The runaway success of the television drama Heated Rivalry has done more than just captivate audiences; it has cracked open a troubling vein of casual misogyny directed at its predominantly female fanbase. Instead of celebrating the show's achievements, a significant portion of the discourse has focused on dismissing and belittling the women who love it, often reducing their appreciation to sexist stereotypes.
The 'Wine Mom' Phenomenon and Contempt for Female Fans
Since its debut in Canada and the US at the end of November, Heated Rivalry has generated an intensely passionate fandom. The series follows the complex relationship between two professional ice hockey players, Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (played by Connor Storrie). The actors, nicknamed 'HudCon' by fans, have become breakout stars, appearing on major US talk shows and seeing their social media posts go viral.
Yet, the attention has been double-edged. While the show is adored by a broad spectrum of viewers, including Gen Z women, media analysis has disproportionately focused on mocking heterosexual women in middle-to-late middle age, often derisively labelled 'wine moms' in the US. Critics have put forward a litany of contradictory and patronising reasons for their enjoyment: the male leads are seen as 'unthreatening'; the absence of a female love interest avoids jealousy; or the show is like 'porn without the sex', reducing it to a childish fantasy.
This discourse, as highlighted by Guardian columnist Zoe Williams, paints a picture of women who are simultaneously "insatiably horny, yet somehow very frightened of sex" and who objectify men while supposedly preferring cake or wine. The underlying message is a deep-seated contempt for female desire and taste, suggesting women can only engage with desire in a fantasy world devoid of themselves.
Romance as a Serious and Subversive Genre
To understand Heated Rivalry's appeal, one must look past the stereotypes and examine the romance genre on its own terms. Jennifer Prokop, host of the popular US podcast Fated Mates, notes the show is incredibly faithful to the source books, prioritising the beats of a romance narrative over conventional TV pacing. This results in long periods of yearning where the characters' lives feel empty outside of their connection, reinforcing that "their love is the world."
Romance is a formula-driven genre requiring obstacles and a happy-ever-after, but this structure is often wrongly dismissed as fluffy and unserious. In reality, Prokop argues, it can be deeply serious and hegemonically challenging. The central obstacle in Heated Rivalry is the patriarchy and homophobia, mirrored in real-world struggles for LGBTQ+ rights. "They can’t be together for the same exact reasons that people in Florida that are queer can’t get access to the medicine that they need," Prokop states.
Countercultural Sex and a Simple Request
The show's intimate scenes also represent a radical departure from mainstream Hollywood portrayals. In contrast to the violent misogyny and rape often normalised on screen, the sex in Heated Rivalry is notably non-violent and focused on mutual desire. This offers a countercultural narrative that resonates deeply with audiences hungry for different stories.
The reasons women love the show are as varied as the audience itself: for its heat, its originality, or its subversive politics. The core issue, however, is the reflexive sexism that seeks to pathologise female enjoyment rather than engage with the content seriously. As the debate continues, a simple proposition emerges: perhaps women love Heated Rivalry not because they are 'worms' or fulfilling a pathetic stereotype, but because it is, quite simply, a very good show.
