Recently, the TV series Heated Rivalry has become incredibly popular, quickly gaining a dedicated audience. It’s no surprise then that the Canadian ice hockey show was quickly picked up for a second season after its first episodes aired.
The next season will be based on “The Long Game,” the sixth book in Rachel Reid’s series. At the recent BFI Flare Festival, actor Kaden Connors shared what he’s hoping to see in the upcoming episodes.
Actor Connors plays Sasha in the series. Sasha is the ex-partner of the main character, Ilya (played by Connor Storrie), and also the son of Ilya’s former coach. Connors shared what he hopes the new season will explore about his character.
He explained that entertainment thrives on drama. Without conflict or emotional intensity in a story, there’s no real development or progression.
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He explained that since Sasha lives in Paris, he likely has at least a working knowledge of French. On top of that, Sasha also speaks Russian and would almost certainly know English, as it’s widely used throughout Europe.
Shane speaks French and Ilya speaks Russian, but neither of them understands the other’s language. This creates interesting possibilities, especially when Sasha arrives and language differences become a source of conflict.
Connors acknowledged that many fans were likely hoping for a different outcome, since most were supporting Shane and Ilya. However, he pointed out that a win isn’t meaningful without a tough fight.
He believes the story has a genuinely positive and happy ending for all the characters, especially within the queer storyline. If Sasha were to return, he envisions him supporting Ilya.
You know, watching ‘The Long Game,’ I really felt for Ilya. Shane has a solid group around him, but Ilya’s pretty isolated. It struck me that characters like Svetlana could really step in and be that support system he needs. It feels like a missed opportunity if they don’t explore that a bit more.
Ilya was working on self-improvement, and if Sasha was doing the same, that was fine. Maybe then they could reconnect and support each other, leading to a moment where they could say, ‘I’m here for you.’
In a recent interview with TopMob, actor Connors discussed his new film, Lunar Sway. The film premiered at BFI Flare and features Noah Parker, Douglas Smith, and Liza Weil of Gilmore Girls alongside him.
Written and directed by Nick Butler, this darkly humorous film centers on a young LGBTQ+ man in the desert town of Mooncrest. His life takes an unexpected turn when his long-lost mother, Marg, unexpectedly reappears, leading him and his boyfriend on a chaotic adventure.
Lunar Sway premiered at the BFI Flare festival in 2026 and will be available across the UK later this year.
Heated Rivalry is now available on Sky and NOW – sign up for Sky TV here.
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Authors
David Opie is a freelance journalist who covers television and film for various online publications like TopMob, Indiewire, and Empire. He’s a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, often speaking on panels and promoting queer stories. Beyond TV and film, he loves comics, animation, and horror – and he’s particularly hoping to see a Buffy the Vampire Slayerthemed challenge on RuPaul’s Drag Race*. Before his current work, David was a Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and holds a degree in Psychology.
Patrick Cremona writes about film for TopMob, covering new releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed all kinds of movies.
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2026-03-31 19:34