Heated Rivalry’s Robbie GK was ‘concerned’ about fan reactions to his storyline
Robbie GK as Kip Grady in Heated Rivalry. (Bell Media)
Robbie GK as Kip Grady in Heated Rivalry. (Bell Media)
One of the stars of Heated Rivalry, Robbie GK, has said he was “concerned” about how fans would react to his storyline.
Since it first debuted at the end of November, the LGBTQ+ sports drama rapidly became an internet phenomenon.
Based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, the first season of the show primarily focuses on the years-long love affair between rival ice hockey players, Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams).
The series has mostly adapted the second of Reid’s books, Heated Rivalry, and looks set to continue Shane and Ilya’s story as found in The Long Game in season two.
But the premiere season took time out to adapt the first of Reid’s books, Game Changer, in its third episode, “Hunter”.
This introduced another ice hockey player, Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and his romance with the smoothie maker, Kip Grady (Robbie GK). Fans called it “perfectly done”.
The events of Game Changer were then finished off in Heated Rivalry‘s fifth episode, “I’ll Believe Anything”, the second-highest rated TV episode of all time.
Speaking to Elle India about how his and Arnaud’s characters and their storyline was introduced, Robbie GK said he was “definitely concerned” before the episode aired.
After seeing how audiences reacted to the first two episodes, Robbie GK said he and Arnaud “started feeling a little anxious about episode three coming out”.
He continued: “We knew we were doing a full 180: a different couple, a different rhythm, a completely different emotional temperature. That kind of shift always comes with nerves.”
“Hunter” sees Scott and Kip meet and navigate a more typical rom-com story. This contrasts with that of Ilya and Shane who engage in a more steamy affair to begin with.
“There’s a lot more softness and love,” Robbie said to that point, adding Scott and Kip’s story “absolutely feels distinct by design”. He added: “That also made me wonder how people would receive it.”
Recognising there was a “mixed reaction online”, with some feeling Scott and Kip’s story detracted from the main narrative, Robbie also said: “I hope the payoff in episode five reframed that for at least some viewers.”
“Hunter” ended with Scott and Kip not being together (unlike in the book) as the former felt he couldn’t be an out-gay athlete.
In Game Changer, Scott chooses to come out after winning a game by kissing Kip on the ice in front of people and cameras as depicted in “I’ll Believe Anything”.
Robbie GK went on to say: “That kiss on the ice directly propels Shane and Ilya’s journey forward, leading them to the cottage, and it all connects back.”
The series’ creators have already confirmed Season 2 of Heated Rivalry. Williams teased that the next season will be “hotter, wetter, and longer”.
Heated Rivalry will be available to watch in the UK on Sky and NOWTV from Saturday 10 January.
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