Adapting a beloved story for the screen is a delicate dance, a reimagining that inevitably sparks conversation. The recent adaptation of “Heated Rivalry” has ignited just such a discussion, with devoted fans meticulously comparing the show to Rachel Reid’s original novel. While the core of the rivals-to-lovers narrative – the intense connection between hockey stars Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander – remains, several key elements have shifted in translation.
One of the first changes viewers noticed involved the teams themselves. On screen, Ilya battles for the Boston Raiders while Shane defends the colors of the Montreal Metros. However, the book initially introduced them as players for the Boston Bears and Montreal Voyageurs. This alteration wasn’t a creative choice, but a practical necessity, stemming from licensing complexities surrounding real NHL team names, mirroring the Bruins and Canadiens.
This seemingly small change had a ripple effect, even impacting Ilya’s physical appearance. A striking bear tattoo across his chest, a significant detail in the novel, was absent from the show. With the removal of the “Bears” reference, the tattoo simply wouldn’t fit the visual narrative, a subtle but noticeable loss for fans of the book’s imagery.
The show also expanded upon Ilya’s past, bringing a former lover, Sasha, into the present. In the book, Sasha existed primarily as a memory, a subject of conversation between Ilya and Shane. The adaptation gave Sasha a physical presence, played by Kaden Connors, offering a glimpse into Ilya’s earlier experiences with queer identity in Russia, a crucial layer to his character.
Even family dynamics underwent subtle shifts. Ilya’s brother, a source of constant tension, was known as Andrei in the book but appears as Alexei in the show. The change, playfully admitted by the show’s writer-director as a simple oversight, highlights the challenges of maintaining absolute fidelity during adaptation.
A vibrant club scene featuring Shane and Ilya was enhanced with a captivating moment. While the book depicted a private dance between the two, the show introduced Rose, Shane’s girlfriend, and her friend Miles, creating a charged, intimate trio. Miles then played a pivotal role in guiding Ilya to Shane, adding a layer of complexity to their initial encounter.
A deeply emotional phone call between Ilya and Shane also received a more expansive treatment. In the novel, Ilya’s confession of love was partially obscured, ending with a hesitant “I’m pretty sure.” The show, however, delivered a raw, passionate declaration in Russian, fully expressing the depth of Ilya’s feelings: “I love her. But not like I love you.”
The show’s version of this scene also delved into Ilya’s immediate internal turmoil, revealing his panic over potential translation and the overwhelming realization of his emotions. This internal struggle, hinted at in the book, was brought vividly to life on screen.
Perhaps the most significant omission for many fans was the book’s epilogue. The show concludes with a hopeful moment of shared vulnerability, but the novel extends beyond this, offering a glimpse into the couple’s future. Sixteen months later, Ilya plays for Ottawa, Shane has come out to his teammates, and they’ve established a life together in Canada.
The epilogue culminates in the announcement of the Irina Foundation, a charity born from a private moment in the show’s final episode, named after Ilya’s mother. This powerful conclusion, representing the culmination of their journey, remains absent from the first season, leaving fans to speculate whether it will be explored in future installments.
