12 Best TV Shows Like Heated Rivalry Fans Should Watch

We’ve all watched Heated Rivalry and absolutely loved it, right? Well, if you’re now looking for shows similar to it that you can binge next, you’re in luck. Whether through certain themes, plot points, character relationships, gay storylines, etc., I will be comparing which are closer to the adaptation and completely worth watching because of that.

Heated Rivalry is probably one of the only few shows I’ve managed to binge in one sitting in the past year. It was due to the fact it’s only six episode – but they were also so addictive. I can’t wait for more seasons of this series to come out in the future.

If you didn’t know, Heated Rivalry centres around the relationship of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanov over the course of their careers. It takes us from 2008 up until 2017, when the dynamic between them changes. Over six fantastic episodes we are thrust into their lives as professsional hockey player figuring their lives out and their time. We also get a taste of Scott Hunter’s story in this too. Now, let’s take a look at the 12 best series you need to watch like it.

Rundown of Heated Rivarly– What you need to know:

• Genre: Sport
• Stars: Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 6
• Runtime: 43–55 minutes per episode
• Creator: Jacob Tierney
• Release date: 2025
• Where to watch (UK): Crave and Sky

What is Heated Rivarly about?

Heated Rivalry has been on my watchlist for ages, and I finally got around to watching it recently.  The film’s plot basically follows the relationship between two rival hockey players.  Shane and Ilya are secretly dating, away from the public eye and their family members.  It all starts off as a fling, but their relationship progresses over the years.

Heated Rivalry shines the spotlight on LGBTQ+ storylines in the hockey profession and deals with romance, heartbreak, and passion. It definitely worth the watch.

Now, on to some recommendations:

Young Royals

• Genre: Teen drama, romance, coming-of-age
• Stars: Edvin Ryding, Omar Rudberg, Malte Gårdinger
• Seasons: 3
• Episodes: 18
• Runtime: 40–56 minutes per episode
• Creators: Lisa Ambjörn, Lars Beckung, Camilla Holter
• Release date: 2021
• Where to watch (UK): Netflix

This show debuted in 2021 and, much like Heated Rivalry, it centres on a strong queer love story. Set in Spain, Young Royals takes places at the fictional elite boarding school Hillerska. Like Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanov, Wilhelm and Simon start a secret relationship, knowing that their romance got out, it could ruin everything. Despite this, they still gravitate toward each other each time. There’s quite a bit of drama in the show.

Normal People

• Genre: Drama, romance, coming-of-age
• Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Sarah Greene
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 12
• Runtime: 28–30 minutes per episode
• Creators: Catherine Magee
• Release date: 2020
• Where to watch (UK): Disney+

Normal People follows the complicated relationship between Marianne and Connell. This BBC series explores the messy and vulnerable side of their love. Across several years, Marianne and Conne, drift apart and repeatedly hurt each other despite how deeply they care for one another.

Fellow Travelers

• Genre: Historical romance, political thriller, drama
• Stars: Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, Jelani Alladin, Linus Roache, Noah J. Ricketts, Allison Williams
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 8
• Runtime: 55–68 minutes per episode
• Creators: Ron Nyswaner
• Release date: 2023
• Where to watch (UK): Paramount+, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Sky Store)

Aqueer romance, Fellow Travelers is based on the 2007 fictional novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon. This show revolves around a complicated romance between two men that takes place over several years. The story in Fellow Travelers spans several decades, beginning with the Vietnam Warand continuing into 1980s. We follow the romance between Hawkins Fuller and Tim Laughlin. In their relationship, the two men must deal with secrecy, loyalty, and being at risk for being openly gay.

Looking

• Genre: Comedy-drama, LGBTQ+ drama, romance
• Stars: Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez, Murray Bartlett, Lauren Weedman, Russell Tovey, Raúl Castillo
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 18 episodes + 1 TV movie/special (Looking: The Movie)
• Runtime: 26–30 minutes per episode
• Creators: Michael Lannan
• Release date: 2014
• Where to watch (UK): HBO Max (including via Amazon Channel), Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Sky Store

Set in modern-day San Francisco, Looking follows three close friends who deal with relationships, careers, and their overall lives within the city’s LGBTQ community. There’s a video game designer, aspiring restaurateur, a successful entrepreneur and an artist’s assistant. The series follows love, ambition, friendship, and identity.

Boots

• Seasons: 1
• Stars: Miles Heizer, Liam Oh, Vera Farmiga, Max Parker
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 8
• Runtime: 40–50 minutes per episode
• Creators: Andy Parker
• Release date: 2025
• Where to watch (UK): Netflix

Boots stars Miles Dominic Heizer (known for his roles in 13 Reasons Why and the film Love, Simon) as the main lead, Cameron Cope. The show explores the ruthless environment surrounding the Marine Corps. It tackles real issues, such as homosexuality in the 1990s—especially within the United States Marine Corps – as well as racism. The series has a strong storyline, following Cameron as he struggles with negative perceptions of himself but chooses to join the Corps anyway. The TV series is both heartfelt and hard-hitting—definitely one to watch.

