Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Episode 5 of “Heated Rivalry,” now streaming on HBO Max.
If Season 2 of “Heated Rivals” stays true to Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series of novels, it will see Stanley Cup champion Scott Hunter take over the gay bar Kingfisher Tavern.
Francois Arnault, who plays Scott, has already decided who he wants to guest star as the watering hole’s patrons.
“If I were a bartender, I’d want Jennifer Coolidge to play the barfly,” Arnaud says. “I want her to be there all the time.”
Based on Reed’s queer romance, “Heated Rivals” was adapted and directed by Jacob Tierney. HBO Max acquired the show from Canadian streamer Crave and premiered the first two of six episodes over Thanksgiving weekend.
In episode 3, Scott has a passionate love affair with smoothie shop barista Kip (Robbie GK), but the relationship ends when Scott, who is deeply closed off, refuses to celebrate Kip’s birthday at Kingfisher. But in episode 5, Kip is in the stands watching Scott and his team win the Stanley Cup. In a surprising twist, Scott not only motioned for Kip to join him on the ice at the end of the game, but he kissed him and came out of the closet.
“He falls into it even though he doesn’t believe it himself,” Arnaud says of Scott. “There’s a lot going on at once. There’s dizziness and excitement and a little bit of fear, of course, but he’s trying to overcome that fear and I think he’s doing a really good job of that.”
Francois Arnaud as Scott Hunter and Robbie GK as Kip Grady
Provided by HBO Max
Arnaud says he cried when he first saw the final cut of this scene. “Then when I saw this piece with the added CGI characters, it felt like I was watching a real hockey game,” he says. “I was like, ‘Damn, this is epic.’
After the kiss, Ilya Rosanov (Connor Story) is seen calling Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams). Elijah tells Shane that despite her earlier reservations, she plans to accept his offer to spend some of the summer with her at the villa, and utters the popular line, “I’m coming to the villa.”
“I think they kind of live vicariously through Scott,” Arnaud says. “They see their potential. That’s the reassuring aspect of this. That’s why Scott and Kip’s book is called a ‘game changer’ in the original.” That’s exactly what he does for them. He changes the game. ”
Arnaud became emotional and even burst into tears as he spoke further about the scene. “I have very soft feelings for Scott. I feel like he deserves it. It’s a huge win,” he says. “And then I saw[Shane and Elijah]watching from home, and the song[Wolf Parade’s ‘I’ll Believe in Anything’]that was used in the anxiety at the beginning of episode three and then again in this liberating moment, I heard the lyrics to that song for the first time. He was singing about sunshine and I thought it was appropriate for him. ”
Arnaud teases that next week’s Season 1 finale will mark another “big moment” for Scott. “Jacob texted me and said he just watched the beginning of episode six again. He said, ‘Oh my God, you made me cry again.’
“Heated Rivalry” Episode 6 will premiere on HBO Max on December 26th.
