Overall, I’m intrigued. Ep. 1 didn’t land every beat for me, but there's some foundation there. With Ep. 2 & 3 already out, I’m hoping the pacing tightens, the chemistry deepens, and the story grows. (Also, there should be more hockey - despite me not knowing sports). 7/

This being said, the buzz around Heated Rivalry is a win for #CanCon. Love it or critique it, the attention shows there’s an appetite for 🇨🇦-made & Queer storytelling. I hope, even among the current climate & challenges w/ potential Netlix deal it spurs more CanCon investment. 6/

I also find myself wanting more Queer content that explores parts of our communities we still don't see enough; BIPOC stories, Disabled stories, middle-age stories. Not just thin white cis gays & tropes. That said, with the current climate & Queer content drought, I'll take it. 5/

There's effort to build tension, helps chemistry btw Shane & Ilya. But the intimacy at times felt mechanical & careful. Makes sense early on (Shane’s first time) but I expected it to evolve. Not uncommon for Queer intimacy when networks get nervous about how much they can show. 4/

The 1.5 year skip didn’t give much room for the plot or characters to breathe. It flattens the stakes a bit, even if most people aren’t watching this purely for the plot. It made the early emotions being built feel rushed. 3/

The time jumps are a bit distracting. I prefer a “show, don’t tell” approach. Y'know, let pacing, framing, and character work signal the passage of time. The timestamps kept pulling me out of the emotion and story the episode was trying to build. 2/

As an aside: @avilewis.ca @joelharden.bsky.social we're happy to host that event in Barrie, looking forward to welcoming you to our region!

He did, yes.

…Carney hasn’t addressed that harmful legacy or the Liberal govt’s failures — child welfare, clean water, FPIC. If he wants progressive votes and true reconciliation, he needs to break his silence. 2/2