Olympo

• Genre: Teen drama, sports drama, mystery
• Stars: Clara Galle, Nira Osahia, Agustín Della Corte, Nuno Gallego, María Romanillos
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 8
• Runtime: 42–53 minutes per episode
• Creators: Jan Matheu, Laia Foguet, Ibai Abad
• Release date: 2025
• Where to watch (UK): Netflix

Olympo is a show that dives into the competitive sports world.  The series takes place in a fictional elite training school with upcoming young athletes in the country. The students dedicate their lives to intense training and strict discipline, and compete for lucrative sponsorship deals with the global fashion brand Olympo. The series includes gay and lesbian storylines, from athletes navigating identity, relationships while pursuing their dreams.

Spinning Out

• Genre: Drama, sports drama, young adult
• Stars: Kaya Scodelario, January Jones, Will Kemp, Willow Shields, Evan Roderick
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 10
• Runtime: 44–56 minutes per episode
• Creators: Samantha Stratton
• Release date: 2020
• Where to watch (UK): Netflix

Starring Kaya Scodelario as Kat Baker, this show has since been cherished by many Netflix viewers.  Spinning Out tackles important issues such as mental health, including bipolar disorder and the lasting effects of PTSD.  Set in the highly competitive world of figure skating, the show gives people a glimpse behind the scenes of the sport, including intense training sessions. The story follows Kat and Justin, whose skating partnership grows leads to being a romantic relationship.  The duo supports each other through thick and thin.

Ted Lasso

• Genre: Sports comedy-drama
• Stars: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Nick Mohammed
• Seasons: 4
• Episodes: 36
• Runtime: 29–78 minutes per episode
• Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
• Release date: 2020
• Where to watch (UK): Apple TV+

Another great sports drama, Ted Lasso. It has been a huge hit with Netflix viewers ever since it first began airing in 2020. The premise of the story follows Ted Lasso, an American football coach who is unexpectedly hired to manage a struggling English football team, despite having little knowledge of the sport. But he faces setback from the professional sport – both on and off the pitch. The show is both uplifting and fun to watch. 

Gameboys

• Genre: Romance, drama, comedy, boys’ love
• Stars: Kokoy De Santos, Elijah Canlas, Adrianna So, Kyle Velino
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 21 episodes
• Runtime: 27–39 minutes per episode
• Creators: Jun Robles Lana (creator); Ash M. Malanum (writer); Ivan Andrew Payawal (director)
• Release date: 2020
• Where to watch (UK): Netflix and Apple TV

Gameboys is a Filipino series set during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Luzon. It centres around a queer love story. It revolves around a livestream gamer named Cairo Lazaro, also known as Caimazing, who loses an online match to Gavreel Alarcon, playing under the username Angel2000. While the two form a bond through their gaming, things become more complicated following a love confession. It’s a pretty good show to get through, with only 14 episodes across 2 seasons.

Finding her Edge

• Genre: Teen drama, romance, sports, family drama
• Stars: Madelyn Keys, Harmon Walsh, Alexandra Beaton, Cale Ambrozic, Olly Atkins
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 8
• Runtime: 42–48 minutes per episode
• Creators: Jeff Norton and Shelley Scarrow
• Release date: 2026
• Where to watch (UK): Netflix

Much like Heated Rivalry, Finding Your Edge is based on a sports drama novel and is set primarily in Canada. Written by Jennifer Iacopelli, the series aired on Netflix on January 22. The film follows Adriana Russo. She is a figure skater who struggles to return to the competitive world after time away from the sport. Things are very complicated for her as she comes from a family of figure skating dynasty.  She also faces complicated relationships, from old flames to new love interests. 

Tell Me Lies

• Genre: Drama, thriller, romance
• Stars: Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Cat Missal, Spencer House, Sonia Mena, Branden Cook
• Seasons: 3
• Episodes: 26
• Runtime: 45–61 minutes per episode
• Creators: Meaghan Oppenheimer
• Release date: 2022
• Where to watch (UK): Disney+

Helmed and created by Meaghan Oppenheimer, Tell Me Lies is a binge-worthy drama. It takes the perspective of a couple who met in college in New York. The series features secrets, obsession, and messy relationships. It’s really intense and addictive—this show is for anyone craving a suspenseful teen drama.

Degrassi: The Next Generation

• Genre: Teen drama, coming-of-age, soap opera
• Stars: Shane Kippel, Miriam McDonald, Cassie Steele, Lauren Collins, Adamo Ruggiero, Aubrey Graham (Drake)
• Seasons: 14
• Episodes: 385
• Runtime: 22 minutes per episode
• Creators: Linda Schuyler and Yan Moore
• Release date: 2001
• Where to watch (UK): Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Pluto TV and Plex

This is an early‑noughties show that really spoke to a lot of us. It was quite progressive if you think about it, dealing with issues such as sexuality, drugs, abortion, mental health, and so many other things that teens face. The cast includes original main characters such as Sarah Barrable‑Tishauer (Liberty Van Zandt), Daniel Clark (Sean Cameron), Lauren Collins (Paige Michalchuk), Ryan Cooley (James Tiberius “J.T.” Yorke), Jake Goldsbie (Toby Isaacs), Aubrey Graham (Jimmy Brooks), Shane Kippel (Gavin “Spinner” Mason), Miriam McDonald (Emma Nelson), Cassie Steele (Manuela “Manny” Santos), Melissa McIntyre (Ashley Kerwin), Christina Schmidt (Terri McGreggor) and Stefan Brogren (Archie “Snake” Simpson).