Five Netflix shows to watch if you loved ‘Heated Rivalry’
The grip the Heated Rivalry has on us should actually be declared illegal at this point because when was the last time you saw a series where two men who are enemies on skates and then let them have the most tension-filled face-offs since enemies-to-lovers was invented?
We can practically see the whole internet drooling and making slow edits to Phoebe Bridgers’ songs. This show has single-handedly brought the heat back to fan fiction, but hey, we are nobody to complain.
And it’s not that it’s just hot… It’s delusionally romantic. This is the type of romance that makes you believe in soulmates, also because they don’t kiss fast enough. And now the show is over, and we are all sitting around wondering what we are supposed to do now that we realise we need to get you something.
So, don’t worry. Whether you are here for the queer love or the sports drama, we have got you. Here are five Netflix shows that will keep you in that headspace.
Five Netflix shows to watch if you loved Heated Rivalry
Young Royals (2021-2024)
You know that moment when two people lock eyes, and everything shifts? Yeah, that’s what Young Royals does in the very first episode, and you are not getting out of it emotionally intact. Prince Wilhelm is thrown into a fancy boarding school because royal rules said so, and that is where he meets Simon, the one person who does not care about the crown or the cameras or the pressure. It is not just romance. It is something so real it might even outdo some of the best real-life romances we know.
If you are still recovering from the way Heated Rivalry made you feel with the killer stares, Young Royals, your next heartbreak. It is not all dramatic speeches and fireworks. It is little looks and the feeling of not ruining something.
Heartstopper (2022-2024)
If Heated Rivalry left your brain fried and your heart gooey, Heartstopper is literally going to ruin you in the most beautiful way possible. This is one of the cult shows of Netflix, which gave people the same feeling that Heated Rivalry is giving now. It is about two British schoolboys, Nick and Charlie, who meet in class and accidentally stumble into the softest, most precious queer romance you will ever see. It is absolutely adorable, and we are not even exaggerating. They blush and hold pinkies in the hallway like it is the finale of a romcom, and we all lose it every single time.
It is not just about crushes, though… this show has more to it. It has friendships and anxiety, and then, of course, an identity crisis at some point. It heavily relies on those who want to say something but can’t. But apart from the storyline, we also got animated doodles that pop out every time someone feels something too much. You will finish a season in one sitting and then rewatch the hugs on loop.
Spinning Out (2020)
Okay, but what if the romance had blades on it and every argument happened in a glitter costume under freezing lights? Spinning Out is about Kat, a solo skater who is trying to get back in the game after a major injury, and the only way to do it is by teaming up with Justin, the one boy in the rink who is talented enough to win, but boy, is he dramatic.
And no, this is not just about skating. It is about pushing through injuries you do not talk about, hiding the family stuff that could explode at any second. And even after all that, you still show up to perform like your entire future depends on it (it does).
Boots (2025)
Boots got released a while ago, but it dominated the charts on Netflix like anything. This is for the people who watched Heated Rivalry for the rivalry. It follows Cameron Cope, a closeted teen from Louisiana who joins the Marine Corps with his best friend because he is tired of hiding and tired of being picked on. And boot camp? It’s a total emotional whiplash. You think he is running from something, but then you realise he is actually trying to prove something to himself.
Set in the early 1990s, back when being gay in the military was literally illegal, the stakes are insane for Cameron. He is trying to survive the training while staying close to the people who matter. It is not exactly like Heated Rivalry, but it will surely make you feel something.
Normal People (2020)
If you watched Heated Rivalry and are craving even more emotional destruction, then Normal People is going to be your next pick. And no, it’s not queer romance. It is slow. It shows you how slowly falling for someone actually is. And there is lots and lots of overthinking, and every single scene feels like a soft heartbreak you saw coming but could not dodge.
Connell and Marianne meet in high school and then just… keep finding and losing each other in new ways. And each time they get close, it is never the same. You are going to pause to process a random sentence just to scream after a messed-up screen. You want those two to be together, but destiny doesn’t. And the best part is that it is based on a bestseller by Sally Rooney, so if you are a book lover, you are in for a double treat.