Saagar Kote
‘Heated Rivalry’ is a tale of bonding set in the competitive world of Major League Hockey in Canada. It follows Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two hockey athletes who represent different teams of the League. They look to outdo each other on the field, but develop an intimate bond off the field, which makes both their professional and personal lives challenging. Despite their cultural differences, they find a deeply emotional connection that defies the concept of a traditional athletic rivalry.
With the outside world expecting them to be at their brutal best during play, they have to navigate a tough world, where secrets may be too dangerous. Created by Jacob Tierney, the Canadian sports romantic series, based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, is a poignant navigation of youth, passion, identity, and survival. In this list, we bring you shows similar to ‘Heated Rivalry’ that examine the dynamics of youth, the spirit of sports, and the meaning of life.
10. GLOW (2017-2019)
‘GLOW’ is the story of struggling actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie), who seeks to do something meaningful in her life, as she looks to survive in 1980s LA. She auditions for the “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling” competition to put her skills and beauty to the test. What starts as a means to redeem herself becomes a complex scenario when she crosses paths with her former friend, Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin), a retired actor also seeking a second chance.
With their professional and personal lives on the line, the relationship between the two women may be the key to success or failure in the sports entertainment business. Netflix’s comedy-drama series, created by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, is a depiction of the intertwining of egos and skills, akin to ‘Heated Rivalry.’ Both stories feature layered emotional dynamics between the lead characters, connecting the shows on a spiritual level.
9. Cobra Kai (2018-2025)
YouTube Premium’s ‘Cobra Kai’ chronicles the journeys of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), two karate teachers with a history of rivalry. The martial arts comedy drama series is adapted from John G. Avildsen’s film ‘The Karate Kid,’ wherein Daniel defeats Johnny. Continuing the story, the series follows Johnny’s attempt to redeem himself and challenge his long-term rival by reopening his Karate school, called “Cobra Kai.”
This prompts Daniel to restart the “Miyagi Dojo,” the Karate school formerly run by his mentor. As the egos and talents of the two men collide, they face unexpected challenges that will test them on both the personal and professional levels. Created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, it reflects the elements of competition, sportsman spirit, and complex personal dynamics seen in ‘Heated Rivalry.’
8. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022-2023)
In ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,’ the talents of Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) lead the NBA team, the Lakers, to resurgence and hope. Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) becoming the owner of the team leads to complexities that affect the business and the players. Jerry is helped by his daughter, Jeanie Buss (Hadley Robinson), as he attempts to take the basketball team to a new level. As he navigates the complex convergence of business and sports, the team players look to write their own story of success.
HBO’s sports drama series, created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, is a nuanced take on success and redemption. Based on the book ‘Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s’ by Jeff Pearlman, it resembles the visual style, character dynamics, and sports-rivalry spirit of ‘Heated Rivalry’ and its characters.
7. One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
‘One Tree Hill’ is the tale of basketball rivals Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), who are also step-siblings. Their tumultuous relationship becomes chaotic due to their romantic pursuits and their passion on the court. The teen drama series follows the siblings as they navigate complex emotional dynamics with their parents. Their friendships with Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton) also introduce a layer of unpredictability in their bond. Created by Mark Schwahn, it resembles ‘Heated Rivalry’ due to its grounded portrayal of an ego battle between two athletic boys, and the ways in which professional and personal lives intertwine.
6. Spinning Out (2020)
Netflix’s ‘Spinning Out’ centers on an elite single skater named Kat Baker (Kaya Scodelario) who gets a second chance in her career after being on the verge of quitting after a catastrophic fall. She has to be a pair skater with Justin Davis (Evan Roderick), a rich boy. However, Kat has a secret that could derail her life and affect her ambitions. As the two chase their Olympic dreams, they have to navigate unexpected physical and emotional challenges that may be the difference between survival and glory. Created by Samantha Stratton, the sports drama series, on the lines of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ sheds light on secrets, egos, and trust in the world of sports. The similar visual choices of the stories connect them on a greater level.
5. Olympo (2025)
‘Olympo’ delves into the extreme dedication and sacrifices made by athletes at Pirineos High Performance Center, an elite school for talented individuals. Created by Jan Matheu, Laia Foguet, and Ibai Abad, Netflix’s Spanish drama series follows Amaia Olaberria (Clara Galle), a talented girl who becomes entangled in a mystery when she begins to investigate the inexplicable collapse of a swimmer. As the athletes take risks to achieve success, they also face the desires of youth, which complicates their journeys. Akin to ‘Heated Rivalry,’ the narrative explores secrets in the world of sports, complex interpersonal dynamics of young athletes, and the cost of success in a competitive world.
4. All American (2018-)
The CW Network’s ‘All American’ chronicles the experiences of Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), a talented football player from LA who dreams of making it to the NFL. Based on the advice of his coach, Billy Baker (Taye Diggs), he chooses to represent a high school team from a different neighborhood. As he hopes to build his career, he has to explore the difficulties of the sport, while also dealing with the expectations of his new teammates. Created by April Blair, the sports drama series, due to its focus on the struggles of athletes, the clash of egos, and the trials and tribulations of youth, is connected to the world of ‘Heated Rivalry’ and its characters.
3. Selection Day (2018-2019)
In ‘Selection Day,’ brothers Radha Kumar (Yash Dholye) and Manju Kumar (Mohammad Samad) dominate the local village teams after being trained in cricket by their father Mohan Kumar (Rajesh Tailang). When their father believes the time is right for them to move to Mumbai, they go to Mumbai to further their cricket careers. However, the city and its systems present them with challenges they never expected. Based on the eponymous novel by Aravind Adiga, Netflix’s Indian sports drama series, written by Marston Bloom, is a poignant exploration of destiny, competition, ego, and sports politics. These themes connect the story to the character dynamics of ‘Heated Rivalry.’ The main characters in both stories face unparalleled challenges that could derail their ambitions.
2. Inside Edge (2017-)
Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Inside Edge’ delves into the intrigues of India’s domestic T20 cricket league called the Powerplay League. At the heart of the story is Mumbai Mavericks, a team captained by Vayu Raghavan (Tanuj Virwani). When a rookie bowler named Prashant Kanaujia (Siddhant Chaturvedi) joins the team, he discovers the harsh realities of the cricketing world, influenced by money and politics. Created by Karan Anshuman, the Indian sports-drama series, like ‘Heated Rivalry,’ chronicles the struggles of athletes, the secrets they hold on to, and the skills they develop.
1. Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
Created by Peter Berg, ‘Friday Night Lights’ is a sports drama series that revolves around the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in Dillon, Texas. The coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) must find redemption in his career by building the team from the roots and making it successful. In the town that deeply cares about football, the coach must inspire confidence, and also tackle the problems of financial shortages, racism, and drug abuse.
As he continues his journey with the team, he is also helped by his wife, Tami Taylor (Connie Britton). The struggles of Shane and Ilya in ‘Heated Rivalry’ are spiritually reflected in the tough experiences of Eric in the narrative, which is inspired by the book ‘Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream’ by H. G. Bissinger. Both shows shed light on the realities of the sporting world and the sacrifices necessary to find success in it.
Read More: Where is Heated Rivalry Filmed?
