Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, LGBTQ, Sex and Relationships, Sport, TV And Film, Mental Health, Explained
Move over Bridgerton, there's a new show in town which has got viewers hot under the collar with some seriously raunchy sex scenes.
In case you missed it, Heated Rivalry is the latest show that has got many women hooked.
At first glance, a Canadian sports drama doesn't sound like it should be sexy stuff, but viewers are obsessed with the show, based on Rachel Reid's books.
The LGBTQ+ show focuses on the on-ice rivalry and forbidden romance between two professional hockey players, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).
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Needless to say, not much ice hockey actually goes on, with one Radio Times reviewer saying it's 'no exaggeration to say that far more of the show takes place between the sheets than on the ice'.
One of the intimacy coordinators on the show also opened up about how much work went into making the scenes authentic rather than gratuitous.
So, why are women in particular loving the same-sex scenes in the show? One psychotherapist has the answer.
Someone counted up the number of X-rated moments - with 14 sex scenes across the six-part series averaging at 2 to 3 per episode.
Holly Beedon is a psychotherapist at Living Well UK, and said it's about the connection and the lack of a female presence.
She told the Daily Mail it's not actually about the saucy scenes, but something much deeper emotionally: "It's more about what that connection represents emotionally. In so many traditional stories, the focus is on male power or the way a woman's body is being looked at. But stories like Heated Rivalry shift that focus entirely.
"By taking the female body out of the centre of the narrative, the emotional bond can actually feel a lot safer and more authentic to watch."
It's also unusual to see men being completely vulnerable.
"We're often used to seeing romance driven by who is in control, but these stories prioritise things like trust, longing, and genuine communication," says the expert.
She says these are things that aren't always portrayed (or experienced) in heterosexual relationships: "Because Shane and Ilya start as rivals on a level playing field, there's a sense of total equality between them."
"For many women, seeing that level of tenderness between two peers is much more resonant than a relationship built on dominance."
Apparently, it's about the comparison game too, saying that many women find themselves comparing how they measure up to the woman onscreen in heterosexual romances, and these pressures can ruin the moment.
Conversely, male same-sex romance 'offers a bit of emotional breathing room'.
"Watching this dynamic creates a space where you can enjoy the chemistry and the fantasy without feeling like you're being evaluated.
"'It's refreshing to see men challenge the 'tough guy' stereotype and show real care for one another. At the end of the day, it's about a desire for equality, depth, and a version of love that feels truly human."
Fans of the show echo her sentiments, telling Cosmopolitan: "It hits women like me so hard because it depicts a relationship where all parties involved are treated equally."
"Women in heterosexual relationships are so used to being devalued by their partner, and their sexual pleasure isn’t always prioritised."
They added: "It’s just nice to watch smut where nobody is being degraded or devalued and the pleasure of both parties is the top priority."
Another fan explained their reasoning: "I am attracted to males so seeing two of 'em get it on together is like: BOOM, TWICE THE SEXY!"
