execs are now scrambling to find "the next" - and will fuck it up because they don't like, understand or respect the genre. Thanks for this!
I write in Rachel Reid’s same genre (not hockey tho) and I am jumping for absolute joy that her stories are getting such respect in the adaptation process. This is the DREAM!
It’s so infuriating as a viewer to sit for a show, (especially a queer one) and have it mishandled to the point where it hurts (I am still pissed off about 5 Feet Apart and Cabin In the Woods). Or I get invested in something doing the content well and want more only to have the show budget and ep count slashed and then not get picked up for another season: Our Flag Means Death.
Hollywood does not get it, and while with other genres like drama or action, the stakes are money or awards, for a queer one, it steers social acceptance and cultural framing. It matters how they portray our stories in how society treats us. Kill-your-gays is literally dangerous to us, so yeah, it’s the dramatic ending, but it’s queer trauma at a time when we desperately need queer joy.
This is why Heated Rivalry resonates with so many of the rainbow community. We want the happy ending and Jacob Tierney is giving it to us in all its romantic glory.
This is how to capture a loyal audience. Don’t destroy us.
Wealthy people understand that the only thing money can’t buy is true love. It annoys them, but they accept it as a universal truth. Somehow, Hollywood has missed the boat, and completely misunderstood that money can’t buy love from an audience. Or as you so aptly put it, that you can’t buy your way into mattering. The saddest part is that we want nothing more than for them to give us a reason to love them — which is, to just tell us a story that feels honest, about some aspect of human nature that unifies us all.
Thanks for sending me the link! I absolutely loved this breakdown. This also really speaks to the constant degradation of people (mostly women) who will show up for romance stories. It’s a genre execs know women will show up for, and women actually will put their money where their mouth is. but execs will mutilate the genre expectations that make romance stories so beloved, and then be surprised when their romance movies underperform even though they have two big stars and an exotic location to make up for a terribly mid script and no heart in the filmmaking.
jacob tierney knew the audience of the book series and respected why they love these stories, as well as the intentions of the romance genre, and he let that take the center of his adaptation. and look how it paid off!
the success of this show proved that romance stories work when they’re treated with respect towards the genre and the audience. that’s something i thought was a given for so long, but it is undeniable how much the industry has changed to make that no longer true. i hope that we find our way back to that.
this is so accurate!!!!! it feels so disparaging sending out a tape for something knowing someone with more audience will likely get it. i have found a lot of inspiration attending film festivals because there’s so much good work being done by people we don’t know (yet).
However—I don’t want you to get so discouraged with your tape auditions. I turned the corner late this year. I still think they are a great way to practice my creativity and continue building my relationship with casting and decision makers ❤️
tbh i think what was most discouraging about them was the content. it was usually a latina on a procedural whose legal status was being questioned or she was in trouble somehow. i had maybe a handful of auditions (or less) that really made me feel like i was practicing my creativity. i think that’s why i am so burnt out. i want to tell better stories, and get better at saying no
I hear you. Come practice with us. It’s hard for our reps to see us beyond what they think you are capable of. And sometimes you gotta show them. But you won’t know unless you start getting your hands on different types of materials. ❤️✨ we all need a creativity reset right now.
So true - Hollywood is pumping out so many reboots, remakes, and spinoffs because they’re “safe”, and we all know what safe means: boring! New stories, new faces please.
Totally fair Greg. lol. They have an audience for sure. That’s a why it keeps getting renewed and he got the deal that he got. I’ve read scripts when I coached people for those shows and the storytelling has never grabbed me on the page. But even with the mass appeal—my point is none of his shows has hit a fever pitch in the culture the way heated rivalry has with only 6 episodes. It’s a different kind of storytelling that we should invest in. But I will give it a try 😬
Brilliant insights! 👏👏👏 I was just on Threads reading message after message from elder queers like me saying “this show moved me deeply.” Heated Rivalry **made a difference** and you can’t buy that. Also: I wish you all the success in your acting career - you deserve it!
I kept thinking yes! yes! yes! as I read this. I work in entertainment and I have been thinking about this feeling in little unconnected pieces for weeks and you just wrote it out so clearly and logically and painted the picture. Thank you for sharing! I feel seen haha!
Heated Rivalry has gotten inside my brain like nothing else has in a really long time. And I’ve got you beat — I’ve watched season 4 four times since I started it 10 days ago 😆
As a former entertainment professional (stage manager who burned out so badly I never went back) I empathize hugely with what you're experiencing as a mid-level actor.
But what really strikes me about what you wrote is how this show is flipping the typical version of “masculinity” on its head. Whether it’s Taylor Sheridan or the Marvel universe, so much of mainstream media is built on a type of masculinity that appeals to… men. Male studio heads are making choices based on their masc/cis/het assumptions. Meanwhile, haven’t we proven over and over again that it’s women who hold the purse strings?!
