Heated Rivalry

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO Max
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 28, 2025
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7

Critic Reviews

  1. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Lucy Mangan
    Jan 12, 2026
    60
    After a while, however, watching people have sex – however perfect their bottoms – is undeniably tedious. And watching young men banter in between times (“You’re boring” says Ilya, repeatedly. “You’re an asshole,” Shane generally replies) even more so. .... Sex becomes love (and sex) and intimacy (and sex) and the banter improves a bit. Whether it is reward enough for sitting through the first few hours is for you to decide.
  2. The Telegraph
    Reviewed by: Anita Singh
    Jan 12, 2026
    60
    The storytelling is at the teenage drama level. And the acting, from some cast members, is at the daytime soap level. That’s okay. Heated Rivalry is not to be taken terribly seriously.