The series that has half the world obsessed (and that will raise the temperature)
'More than rivals' is an LGBTI story that has gone viral and has mainly captivated a female audience
BarcelonaFour months ago, young actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams were unknown. However, by early January they were already guests of honor at the Golden Globe Awards, despite not being nominated, and a week ago they carried the Olympic torch for the Winter Olympics in Milan. They were also prominent figures at Paris Fashion Week. The origin of their sudden fame is More than rivalsA series that went viral in late 2015 in Canada and the United States premieres here this Thursday on Movistar+. The key to the initial frenzy surrounding this show lies in its steamy scenes, although the series goes far beyond its sexually explicit nature.
More than rivals It tells the story of the relationship between two ice hockey players, a Canadian, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), and a Russian, Ilyia Rozanov (Connor Storrie). On the ice, they are rivals, but off the ice, things change: the two athletes begin a relationship that is initially purely physical—hence the numerous sex scenes—but which eventually becomes romantic. However, it remains a secret due to the homophobia that still exists in the sport. Alongside this relationship, viewers will meet another couple who face similar challenges to the protagonists, but they handle them differently. More than rivalsThe show, which is a 100% Canadian production and therefore ineligible for Emmy Awards, has a first season of six episodes and is already preparing its second.
Anyone expecting a sports series where they can learn something about ice hockey will be disappointed. The series focuses primarily on the romantic relationship, as it is based on an LGBTQ+ romance saga written by Rachel Reid that has been very well received by heterosexual female audiences. In fact, women have been crucial to the television success of the adaptation, which initially seemed destined to be interesting only to its target audience, the LGBTQ+ community. "You'd never imagine it, but the show's audience is women. They're the wine-drinking mothers. They love it. And what's even more interesting is that the ones who don't know the show are gay men. Women were waiting for it, and gay men didn't see it coming," explained Jacob Tierney, creator of More than rivals, in The Hollywood ReporterIn fact, numerous videos circulate online of women recording their reactions to the most important scenes in the episodes, as well as videos of parties held in bars or venues to watch the latest episode together. It's also easy to find memes featuring some of the show's most popular lines.
The screenwriter, a former Canadian child actor, discovered Reid's novels during the pandemic when a friend suggested he explore the world of audiobooks, and he chose Reid's novel as his first listen. Later, he read an article in Washington Post which highlighted the power of the romance novel industry, a traditionally looked down upon market segment. The article also noted that love stories set in the world of hockey were especially popular. Worried that someone else might get the idea to adapt it More than rivalsShe contacted Reid through Instagram, who agreed to sell her the rights to her books.
Inspiration
One of the lead actors, Hudson Williams, explained that, due to the show's popularity, he has received direct messages from professional athletes who are gay and haven't yet come out. "These messages are what make you realize that the show is entertaining and has a celebratory attitude, but it also touches many people on a deep level," he explained in an interview.
In some cases, the show has indeed brought about life-changing experiences for viewers, such as former ice hockey player Jesse Kortuem, who decided to come out after watching Shane and Ilya's love story. "I'm a private person. Those who know me well know that I don't share much on social media, but lately something has sparked something; okay, it's the fault of..." More than rivals“I’ve realized that it’s time to share a journey I’ve kept private for a long time,” began the message he shared on Facebook. Kortuem detailed how, for much of his life as an athlete, first as a teenager and then as an adult, he was torn between two things: his profession and his sexual identity. “I loved the sport, but I wondered how I could be gay and still play such a tough, masculine sport,” he reflected.