Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Heated Rivalry Prompts Some Women to Leave Unhappy Relationships
Heated Rivalry is a TV drama about two rival hockey players who secretly love each other.
Some women said watching the show made them think about their own relationships.
They felt their partners did not give them enough care, passion, trust, or emotional support.
A few women decided to leave relationships that already felt unhappy.
One woman said she felt more like a mother and maid than a partner.
Another said she felt alone and invisible in her marriage.
A psychologist said stories usually do not directly make people leave, but they can help people notice problems that were already there.
The show was created by Jacob Tierney and adapted from Rachel Reid's novel.
Four women told Elle that Heated Rivalry made them reassess their long-term relationships.
They said the series highlighted missing desire, trust, emotional support, and passion in their partnerships.
The women described leaving husbands or partners after already experiencing dissatisfaction or considering separation.
Psychologist Noëlle Santorelli said films and television can act as catalysts for reevaluating existing relationship problems.
Heated Rivalry follows rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in a secret relationship.
- Who
- Four women in the United States and the United Kingdom, along with other women posting on fan forums and social media.
- What
- They said Heated Rivalry prompted them to question or leave unhappy marriages and long-term relationships.
- When
- The Elle report was published on Wednesday; the series premiered in November 2025 and became available in India in February 2026.
- Where
- The women interviewed were from the United States and the United Kingdom; the series is available in India on Lionsgate Play.
- Why
- The show led them to compare its characters' desire, trust, and emotional support with what they experienced in their own relationships.
- Series
- Heated Rivalry
- Central characters
- Rival ice hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov
- Report
- Elle spoke with four women about the effect of the series on their relationships.
- Relationship examples
- The women described relationships lasting about 10, 13, and nearly 25 years.
- Psychologist's view
- Noëlle Santorelli said television and films can act as catalysts for reevaluating relationship problems.
- Premiere
- The series premiered in November 2025.
- India release
- The series became available in India on Lionsgate Play in February 2026.