Heated Rivalry, finally saw it (Fannish Fifty #8)

[verushka70]

I was not pursuing watching Heated Rivalry. Truly, I wasn't. I read the HR book (but none of the other books in the series). It was nice. (Not typically what I look for in fanfic, but it's OK; sometimes it's downright lovely.) I found the novel to read like "angst with a happy ending," the end.

I did not find it earth shattering, but that might be because I did not actually read it; I listened to the audio book. So I suspect I missed a lot that I would've otherwise gotten if I read the book, because my eyes work better with my brain than my ears do (except when it comes to music enjoyment).

Just ask every parent - and teacher - even friends - who ever tried to give me verbal step by step instructions for doing anything. I was not good at that. Reading from A WRITTEN LIST of instructions, no prob. Listening and organizing verbal instructions? Yeah, I suck at that. (And then in my 4th decade, I was finally diagnosed with ADHD. Coincidence? I think not.)

Yeah, I heard all the buzz about the series. But I am one of those "if it's 'trending', I'm the opposite of interested" cranks. I generally hate being told what to look at/watch/listen to/do by anyone/anything who isn't paying my hourly wage - especially any algorithms.

(To be fair, I don't much like being told what to do by those who pay me to do my job, either - especially when it's stupid, bad for patients, and/or violates the manager's/employer's/facility's existing policies. But then, they are paying me, so I tend to listen, even if it's stupid, because I have bills to pay until I die. Anything 'trending' anything is not paying me to pay attention to it. So. I tend to ignore "trending." *shrug*)

But as I was, uh, let's say "obtaining" Heated Rivalry for a friend over last weekend, I thought: well, since I have all six episodes of S1 now, I might as well watch it... So I did. Here's my review. No spoilers.

First, though, I'm going to say - very earnestly - something not said much in fandom anymore (not nearly as often as it was, say, 5-10 years ago):

omg - the feels!

Seriously. There are some very heart-clenching, angsty moments in certain HR episodes that broke me in the best possible way. Angst is my jam, so - guh. I could hardly take it, the angst was so achingly good.

1. Part of my trepidation about watching HR was fear they would ruin it. HBO has done some truly great stuff (The Sopranos, Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire)... But they've also done some serious crap, too (John from Cincinnati; And Just Like That).
   
   They didn't ruin it.
   
   However, I think that's because it's a Canadian/indie production that HBO optioned - not an HBO production. Which makes me fear for future seasons, where HBO may have more control/say/money sunk, thereby calling the shots, or more of them.
   
   
2. Real-looking (not Hollywood perfect/model), "regular (hockey) guy" looks who can act? I am so there.
   
3. The hell you say? How is Heated Rivalry not eligible for any Emmy nominations?? Oh right, because it was entirely made and produced in Canada, and only optioned by HBO after it was "in the can."
   
   What a shame. What a crime! HR is totally Emmy worthy - both leads especially. But if not being eligible for the Emmies keeps it as small and wonderfully done in future seasons, as this first season? It will be worth it.
   
4. excellent soundtrack is excellent
   
5. lots of fairly explicit m/m sex that was porny without actually being porn, thanks to the two leads actors and how they play it
   
6. did I mention the feels? I'm mentioning them again.
   

I really liked Heated Rivalry. A lot. They really did a great job with this series. I'm proud to have been enjoying similarly Canadian made little TV series gems for decades (Forever Knight... due South...) - and I'm so glad to see another one, this time apparently taking the world by storm.

Also, kudos to Jacob Tierney (Glen on Letterkenny) for helming such an incredible project.