Based on the clients I work with as a sex and relationship coach, I can say with absolute certainty that the majority of women AND MEN want relationships rooted in connection and consent. I think that’s a big part of why this show is breaking through — the way Ilya plays the rake while actually being incredibly attentive to Shane’s safety and comfort.
Contrary to popular opinion, men actually WANT to inhabit this kind of manhood, but many no longer know how, because all they’ve been fed is nonsense about being alphas who take what they want.
It’s also why I think Connor and Hudson have inspired such a strong fan response — they embody a kind of affectionate connection that most cis/het men don’t even think is possible. For the record, whether they’re het or not is of little consequence. They’re showing up as role models for another generation of boys who might finally start breaking the cycle.
You nailed it. You put into words what I have been feeling for quite some time now. The big Hollywood shows just don’t cut it anymore. Yes, you watch them, but as soon as they’re over, they’re forgotten. And then you have the seemingly timeless international or independent shows, some of them incredibly big now, all of them amazing and thoughtful and stuffed to the brim with good acting. That’s what we as an audience want to see. That’s what they should produce. For the sake of all the little guys working for these big studios, let’s just hope they will realise soon that something has to change.
Heated Rivalry is a successful show because it’s around themes that makes people feel something. it reminds us that desire and passion exists, and with the current coma of rom coms, audiences are craving to be reminded of heightened emotions. Algorithms are great to help impress content to the audiences that are likely to watch, but they can’t predict or create pop culture.
All of this is so true. I can't remember the last time I was actually invested enough in a TV show for it to be appointment television. Also worth saying is that HR is an adaptation of a Romance novel and that Tierney et al completely understood the assignment. Romance novels get a lot of flack despite being a hugely successful genre with voracious readers who buy more books than readers of other genres, so to see one of my favourites books so superbly adapted and given the respect it deserves is just wonderful. The sad thing is that I'm sure all the big studio execs are now scrambling to find "the next" - and will fuck it up because they don't like, understand or respect the genre. Thanks for this!
I write in Rachel Reid’s same genre (not hockey tho) and I am jumping for absolute joy that her stories are getting such respect in the adaptation process. This is the DREAM!
It’s so infuriating as a viewer to sit for a show, (especially a queer one) and have it mishandled to the point where it hurts (I am still pissed off about 5 Feet Apart and Cabin In the Woods). Or I get invested in something doing the content well and want more only to have the show budget and ep count slashed and then not get picked up for another season: Our Flag Means Death.
Hollywood does not get it, and while with other genres like drama or action, the stakes are money or awards, for a queer one, it steers social acceptance and cultural framing. It matters how they portray our stories in how society treats us. Kill-your-gays is literally dangerous to us, so yeah, it’s the dramatic ending, but it’s queer trauma at a time when we desperately need queer joy.
This is why Heated Rivalry resonates with so many of the rainbow community. We want the happy ending and Jacob Tierney is giving it to us in all its romantic glory.
This is how to capture a loyal audience. Don’t destroy us.
This. All of This. Nailed it. Think Flea Bag. So many Brit, Canadian and European shows....
Wealthy people understand that the only thing money can’t buy is true love. It annoys them, but they accept it as a universal truth. Somehow, Hollywood has missed the boat, and completely misunderstood that money can’t buy love from an audience. Or as you so aptly put it, that you can’t buy your way into mattering. The saddest part is that we want nothing more than for them to give us a reason to love them — which is, to just tell us a story that feels honest, about some aspect of human nature that unifies us all.
Thanks for sending me the link! I absolutely loved this breakdown. This also really speaks to the constant degradation of people (mostly women) who will show up for romance stories. It’s a genre execs know women will show up for, and women actually will put their money where their mouth is. but execs will mutilate the genre expectations that make romance stories so beloved, and then be surprised when their romance movies underperform even though they have two big stars and an exotic location to make up for a terribly mid script and no heart in the filmmaking.
jacob tierney knew the audience of the book series and respected why they love these stories, as well as the intentions of the romance genre, and he let that take the center of his adaptation. and look how it paid off!
the success of this show proved that romance stories work when they’re treated with respect towards the genre and the audience. that’s something i thought was a given for so long, but it is undeniable how much the industry has changed to make that no longer true. i hope that we find our way back to that.
Re-read again because this article just hits. Hollywood is in a state of analysis paralysis.
Awww thank you Fabiola ❤️
this is so accurate!!!!! it feels so disparaging sending out a tape for something knowing someone with more audience will likely get it. i have found a lot of inspiration attending film festivals because there’s so much good work being done by people we don’t know (yet).
However—I don’t want you to get so discouraged with your tape auditions. I turned the corner late this year. I still think they are a great way to practice my creativity and continue building my relationship with casting and decision makers ❤️
tbh i think what was most discouraging about them was the content. it was usually a latina on a procedural whose legal status was being questioned or she was in trouble somehow. i had maybe a handful of auditions (or less) that really made me feel like i was practicing my creativity. i think that’s why i am so burnt out. i want to tell better stories, and get better at saying no
I hear you. Come practice with us. It’s hard for our reps to see us beyond what they think you are capable of. And sometimes you gotta show them. But you won’t know unless you start getting your hands on different types of materials. ❤️✨ we all need a creativity reset right now.
when i’m ready and less burnt out, i will!
Same. Excited for an indie renaissance that is brewing. I really think it will start opening up in 2026
So true - Hollywood is pumping out so many reboots, remakes, and spinoffs because they’re “safe”, and we all know what safe means: boring! New stories, new faces please.
That said, you should give the original Yellowstone a chance. 😁 Don’t knock it until you’ve at least seen a frame! Taylor Sheridan’s shows have mass appeal in that they get insanely high viewership numbers. https://luminatedata.com/blog/landman-the-2024-streaming-hit-so-huge-its-dominating-2025/
Last month, his show Landman was literally the second most streamed show after Stranger Things. https://www.nielsen.com/data-center/top-ten/
Totally fair Greg. lol. They have an audience for sure. That’s a why it keeps getting renewed and he got the deal that he got. I’ve read scripts when I coached people for those shows and the storytelling has never grabbed me on the page. But even with the mass appeal—my point is none of his shows has hit a fever pitch in the culture the way heated rivalry has with only 6 episodes. It’s a different kind of storytelling that we should invest in. But I will give it a try 😬
Brilliant insights! 👏👏👏 I was just on Threads reading message after message from elder queers like me saying “this show moved me deeply.” Heated Rivalry **made a difference** and you can’t buy that. Also: I wish you all the success in your acting career - you deserve it!
Thank you much for reading and all your well wishes ✨. I’m happy you felt seen by this show. That is what art is supposed to do. That’s why I do it.
So wonderfully put. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I kept thinking yes! yes! yes! as I read this. I work in entertainment and I have been thinking about this feeling in little unconnected pieces for weeks and you just wrote it out so clearly and logically and painted the picture. Thank you for sharing! I feel seen haha!
Awww thank you for reading and for your lovely comment. It means so much
Heated Rivalry has gotten inside my brain like nothing else has in a really long time. And I’ve got you beat — I’ve watched season 4 four times since I started it 10 days ago 😆
As a former entertainment professional (stage manager who burned out so badly I never went back) I empathize hugely with what you're experiencing as a mid-level actor.
But what really strikes me about what you wrote is how this show is flipping the typical version of “masculinity” on its head. Whether it’s Taylor Sheridan or the Marvel universe, so much of mainstream media is built on a type of masculinity that appeals to… men. Male studio heads are making choices based on their masc/cis/het assumptions. Meanwhile, haven’t we proven over and over again that it’s women who hold the purse strings?!
Based on the clients I work with as a sex and relationship coach, I can say with absolute certainty that the majority of women AND MEN want relationships rooted in connection and consent. I think that’s a big part of why this show is breaking through — the way Ilya plays the rake while actually being incredibly attentive to Shane’s safety and comfort.
Contrary to popular opinion, men actually WANT to inhabit this kind of manhood, but many no longer know how, because all they’ve been fed is nonsense about being alphas who take what they want.
It’s also why I think Connor and Hudson have inspired such a strong fan response — they embody a kind of affectionate connection that most cis/het men don’t even think is possible. For the record, whether they’re het or not is of little consequence. They’re showing up as role models for another generation of boys who might finally start breaking the cycle.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts ❤️
You nailed it. You put into words what I have been feeling for quite some time now. The big Hollywood shows just don’t cut it anymore. Yes, you watch them, but as soon as they’re over, they’re forgotten. And then you have the seemingly timeless international or independent shows, some of them incredibly big now, all of them amazing and thoughtful and stuffed to the brim with good acting. That’s what we as an audience want to see. That’s what they should produce. For the sake of all the little guys working for these big studios, let’s just hope they will realise soon that something has to change.
This was so poignantly said!!!! ✨
Anna, this is brilliant!!!
Heated Rivalry is a successful show because it’s around themes that makes people feel something. it reminds us that desire and passion exists, and with the current coma of rom coms, audiences are craving to be reminded of heightened emotions. Algorithms are great to help impress content to the audiences that are likely to watch, but they can’t predict or create pop culture.